LIVES LIKE THAT
Recalling
Dt 26th Nov2019
19.
I joined my first ship m.v. Jag Laxmi, small cargo freighter of Great Eastern shipping at Calcutta Jetties in July 1965 after completing T.S.Dufferin with a First Class final passing out and some Badges--- When I joined this ship I never realised that it would be my Home away from Home for quite a few years – 1965 to January 1967. Then again in 1968 and 1969 . Recalling the joining days .
On arrival Howrah Station at 5.30 am, I proceeded by a local taxi direct to GESCO office and waited there from 0630hrs till 0930 at the foot of GESCO office. With just about Rs 50 left in my pocket this was the only economical and practical way..and it seemed quite alright then .The Per. Manager, Mr Bose at Calcutta, a kind man and a fine gentleman arrived in the office at sharp 9.30 am. He observed me with keen interest and possibly saw a very naive, tired & dishevelled youth esp. after 2 nights in a 3rdClass compartment and asked –
When did you arrive ?–I said at about 5.45 a.m
Where were you till now?
I said-waiting on the steps on Gr. Floor, sitting on my steel trunk.
Have you at least had Tea – I said No. Tea and even biscuits was served-He was indeed then even more understanding and helpful. Not only was I provided board & lodging at Mariners Club for 11 days, but added in was Re-assurance and friendliness to a youth at 18, which was something most needed. Till date... 54 years later- I have never forgotten his kindness at that first meeting. He lives in Calcutta I am told. God Bless him with Good health- The first meeting with a Principal Employer is a real challenge and an important landmark in anyone’s Career. I have seen it is more like “Strange encounters of the third kind” these days.
Then realised that my ship was held up at Sandheads and so had a long wait. So. I settled in to the Marine Club- my temporary Home till due date of docking at Calcutta Jetties In all spent 11 days waiting in the Marine Club for my ship to dock from Sandheads.
The Marine Club was a convenient place and rooms and meals were extremely good. The resident seafaring crowd at Marine Club Calcutta were all senior to me by at least 3 years or more. Mostly, from ISS and Scindias -who were doing their respective Competency Exams..popularly then called Meal Ticket at 2nd Mates levels. Almost all Seniors ex Dufferin and so easier to connect. All were friendly & most helpful with a relaxed cooperative ambience .What struck me whilst observing these offices and meeting some of them was the friendly attitude that prevailed.
I had to go daily to Marine House get my ID card. This was a slow and tedious process as it is even now at pass-port offices. Cadets –Apprentices were not given a Company Passport on joining and only an ID Card was provided as per rules then. (Unless you had your own passport).
The daily trudge to Marine House to get a ID Card was also herculean feat. During this time (July ), Calcutta had very heavy rains - and flooding, but no TV & media to report it. Had to once wade through 4 feet of water and walk to Mercantile Marine Office, from the Marine Club on a few days to get my travel documentation &ID Card done.. We just managed to some how survive & still smile on a frugal budget-This was a slow and tedious process as it is even now at pass-port offices. The daily trudge to Marine House to get a ID Card was also a herculean feat.
WE Indians manage to some how survive & still smile- -The Weather (& the Sea) have the final & last say in Life on earth.. a useful lesson for any Mariner to be!!
M.v. Jag Laxmi finally docked at Calcutta Jetties and a co cadet and I boarded one late evening and reported on duty for our Apprenticeship.
We had finally arrived at Destination 1.
This period of Apprenticeship (Cadet) was initially CP really..i.e. Chipping & Painting in first year, part Watch-keeping second year and in senior term usually after gaining some experience help the Ch. Officer in many duties inc stores indents, repair lists and of course do routine maintenance with Watch keeping in port and at Sea.Later, on the next ship a tanker- m.t. Jag Jwala- it was mostly Tank Washing and Gas Freeing work on ballast passage or Stores and misc on loaded passage.
Simple life , hard work and a set routine that seldom changed except with a Ch Oficer's mood; It was all quietly accepted.
The princely stipend of Rs 90 /-pm / Rs 100 second year as a first year/ 2nd year Cadet was received with great respect and valued and thrift was a way of life . Ships were simple and most had no AC cabins with comfort of attached facilities--Nor TV, Video or Movies etc-
Even the ship's Generator was DC electric supply and so we could not play a simple portable record player.
WE managed with Reading or some indoor games as it was all that we had to spend time-
Even in 1965 we saw 3 galleys on a ship with different food cooked! The officers meals was to some extent still british cusiine partly..but changing rapidly.It was 2 galleys still.
Finally, towards the end of the tenure, it was own study with the Self Examiner book –nicknamed Selfi” in the last few months of Apprenticeship and then to 2nd Mates Examination- the much awaited Ticket with financial independence.
As a "prospective" merchant navy officer, the period as a Cadet was a Learning and Adjustment time-.
Life was so simple; few demands and I was content & happy. On the whole, a good rounded off experience really and of course subject to a few variations with behaviour patterns of human nature that was also an education in many ways
LIVES LIKE THAT -TR
