Appa: A Role Model

Amongst the hustle and bustle of everyday work, my family and I sat together after dinner to reminisce about the good old days. It was a rare event when all four of us are together and we wanted to spend as much time together as possible. I had just got back home after a tiresome and vigorous college schedule for the summer internship recruitment.

During my interview with Tata Steel (summer internship), I remembered my appa telling he had worked in Jamshedpur before. So when I was asked if I would be fine with the location, I agreed instantly telling them how my father also started his career from Jamshedpur. While I told my appa this, he mentioned how he worked within the premises of Tata Steel itself. When I heard this over the call, I was ecstatic at how fate led me to this company.

My parents and brother were proud of me and that was the topic that started the whole discussion. We asked appa to tell us about his career journey and youthful days. He smiled as he recollected those days in his head. It was almost as if he was reliving them. Like the amazing storyteller he is, he started right from the beginning.

My parents grew up in Azhagapapuram, a village in the Kanyakumari district. Their formative years were spent there and their families ensured they were brought up in the best possible manner. Now, moving on to my appa. He studied in a Tamil medium school as the English speaking one wasn’t built back then. He chose to do Civil Engineering and the college was English medium but that didn’t stop him from giving his best. Every time he studied, he had a dictionary with him to refer to the words he didn’t understand. Eventually, he didn’t need to use the dictionary anymore. This reminds me of when I was small, he taught my brother and me, how to use a dictionary. He was diligent with everything he did.

His first proper job was in Jamshedpur where he worked for the Hot Strip Modification phase in Tata Steel as a part of a Chennai based company known as Tarapore. He recollected that it was back in 1990 and would want to see how much the place has changed in 30 years. He said he also worked for a month in the construction of JRD Tata Sports Complex. However, the company wasn’t having many work orders so he interviewed for a Delhi based company called Unitech Limited in their Jamshedpur office. Before he got into Unitech, he was transferred for a project in Tirupati. Once he got into Unitech, he again got to work in the premises of Tata Steel, Jamshedpur. The idea of my appa kick-starting his career from Tata Steel made me happy because it was my first corporate experience during my internship as well.

After that, my appa went on to tell that he got the opportunity to go to Qatar because of one contact from Jamshedpur. Appa had gone home for a break and, while returning he didn’t go through Chennai like he usually does. His friends were travelling to Mumbai for their work, so he tagged along with them on their journey for some fun. It was a life-changing journey. Whilst in Mumbai, my appa decided to visit his previous office head in Unitech, Mr. B.S Jayaraman, who transferred to Mumbai. He was originally from Bangalore but he knew how to speak in Tamil. My appa was close to him but, he got to know his sir was leaving on the last day only. Here is an excerpt of their conversation when they met in Mumbai.

*After regular greetings*

Appa: You left without telling me, sir.
Sir: I did tell on the last day right?
Appa: Yes sir. But, if you had told me earlier I would’ve also come with you. Please help me find a job here in Mumbai.
Sir: Why what is wrong there?
Appa: There are no Tamil people there. Here there are many and even you are here.
Sir: How is me being here a reason? Will you come anywhere I go?
Appa: Yes sir. I know you won’t take me to any place wrong.
Sir: Do you have a passport?
Appa: Not at the moment but, it is there at home.
Sir: Will you come to Qatar with me?

This was how my appa went to the gulf in 1992. After two years, he went on a visiting visa through a relative to Abu Dhabi and got a job there. He changed two or three companies but in 1996 September, he got into Nael & Bin Harmal Hydroexport (NBHH) where he stayed for 20 long years. Though there was a time when he left in between to start his own business, due to its failure, he went back to the same company. My amma was always supportive of the decisions my appa took and pitched in her ideas as well. My brother and I did our schooling in Al Ain and we shifted our house almost three times there. The place always holds fond memories of my childhood.

No matter the failure, my appa wasn’t afraid to start his business again. He now runs a contracting business in Dubai and India and deals with projects in ISRO, Tata Projects, L&T etc. I’m super proud of him for being courageous, hard-working and persistent. All these years, he has never failed to teach my brother and me many lessons about life.

My appa ended the story and I couldn’t help but be amazed. He came from humble beginnings and he always stayed true to his roots. He loves staying in our ooru (village) and catching up with his school friends. We were looking forward to visiting Jamshedpur in April but, due to COVID’19, all the research my appa did regarding the travel and stay went in vain. However, I’m sure we will drop a visit to see that place sometime after things get better.

Just like how his career started, I’ve taken my first step in Tata Steel Jamshedpur (though it was online). I’m looking forward to what the future holds. Thanks to my appa for making my first job even more memorable.