For a person, who had never seen a tea estate in his life and had only read about it in his geography class at school it was a difficult task to choose a career as a tea planter. After having completed my studies at the age of 22, I had embarked on a journey to find a good job and make a living for myself. But, this was not an easy task, as I did not have the right strings to pull that could help me to land a job.
Finally, Lady Luck did favor me with an opportunity after a long search. Through an acquaintance of my mother, I was able to meet a gentleman who was a Burra Sahib (literal translation is Big Sir – or man in charge) of a well known tea company. His name was B.N. Verma and he was the Managing Director of Jardines Henderson Limited. He was visiting my hometown for his niece’s wedding. I was asked to meet him at 10 o’clock sharp at the residence where he was staying. I arrived fifteen minutes early and was all dressed up for an interview with the Managing Director of a tea company. I was nervously waiting for the clock to strike 10 so I could enter the residence to have my interview.
Whilst I was waiting,I saw two gentlemen come out of the residence and walk towards a car which was parked nearby. A voice in my heart told me that I was going to miss the bus again if I did not take immediate steps. I walked up to the gentlemen who were about to board the car and introduced myself. I was right, one of them was the person with whom I was to interview and here he was about to leave in a car. He did apologize that he had to leave as some important work had come up.
However, he did take my interview which lasted for only a minute where he asked me my age, my educational qualifications, and if I was ready to join the tea plantations. I told him I was ready to join. His next words surprised me when he told me that I should expect a letter in the post in the next ten days and then he got in the car. As the car passed me he peeped out of the window and told me that if the letter did not arrive in ten days that I should meet him at Calcutta.
As the car went by, I thought to myself that I had blown this interview too. All that I would get was a regret letter in the post. I went back home and told my mother that I didn’t think that I would get the job. Her words to me were not to take a negative view of things and to wait for the letter to arrive in the post.
I anxiously waited every day for the postman to deliver a letter in my name, but the letter never came. On the fifteenth day, my mother asked me to go to Calcutta and meet the Managing Director at his company office. I argued with her that I would just waste money in the cost of travel and hotel stay with no positive outcome. I felt that if they were to have appointed me I would have gotten an appointment letter by now. I argued with my mother, but, on her insistence I got a railway ticket and was soon on my way to Calcutta.
On arrival in Calcutta, I checked in at a hotel and after freshening up, put on my best suit and tie, went down to the lobby and enquired how I could get to Jardine Henderson Limited situated at 4,Clive Row. A smile came up on the receptionist face and he said that any taxi would take me to such a famous company without any trouble. He instructed the durwan ( security guard ) to get me a taxi and instructed the driver to take me to the office of Jardine Henderson Limited.The taxi parked right in front of the gate and as I looked up I saw an old regal building which was the headquarters of Jardine Henderson Limited in India. I still remember that moment when I stood in awe and hoped that the heavens would open up a way wherein I could get a job working for this great company. The exterior facade was made of mortar and clay with huge pillars. As you walked into the office, it transformed into a impressive office built from Burma teak and mahogany. The brass fittings were all polished which lent a real majestic charm.
Jardines Henderson Limited
I asked an office worker for directions to the Managing Directors office and was directed to a room bustling with activity. I had no visiting cards (business cards) so I sent in a slip of paper with my name declaring the purpose of my visit. As I entered his office, he looked at me from his reading glasses and said, “ So you have come.” I didn’t know what to answer, but was relieved of my misery when he said, “ I hope you have brought all your bags and baggage along.” Seeing a bewildered look on my face he asked me to have a seat. He then told me that he had sent me an appointment letter by posting that I was to report to Head Office at Calcutta.
I told him that I had not received the appointment letter and had not come with my bags and baggage. I told him that I had just come because of his instructions that if I do not get a letter in the next ten days I should meet him at Calcutta and that I was expecting a formal interview to be taken. He just smiled and said that he had taken my interview back in my hometown and then immediately arranged for a duplicate copy of my appointment letter. He asked me to go back home and report for work after a week.
I was in a daze, completely flabbergasted, and flying on cloud nine as I walked out of the building thinking how Lady Luck had smiled on me to help me land my first job. As I walked out of the office and onto the street the hot humid air of Calcutta hit me and brought me back to realty. I punched the air in joy and said to my self “Yes!! I have nailed it!”