ninavu 2.2
CV Gangadharan
1968 Mech
I met Parameswaran the very first day I joined CET, in 1965. We had been together during our entire course. And after we left the campus, we lost contacts.
All this time I have been searching for him...
While in Baroda, a casual glance of one of the CVs which came for my perusal triggered my memory.The CV was that of someone who had worked in one of Paramu's family group of companies.
A not-so-hopeful email to an employee of his group company started the chain mails and ended in finally locating my friend Paramu- after more than three decades!!!
I copy here the emails exchanged between myself and Parameswaran in years to come- until suddenly I lost contact with him once again!
From: Ganagadharan Chazhur Velayudhan
To:
Sent: Saturday,
June 08, 2002
12:14 PM
Subject: Message to Mr. A. A. Alwekar, B.E.( Prod. )
Please send this to the addressee or Mr. K. Parameswaran
Dear Mr. Alwekar,
I am mailing this piece with a strictly personal aspect old
friendship. This is the first link I could establish with your
organization. Please excuse me for the bulldozing.
I happen to be a student time friend of ( presumably ) one of your
board members ( it is only a wild guess ). I have been told in
those days that my friend would be ( again probably )joining his
family concern, that is the " Menon & Menon "s. His particulars
are as follows.
Name : Mr. K. Parameswaran, Engineering graduate.
Home town :Kodungallur, ( Crangannoor ), Kerala
Passed out from College of Engineering, Trivandrum in the
Mechanical discipline in the year 1968.
In case, he happens to be in your organization, I would be highly
obliged to you if could kindly send me his E-Mail address by
return mail or forward this message to him, with intimation to
me.
Now, let me tell about myself.
I am serving in L & T Chiyoda Limited, Baroda. We were classmates
( and long-lost friends ) at Trivandrum. I wish to say hello to
him.
Once again, sorry for the trouble.
Expecting to hear / read from you,
Yours sincerely,
From: "Mail" <menonindia.com>
To: “Gangadharan Chazhur Velayudhan"
Subject: Re: Message to Mr. A. A. Alwekar, B.E.( Prod. )
Dear Sir,
I have forwarded your message to Mr Parameswaran. His email id is
md@metalliks.com
He is presently looking after one of the Menon group companies, called
"Menon Metalliks P Ltd" and is the Managing Director of the company.
Regards
Kumari
Response from MenonIndia
Now coming to the personal side a little bit- I got married in 1972 and havetwo children. The elder one, a girl is now married and presently in Dubai where my son-in-law, Chartered Accountant by profession is a very senior Official in Standard Chartered Bank.
They have one son 3 yearsold.My second one, a boy is currently doing his studies in Mechanical Engineering at Belgaum.That is about the family and more later if you are still interested.
One thing of interest to you. You remember DKG Poduwal? He is mycloserelative now. His daughter is married to my elder brother's son. He is apost graduate in industrial engineering working as a consultant for a GermanCompany in Dubai.
Now coming to the most important part:
How are you? Please narrate your story in as much detail as possible. We will certainly meet sometime somewhere. Had I known your address earlier I would have met you in Baroda long back, since I used to come frequently there to visit my niece, whose husband, K. Chandrasekharan, was at Baroda,working in Lloyds Register of Shipping (may be you know him,since he as senior surneyor, carries out third party inspection for L&T) I eagerly look forward to your mail...
With best regards a warm Hug
,K. Parameswaran.
First ever mail from Parameswaran
From: “Gangadharan Chazhur Velayudhan"
To: "KParameswaran"
Sent: Monday,
June 10, 2002
9:56 AM
Subject: Re: Your search!
Dear Paramu,
I think, I possess the authority to address you like that. Thank
God!!! At last I could "get" you! Now since the link is
established a detailed , a very detailed reply, is in the offing.
You can await that.
We four; married in '76 to Prabha, two sons, Kisalay ( Kishal in
his records ) and Shalabh are here in Baroda, since 81 and are
OK.
The rest, a little suspense, till the next despatch. Please convey
my / our regards to Madam,children and grandkid.
With lots of love and with tremendous joy of relocating a long
lost friend,
Yours sincerely,
Gangadharan
My first mail to Paramu
From: "metalliks"
To: “Gangadharan Chazhur Velayudhan"
Subject: Re: Your search!
Dear Gangadharan ,
last time I spelt wrongly, sorry
That was short. have you ever come to Kolhapur? Today is our Weekly Holiday. There was no power since morning. I don't know how long power will last. Maharashtra is going through the worst power crisis - may be curse of Enron.
