The talk is of 1975, when I Raj. The State Electricity Board was working as Assistant Engineer in Chirawa. At that time Pilani town was also under Chirawa sub-division. The richest person of Pilani Shri Ghanshyam ji Birla was number one in the country. He established Birla Engineering College Pilani. Due to some technical glitches, the engineering college administration used to collect electricity bills at the old rate. But due to the new tariff, the entire bill was not deposited. Under the direction of higher officials, an arrears bill of about 76 lakh 15 years was sent to that college in 1975.
A week later Birlaji came from Delhi to Pilani and invited me for a meal at his residence on Sunday. I made an excuse for not coming to the messenger, but went on Birla ji’s request for the second time. You will be surprised that he didn’t utter a word about the arrears bill, I was surprised. One week Pilani met the Gaya chief trustee and he told that Birlaji had gone by saying that the local engineer made the bill on the instructions of higher officials. So don’t spoil your relationship with them. We will resolve the matter by talking to the Power Minister. Can such behavior be expected from the rich man of today?
Visit to Pilani in 1976, Supreme Court Judge Uthwalia Saheb as the chief guest in the college program was sponsored. He was given the status of a state guest by the government. On that day the District Collector, Superintendent of Police, Chief Medical Officer and I met and welcomed him at the Rajasthan border in their protocol and later brought him to Pilani and stayed in the guest house. In another room nearby, the four of us were chatting. Mr. Superintendent of Police narrated a funny anecdote in such a way that we all started laughing out loud. After a while, a guest house worker came and told us all of us were called to his room by the honorable judge.
We were a bit constricted, but you would be surprised when Jan Saheb said you tell me the same thing that made you laugh. I am also a social animal like you and have left the Supreme Court chair in Delhi.
The third case is of Jalore district, where a wealthy person was a resident of the village where my posting/residence was. In 1976, Finance Minister Mr. Morarji Desai announced the closure of 1000 rupee notes for one day. I had a telephone call in that village and his accountant from Mumbai told me over the phone that please send Sethji to your home.
Call it important work. After half an hour, Seth talked to the bookkeeper and told that 75 lakh rupees is number two, what should I do with him? Sethji replied after thinking for two minutes, burn them. Now you can guess how much wealth that Seth had.
The same Seth was having tea with me in the village one day at the hotel. His uncle had a small shop in that village. Used to drive. They also went there to have tea. That Seth said Tauji will pay for today’s tea, what is my position in front of him?
Even after having so much money, I have not forgotten Seth even after so many years. His humility, respect for elders. Even after being such a big millionaire Seth, he still seemed to be attached to the ground. Blessed are the above three great people and their unforgettable words.
-Er. Tarachand
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