My first job

 Not many of you would know that before I went into teaching    , I worked for about 2 years at Geep Flashlight Industry  ALLAHABAD CIVIL LINES  NOSTALGIC MEMORIES

I was in the Administration department working directly in the office of the Additional General Manager NH Naqui.

I had been extremely fortunate to be recommended by Miss Daphne Clarkson who was the PA of the Chairman M R Shervani.

I must say that I owe a lot of what I know about all forms of Leadership and Management to that job. 

I was in my early twenties- very skinny and I probably looked 16.

However Mr Naqui was an extremely strict man and I was told no one lasted in his office as he was demanding , he worked late hours, came in on weekends and holidays and was merciless in his dealings.

Now I survived two years so that says something !

There was a young lady working alongside me Philomena McGowan ( Medley) and the two of us managed Mr Naqui and his office .

My work was varied in nature- from looking after his correspondence with various departments and senior managers in the company to arranging for his meetings with  officials in various departments in Allahabad. 

That would be Income Tax of which he was a retired commissioner , the Nagar Mahapalika, the Telephone department, the Commissioner's office, various police departments , a few banks and innumerable other offices.

Then there was the lower courts where i would go to hand over and collect important  confidential documents and that was quite a challenging assignment for umpteen reasons.

There were  also a lot of his personal files and correspondence with companies in  which he had shares etc.

The work was exacting , tiring but challenging and exciting. 

He shouted and screamed at times and I learned to take it in from one ear and let it out from the other. I got thick skinned to his  sniggers and sarcastic remarks . He was impatient and yelled at all and sundry . Rumour had it that he was feared wide and far.

However I found him to be good hearted and not as bad as people made him out to be.

I learnt the art of good correspondence . I learnt the importance of sticking to dates and times and or overall organization of meetings and trips - he was often travelling . 

I learnt how to file and produce documents when asked for and so much more.

There were no computers back then so I became rather adept at typing. 

My telephone skills were great too.

Within the short span of two years I was promoted from a Jr Admin Asst to an Assistant. That usually took 4 to 5 years ! 

My salary was a princely Rupees 475. I went to work by cycle.

I also had to visit the various offices as mentioned. I had the opportunity to present people with Torches and cells ! Also calendars and diaries. 

I got the job done and he liked it.

Above all I had a private office which I shared with his secretary , a phone on my desk and a peon too! What more could I ask for. 

I look back to those wonder years with pride.

The skills I learnt have stood me in good stead over the years. 

God bless you Mr Naqui. RIP.