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Articles: My Thoughts | -By Sudha Murthy
- Ms. Pushpa Pushpakumari
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One day, while on the way to my hostel from our lecture-hall complex,
I saw an advertisement on the notice board. It was a standard
job-requirement notice from the famous automobile company Telco (now
Tata Motors). It stated that the company required young, bright
engineers, hardworking and with an excellent academic background,
etc. At the bottom was a small line: 'Lady candidates need not
apply.'
I read it and was very upset. For the first time in my life I was up
against gender discrimination. Though I was not keen on taking up the
job, I saw it as a challenge. I had done extremely well in academics,
better than most of my male peers. Little did I know then that in
real life academic excellence is not enough to be successful. After
reading the notice I went fuming to my room. I decided to inform the
top most person in Telco's management about the injustice the company
was perpetrating. I got a postcard and started to write, but there
was a problem: I did not know who headed Telco. I thought it must be
one of the Tatas. I knew JRD Tata was the head of the Tata Group; I
had seen his pictures in newspapers (actually, Sumant Moolgaokar was
the company's Chairman then).I took the card, addressed it to JRD and
started writing. To this day I remember clearly what I wrote.
'The great Tatas have always been pioneers. They are the people who
started the basic infrastructure industries in India, such as iron
and steel, chemicals, textiles & locomotives. They have cared for
higher education in India, since 1900 and they were responsible for
the establishment of the Indian Institute of Science. Fortunately, I
study there. But I am surprised how a company such as Telco is
discriminating on the basis of gender.'
I posted the letter and forgot about it. Less than 10 days later, I
received a telegram stating that I had to appear for an interview at
Telco's Pune facility at the company's expense. I was taken aback by
the telegram. My hostel mates told me I should use the opportunity to
go to Pune free of cost and buy them the famous Pune saris for cheap!
I collected Rs 30 each from everyone who wanted a sari. When I look
back, I feel like laughing at the reasons for my going, but back then
they seemed good enough to make the trip. It was my first visit to
Pune and I immediately fell in love with the city. To this day it
remains dear to me. I feel as much at home in Pune as I do in Hubli,
my hometown. The place changed my life in so many ways. As directed,
I went to Telco's Pimpri office for the interview.
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