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dictation work and a Group D staff looked after the office and
visitors. Within a short time of joining office I bought a new
car –Premier President model. I learnt in no time driving. I
took my wife to Ootacamund to see my wife’s sister whose
husband was Manager Production, Hindustan Photo Films.
Among the tourist spots I and my wife visited were V.O.C
Park,Marudmalai Hills ,Muruga Temple, The snacks sold in
GauriShankar Hotel were another attraction. I used to watch
movies screened in the Rainbow theatre within arm’s distance

of my office. Both Sri.R.Mani my P.A and S.S.Venkataraman
IPO in my office were polished gems. With the help of
Sri.Venkataraman I could commission several studies some of
which were the subject of review by the Work study team of
the Directorate. This Venkataraman was a person of great
acumen and suave in manners and always with a sense of
humour.We three during our inspection tours followed one
policy. I did not expect any officer or staff of the office we
were going to inspect to receive us at bus stop or rail station.
Secondly after completing inspection of the subjects which
could be covered for the day we would proceed straight to
some restaurant and presented ourselves at local cinema
house to view whatever was on offer. This way we would
avoid any office staff at our camp and their request for
favours!

In 1973 there was countryide shortage of white printing paper.
Post offices had no adequate stock of even essential forms
with the result that there were rampant criticisms against
postal service. When I called for public tenders the response
was highly dissatisfying. Private merchants quoted abnormal
price which at that rate would leave our budget in a shambles.
So I preferred Government of Mysore paper mill Bhadravati
Paper Mills to others even though that mill wanted advance
payment of the price of paper we wanted to take off from the
mill. In Government procedure advance payment was
anathema. But the alternative was to continue with shortage.
So I took a bold risk in sending my Superintendent

Coimbatore Postal Stores Depot to Bhadravathi on truck with
a cheque for the cost of paper to be purchased. The amount

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