That apart, what is the suspense? I am anxious :-)). I think you are used to seeing Megaserials on TV.... (or for that matter, reading our Malayalam Weeklies starting names invarably with "Ma") - always ending in suspense. OK. I will wait. My wife has gone to Kerala and is xpected to land up tomorrow. I will add realities to my old time stories showing her your mail!!
Please convey my regards to your better half and kids who may wondering about this new unheard of imposer!!
Please write in detail... I will also start searching for suspenses in the mean time....
With warm regards,
Paramu
...exchange continues....
From: "K. Parameswaran"
To: “Gangadharan Chazhur Velayudhan"
Subject: Hello from Kolhapur again!
Dear Gangadharan ,
When I went through my yesterday's mail, I was shocked to find that I have
gulped many letters and added many where it was not required. I am sure you
will believe me when I say that my grasp in spelling is still good and the
trouble was partly due to the mosquito bite and partly due to sleep creeping
into the brain.
Where did I stop yesterday? my eldest brother passed away 3 years back after
surviving an operation to remove the stomach entirely which was affected by
Cancer. He had a fall causing fracture and his fragile body could not with
stand subsequent complications.
My roots in Kerala are still strong, thanks to my two sister in laws, from
brother's side and wife's side. At least once in a year I manage to go there
on some pretext or other. This time I am likely to go in August when we have
to be there for my Grandson's "Ezhuthiniruthu". My wife did not want to
combine, so she went on her own last month.
I live in my own flat in Kolhapur for the past 13 years. As usual life is
the same repeating itself every week. As told you, myself and my wife go for
a walk for one hour at 5.30 in the morning. Thereafter at 7.45 off to work
till 6.30 in the evening. That is the routine. Monday is weekly Holiday, I
take up my short assignment for that day as my wife's driver taking her to
all the Gods of her choice and finally ending up in the vegetable market.
This sums up life, by and large. I do watch Serials on TV and read Malayalam
Weeklies!
There is one social activity though. I am a member of local Rotary Club
where I do some social work, which gives a change in the routine. Yes I am
still allergic to Aspirin, Saridon and Anacin! DKGK Poduval is in Kochi. He
is with Marine Explosive Reserch Laboratory there.
That sums up. I will enclose a picture of my family, since I am unable to
describe myself as you did
This is taken at Mumbai Airport in Jan 2000 when I sent off my daughter
after her delivery along with her mother to Dubai and at that time my
grandson was 6 months old. You will see my son also in the picture. My son
in law was in Dubai at that time.
If you wish you can see more of his photos at http://www.varun.cjb.net
There ends my story.
Aamen
Now it is your turn
Yours, with a HUG,
Paramu.
....
From: “Gangadharan Chazhur Velayudhan"
To:
Sent: Tuesday, June 11, 2002 5:53 PM
Subject: Gangu calling: Extended reply from Baroda.
Dear Paramu,
Sorry, I kept something for suspence. Here I am narrating the whole story.
I wish you will have the time and patience to go through it.
It is really a sad message to read about the power situation. Here we are
managing with our own genset. Or else the entire computer networks and the
leased line links to Japan will other wise get buggered up.
I do not normally watch the serials. That is Prabha's area, she doesn't
miss the mother in laws and their family feuds.
I am extremely pleased to read about your growth in the career. My hearty
congratulations!
Please do write more about your family details. Where is your in-laws
place and all that.
Ah. Now I am having some time to reminisce the old memories. But the
things are gushing out as from the floodgate. And things are not in proper
order either. I need to be excused for that.
It was a matter of chance that my HIT took place on the day dedicated for
friends. It is all the more memorable. I had been trying to contact you ever
since the graduation time. I remember to have sent two letters addressed to
your Kodungallur address with the request to the receiver to redirect the
same to your proper address. Neither the response was received nor was the
letter returned to the sender. With that I literally lost all the hopes of
reaching you.
Much water has flown under the Triprayar Bridge. I was leafing through the
bunch of employment applications meant for recruitment to my company. One
candidate ( the name is insignificant now ) had mentioned the name of Mr.
Alwekar of Menons as his reference. Then it struck me again, why not try
through him? That is how this search took place. I surfed the website of
Menons and could get the E-Mail address. The rest is as clear as a dewdrop.
