Malaysia- early memories Part 1

It was December 1970.
I was a young design engineer, 27 years old, working with Kirloskar Electric Company in Bangalore.
Married just 30 months ago, and Ashwini was just about a year old.
There was talk in the factory about the decision to start a new Joint Venture in Malaysia, where we had considerable Exports in those days.
Being mainly in Machine Design, and away from all Marketing activities, these were just distant waves for me.
Not so, it was proved to me soon.
I got a call one afternoon that the CEO Mr Ravi Kirloskar wanted to see me.
That itself was rare. Although I had met him a few times, also at his home, it was by no means frequent.
So with a worried look I entered his office.
With Him was Mr Kashyap, the Managing Director designate of the Malaysian Joint venture, whom I knew a slightly, since we had played Bridge and cricket together.
With hardly a preamble, Mr Kirloskar popped the question:
'' Tambe, would you like to work in Malaysia?''
Such an offer coming out of the blue stunned me completely.
Seeing me speechless amused both of them, and the boss then explained patiently, '' Look, we are starting a JV in Malaysia, would you like to take charge of Designs in that factory?''
''It will be for about 5 years, and you will shift there with family ''
I found speech at last,
''Thank you very much Sir, but May I have some time to reply?''
'' Of course, but not too much. Please tell Kashyap your decision by next Friday''

I left the office hardly believing my ears.
As bad luck would have it, Sujata was in Pune attending Upendra's wedding.
Phones at home were rare those days. I was bubbling with news with no one to share it with.
I went to the public phone in our office and called the only close friend we shared all our news with, Mrs Sulochana Marathe! She was as ecstatic as I was. I talked about consulting Sujata and my parents before deciding. In her usual steam rolling and efforvescent manner, she just brushed aside the issue saying that I should go to Kashyap and say Yes straight away. Being ever the balanced chap, I pointed out that I had a week any way , so why not use that?
Then I wrote a hurried letter to Sujata at Pune. Letters to Aurangabad and Parabhani, and asking them to phone me their reactions. I got a call from Sujata who was very excited. Subsequently a call from Auranagabad that although they would be sad for us to be so far away from them, Anna Vaini only wanted the best for us, and hoped we would be back after 5 years. Remember that Anna was 71 and Vaini 60 at the time, and were hoping to spend many years with me.
Ditto from Dada from Parabhani.
So with a day to spare, I informed Kashayp, that it was 'All systems Go', who was actually mildly surprised as to what was the big deal about consultations.
I was relived of my normal duties in February 1971 and was on special orientation at other manufacturing units and other companies in the Group.
Time was flying, and other personal preparations were on too, like learning car driving and getting a licence, getting rid of things to be left behind, bank work, visas.
Farewell dinners were going on with several friends.
I made a trip to Aurangabad and Parabhani. The final parting was very difficult with the knowledge that we may not meet for at least a couple of years. I already mentioned earlier about the difficult communications those days, with trunk calls only at Post offices.
Now it was time to leave. All packing done, and bigger packages following us by sea.
Our house on 11th main road in Malleswaram, where we had so many memories, and where Ashwini was born, was handed over to Prabahakar Dixit, my BiL, who shifted to Bangalore around that time.
His daughter Aparna was born just the day before we left Bangalore.
Although I had taken a few air trips by then, for Sujata and Ashwini that was the first air travel. Ashwini was all excitement.
We had to change aircrafts those days at Chennai, with an overnight stay at Chennai, paid for by Air India at the 5 star Connemara! Unbelievable to day of course.
Our flight from Bangalore was in the afternoon. The Marathes, Prabhakar, my friend Padhye were all at the airport. With tears in the eyes for what we were leaving behind, but filled with the excitement of the new life, we left Bangalore.
At the Connemara, still talking about Bangalore, we got a call from Sulutai Marathe, who had put on a gramophone record of our mutually favorite Kumar Gandharva song,
'' Ajooni rosooni aahe'' and put it near the phone. Very very touching. These were the type of friends we were leaving behind.
Bhau and Dada arrived in Madras to see us off, and they too stayed at the Connemara, of which Bhau can recite the stories even today.
We took off from the old Madras airport, where the relatives could actually over the fence watch us board the aircraft. More waves, more melancholy and we were on board,little Ashwini all excitement, all of us embarking on a new life.
The day was July 1st, 1971.