First wedding anniversary Sriram - Suhasini 20th June 2014

My days with FAPCCI - reflections 45 year old 

It was during the peak of Telangana agitation in 1969, I had my encounter with office of FAPCCI (Estt. 1917) for almost an 8 months. The office of the Federation of Andhra Pradesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry was located in the Nizam Sugar Factory Building opposite police control room, Basheerbagh. 

The idea was to while away the time fruitfully. My first attempt was clandestine, getting an offer of position a salesman at Kathiwara stores, which I had to decline following Anna's vigilance and objection. Then I started working as an office assistant, FAPCCI, thanks to Anna's motivation and fixing me there, during my BSc II year. Learnt the basics of office administration and typing,  also got qualified to the lower grade (hired a typewriter for exam from an institute). Assisted in handling over 500 files pertaining to various aspects, of the 400 odd industry members of FAPCCI. The federation was presided by eminent entrepreneurs like MG Laxminarsu (father of ML Jaisimha) CB Ayappa MD of Union carbide, RC Lahoti, film exhibitor; Royal theater owner etc. We, staff had no direct contact with them. The office was headed by Secretary, Mr.CA Rebello,70+, an eminent retired civil servant of those times, whose wife happened to be a professor at Osmania Medical College (teacher to Chenna Reddy).

Now I wish to draw the attention to this unique personality, REBELLO, a disciplinarian to the core of the British era. He used to wear the dress (grey) on par with those of four attenders in the office, never allowed employees indiscipline, never got any personal work done at office cost, at 70 his lunch was full chicken. An experience to recollect was, the typing of his personal document on stamp paper, for which I had no option than to take Rs 3 from him, as it was not official work. Auditing was so perfect that, he  did not allow mere disposal  of even empty biscuit cartons, and were sold along with a receipt. The one which I still use at home, was bought for 50 paise, of course the receipt is not now traceable. He was efficient in cajoling and get things done in his own way. Once, at the nth hour (almost midnight) I was assigned to type out a huge statement on a wide bar typewriter with 47 cms carriage, a tough job with no spell check, cut, copy or paste in those times. Pleasantly I was rewarded with good Ice-cream as a bait. I had the ordeal of going through the proofs of the monthly FAPCCI bulletin besides, the annual ones, before printing, had to spent odd hours at the press. One of the annual meets of FAPCCI was held at the office premises, which was presided over by the then chief minister Kasu Brhamananda Reddy, followed by a dinner for the industry members besides we staff (a photo where I could spot myself, with CM in the frame, was there for long). The Annual meet and a day's preparatory work, done for a conference at Jubilee Hall at Public garden, presided over by VV Giri, President of India, were most challenging. The secretary had a high expectation and used to tell I could make it to his position fast and used to call me Chenabasappa. Something different was destined for me.

This led to getting prospect for ICWA from Delhi.

In addition to Mr. Rebello three more officers  Sarvasri Venkat Rao (Asst. secretary), Subba Rao and Radhakrishna Murthy, research officers were there. (All were of Andhrite origin), Mr. Ibrahim headed a library and Mr. Estasham Ali was the superintendent.The other ministerial staff included Sarvasri Chary, Stenographer (son of the great actor CSR Anjenyulu), Kamaal, ( a die-hard Rajesh Khanna fan and copycat) and  Nagender (typists) and myself. Well supported by 4 class IV staff Jaffar, Abdul, Sattar (brothers) and Shankar.

The complete credit of training me in office work goes exclusively to Mr. Estasham Ali, the Superintendent. A very compassionate, sherwani clad, pawn chewing person. As a daily wager the remuneration was Rs.3 per day. He used to make me stay  for a while after the scheduled time of 6 pm and record it as an hour, so that I get Rs.1 more, qualifying for an hours over time. As per norms even OT couldn't cross 10 days a month. Imagine all these were as a daily wager with Rs.3 a day. I really found this to be handful. Could get a sumptuous lunch for Rs.1.25,  (at MLAs canteen) which itself was a festival. The commutation to the place of work was a breeze ride on bicycle. With this large/small earning I started my first back account with an amount of Rs.380 (almost 4 months wages) on 17th November, Monday 1969, at SBH Nallakunta Branch, unfortunately I had to close it in 1989 as it became inoperative.

Among the research officers it was Subba Rao who used to encourage me, he guided me in writing up a proposal (SOP of today) for management trainee position at IPCL in 1969. In the course of education all these got de-linked. The office premises was also used by HMA (Hyderabad Management Association) operated by James David (David school/college fame), promoting  management  as a course of study.

Courses like MBA was unheard of in traditional universities.

Had I been an artist I could sketch all the characters in the above recollection including adumberation of the office. I really have my own doubts how many of the personnel are around.

A wonderful experience in my last month of service was typing out a draft of an advertisement for DC, inviting applications for junior clerks. Over 400 applications were received with several being post graduates (Unemployment is perennial, you can see the starting scene in Sree 420 where Raj Kapoor pledges the gold medal for survival).

With the re opening of the college, following the cease of Telangana agaitation, I resumed my studies and my activity got reduced to Sunday's/second Saturday's till my final PG program.

The significant lesson learnt. was the inculcation of discipline in administration, drafting of office letters/memos, maintenance of files, typewriting, typing on stencil sheets/cyclostyling during urgency, short hand and basic administrative procedures. 

Appointed by a revered Catholic, trained by orthodox Muslim surrounded by three Andhrite officers it was a wonderful beginning.

Today the Federation has over 3500 members, a large office contingent, has its own building at Red Hills. Post 1971, the only contact was Mr. Subba Rao, RO, sitting in the audience during Nizam College's first convocation in 1994, who spotted me on the Dias along with our VC, Registrar, Principal and chief Guest CNR (delivering the convocation address). Subsequently I have received invitations for global educational summits, most of which have been organised/held at FAPCCI premises unrelated to my stay. Unfortunately never attended any. Even today I have a strong desire to visit Federation, but I have none to recognize. It would not be surprising to see bifurcation of federation to FTCCI  & FAPCCI in due course.

Many aspects of training in office administration came in handy 23 years later in 1993, after taking  over administrative reins of Nizam College as VP. Specially with a large number daily wagers, besides 185 NGOs and 125 teachers of gazetted rank.

(A nostalgic view)