It appears that the wheel has run a full circle. During the entire span of
service life I could not contact you. Now, at the verge of retirement, the
student-time memories are being refreshed. What a miracle! Thoughts take the
wings and fly to the cool evenings of Kulathur, (why met even earlier to that at Thampanur) where the tender breeze emerging from the tips of the swaying coconut palms sings a characteristic whistle while flowing up and down along the hills and valleys. How many evenings together! Casual strolls through the SPACE beaches of Thumba, staring gaze of the illicit distillers of Veli, Long trek to Sanghummugham from Thampanur on a hot afternoon (just two furlongs), many ,many more.
Are you still allergic to aspirin? I hope you still remember the Sunday we
spent at Medical College, for swollen and chubby cheeks.
Now that something to catch on is available, let me ask you about the
well-being of other long-lost friends. The list is quite long; Panicker,
Ravi, Poduval, Balan, Gopi, Hariharan, Sunil Kumar, George Paul, Thomas
Mathew, Chandrasekharan Sami (of Irinjalakuda), Murthy, Chandran,
Muthulakshmi Ammal, Ashalatha Thampuran, Madhavan Nair, Mohammed ikka
(Kochi), Subrahmaniam, Sub.. (Parappanangadi), Mohanachandran.
Of them I happened to come aross Madhavan Nair once at Sindri, when he
came for some inspection of tank, which was site, fabricated by FEW long
long back. Ashalatha once (recently) appeared on the TV screen. She is at
the college itself, a very very senior professor. Senior Surahmaniam was
seen accidentally at Baroda railway station while I was receiving someone
and he alighted from the train to buy something, he was with Grasim /
Birlas. Murthy also was seen once just after graduation.
Much has been told about the past. Now it is time to narrate my story.
Joined lectureship (through Employment Exchange) at Trichur in August 68,
spent two months there then switched to REC, they were offering Rs. 25/-
more salary and probably continued service. It was much before the famous
Rajan Case episode. My total teaching experience lasted less than a year, my
students were more in age and bulk than me. I did not have any liking for
continuing there and the urge to serve the industry saw me at Fertilizer
Corporation of India Ltd. at Sindri. (The story of my advent episode). I was offered a continuous job at REC, though; I left to see the free world.
I was destined to work for the design section of FCI, but, as a usual
procedure, I went round many operating units of FCI during the so called
training period ( 2 Yrs ). I did the plant and piping designs for very many
locations and very many products. The design organ of FCI underwent many
name changes, like, Planning & Development Division, Fertilizer Planning and
Development Division and now Projects and Development India Limited, Having
its H/Q at Sindri and working offices at Delhi ( Noida ) and Baroda. I went
to Japan twice and to Singapore and Italy once each.
In 92, I changed to Linde Process Technologies India Limited at Baroda and
in 94 to L & T Chiyoda Limited when Chiyoda Corporation and L & T decided to
have wedlock in detailed engineering for process plants. Since then I am
continuing here as the head of this department. I am yet to serve the
company for 15 months prior to retirement.
Now, about the family: Purchased a Yezdi motor cycle, got married to
Prabha in 76, We were living with our new-borne son Kisalay (8 months old at
that time) when one fine morning I discovered that my bike is stolen during
the previous night. Got terribly disgusted with the place and was eager to
leave that blessed place. Just within two months a break came when I was
offered an assignment at RCF Trombay and that found us at Bombay in 79. The
railway was carrying our baggage and Prabha was carrying our second issue.
In Bombay, (2 years) we celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary, elder son's
first birthday and the second (son's) delivery.
We came to Baroda in 81, and still going strong. Both the sons had their
studies done here only. They are Commerce graduates. Kisal (we call him by
that name) is pursuing a trade in Medical Transcription while the younger
one is doing the same in Multimedia. Though they could not shine well in
academic front, they show some talent in the performing arts, music. Both of
them do not have any liki
out the settlement we have thought of to have a small dwelling shelter in
Kochi and then to shuttle between these two places. Here we have a small
flat.
I am more or less medically fit. Prabha had a couple of surgeries on her
and now she is struggling with Rheumatoid Arthritis and chewing the severe
pain induced by it daily. I do not think there is any remedy for that. So,
she is enduring it. She keeps herself busy with her Bhaktiyoga.
Parents (both sides) are no more. So also the roots to the homeland also
is not firmly bonded.
My job is plant design through 3 D model creation and then extraction of
the deliverables. We started this route of design for the first time and now
there are many players in this field. Intergraph's PDS (plant design system)
is the tool. A lot of hydrocarbon based plants for various refineries have
been done here.
Where is our dear Govindankuuty Poduval? Does he still smoke? I know your
neice's husband, Mr. Chandrasekharan. LRIS (he too) was our 3rd party
inspectors for our purchases while I was in Linde's. We have met on a few
occasions. Their office is very close to our flat. His bosses Mr. Raizada
and Mr. Mukherji had interactions with me.
My residence is
J/ 7 Kalindi Apartments,
Pashabhai Park,
B/H Race Course Towers,
Race Course Circle (West),
Baroda 390007.
Phone: Residence( 0265 ) 338059, 310483
Office: (Direct) 772920
We missed the golden opportunities when you used to visit this blessed
city. Where is Mr. Chandrasekharan nowadays by the by?
Mother nature is at work and she draws her own designs on me. Powerful
glasses, strong and deep wrinkles, dominant smile line, multi-parallel
grooves in the broad forehead, sagging skin, gray hairs (whatever is left),
loose muscles, fading memory, etc. are the results. You may find it
difficult to recognize me.
Unfortunately, I had not got the good fortune of going to Kolhapur any
time. My reach was up to Sholapur, Belgaum and Hubli that side. What more? I
had written so much. That is all for the time being. Please convey my wishes to your grandson.
Expecting to hear from you,
Yours sincerely,
CVG.
....
From: "metalliks"
To: “Gangadharan Chazhur Velayudhan"
Subject: Hello from Kolhapur again!
Hello Gangu,
I sat through and finished the whole story like reading a thriller. At the
nd I felt sad that it s over so soon. But after all it is a megaserial...
ossibilty of going on endlessly. I envy you that you have a very sharp
memory. When you narrated, all the scenes were rushing to my mind like in a
movie... That reminds me what I wanted to tell you when I went through your
writings. You should have cultivated writing. By now you would have got a
Jnanapeeth award!
In between I had a break You know for what? to call you! Long back I met OV
Thomas in Bombay (yes at that time it was Bombay) He was working in Tata
Cosultants at Carnak Bandar. A relative of ne was very close o our CK
Chandran. He wa working as Electrical Inspector in PWD at Thrissur.
Mohanchanran was working in Kirloskar Pneumatics in Pune where his brother
was there. Later he left andjoined somewhere in Gulf. No more trace of him.
Oh there was one Balasubrahmanian -Balu. Probably 1 yea senior to us in
Electrcal. He was with Kirloskar Consultants.and joined us later and finally
ended up in the Bank of India. This is as far as my memory goes. Wait a
minute there was one Balakrishnan in Mech. I met him in Bombay when he was
working for Fiebig - the pressure guage manufacturers.
So that is it there ends my track record and finally you.
You know my brother-in-law was having the ndustries at Kolhapur where I
ended up at last. In fact my two elder brothers were already here when I
came to Kolhapur. Elder one had a white Collar job in Premier Automobiles at
Bombay My brothe-in-law pulled him to Kolhapur to Start a machine shop here.
He doing well and has added a foundry also now. My next brother was BDO in
Kolhapur he was also pulled out to join Menon and Menon as commercial
Manager. He met with a fatal car accident in Kolhapur in July 1986. My
mother was old and sick at that time and so we did not tell her about his
death. But she passed away on the same Nakshatra after 50 Days. My eldest
Brother was a professor at Kodungallur. Probably you have met him when he
came to our Hostel when both of us went to Kereal University for
convocation.
I married my brother in law's niece.. I promise it was an arranged marriage
though we knew each other.She has one elder sister at Kerala, married to a
Paediatrician ( who again is my brother in law's brther's brothe in law! )
Enough of inlaws and out laws you may thnink now. Lot musquitoes biting me
know and I am unable to proceed. Shall continue where I stopped now tomrrw
In the mean time I wait for your mail..
My phone: Res. 0231 657415 or 0231 663524
Office: 0230 468572 or 0230 468512 Direct: 0230 468928
Address.
Kusum Apartment,
Unique Park Kolhapur 416003
You may have my office address from my website at http://www.metalliks.com
Good night it is already 10.15 pm ( do not worry about the time shown along
side this mail - that is a different reason.)
Paramu
.......
Post Script:
And then the mails stopped suddenly. And I could not trace him back through the contact details I already had.
During a chance meeting with Hareendralal here in UAE, I came to know that Paramu died in a tragic accident a couple of years back.
Thus I realised that I have lost my friend once and for all.