My bosses – Mentors, Guides, Moral Support, Parents, Guardians – Strong Threads in life !!

 My bosses – Mentors, Guides, Moral Support, Parents, Guardians – Strong Threads in life !!

Today happens to be the birthday of one of my bosses in my professional journey of over 32 years.  His name is Dr. Mahesh Patel.  Its just the coincidence, today is his birthday and I thought of expressing my association and how he has touched our lives internally. Of course, there are some more who equally overtone the same.  But today its only about Patel sir as an emotional souvenir being gifted to him.  In fact he deserves more and more but at this juncture, this is the pertinent thing I can do. 

There are some personalities which make impact in your personal and professional life and Dr. Patel sir is one of them at the top who really touched our lives including our families inside out and we still carry that impact. 

In 1999, I joined Wockhardt Research Centre as a Secretary to him and in the very first meeting itself he clearly mentioned that you are not just the secretary to me but there are other responsibilities in the department that you will be doing in your tenure.   A fatherly figure saying this to me and also motivating me time to time to do more and not just the routine job.  I started taking care of the procurement of glassware, consumables, stationary and what not.  Slowly he also involved me in our Revenue and Capex budgeting for the division and he pushed me almost in all the areas. Contract manpower management, facilities repairs, AMCs,  working on interdepartmental presentations and arranging the meetings, events.  The kind of freedom coupled with responsibilities and guidance was making us more effective.  Believe me at no point in time I also felt that I have been given additional or extra assignments and happily we all kept of performing it. Being a director in 1999 was a very big role he had in the organisation but he set an example by coming in right in time every day and we were always the last to leave the R&D centre.  Almost everyday during my tenure I deposited the keys at Security. 

Its not that its only me but his approach towards the entire strength (we were over 60 at that point in time in a group) and he was sharing the same bond with every one including our lab boys, animal house attendants and his driver.  Apart from his basic subject matter expertise, he also has all round knowledge about everything that happens around – let it be innovation, new technologies, cultures, academics, politics and what not. Late evenings before leaving was the time for all such general discussions as a cool down of the efforts through the day. 

For all festivals he built a culture that we get together and celebrate it with families.  He initiated it from himself and atleast twice a year apart from official get together we always met in person at his residence with family.  Mrs. Patel was running this with a passion and love.  She always loved cooking and offering variety of foods to all of us.  Hats off to the passion and love she has doing this, I still remember the various sweet items she used to prepare during Diwali – rich in nutrition.  Visiting him during this time was always an excitement and fun as kids also used to get gifts and what not.    Dr. Patel is affectionate about kids and he treats them with care and love. Nehal – his daughter also used to play with all of those boys and girls – though she was senior to them.  I remember during all his international visits, he used to bring the chocolates for kids – its not the normal toffies but the special ones bigger in size and heavy.  Those pictures are moving still in front of my eyes.  Being a Gujarati he also loved to eat variety of vegetarian foods – but of course in a proposition and no overeating at all. 

Every year we have had our annual get together where he used to personally involve in it and making sure that everyone joins it.  Not only that, but during the events, he used to talk to each and every person, his family members, kids  every one and making them comfortable.  In one of the events, I was dressed like a traditional Gujarati and kicked off the event by playing Dandiya – I was doing it alone – he pushed our other members and asked them to join me and in a process every one came to stage and it was a grand gala event kick-off.  Most of it he ran out of his own budget and sponsored it in toto. 

In my close to 6 years tenure, at no point in time he denied the leaves nor he raised his voice.  His way of counselling was different.  He would ask you to sit and discuss the issues and will provide solutions to it.  However, complex it be, he would always resolve it amicably – technical, personal, emotional etc. 

In 2001 – I was going through a bad phase in terms of my health.  I got jaundice (prior to that had multiple complications and finally its concluded that it is only jaundice).  My bilirubin levels were high and was hospitalised couple of times during the process.  My house was on the 2nd floor wherein doctors have advised me not to take steps due to weakness.  I moved to my in-laws house as its on ground floor.  You would be surprised to note that almost every other day Dr. Patel used to come to see me after office hours.  He used to sit on ordinary steel chair, he would bring loads of oranges with him.  By peeling the skin off, with his own hands he offered the oranges to me.  Why a boss had to do this.  No father would take care like this – that kind of care he has taken from me.  You are truly amazing sir.  Salute to you for all this.  

In 2001 we are blessed with second son Harshal and the first pair of clothes that was offered was by Mrs. Patel.  She went to the hospital very next of the delivery.  Sat with my wife for over 2 hours.  Both of them were always there to support in any kind of personal, family or any other conflict, emergencies. 

He built a nice bunglow in Aurangabad and for the house warming event, we were all invited like family members. It was like a family event for us and he took care of all of us as precious guests and not his juniors or subordinates.   I remember one more incidence, I left Aurangabad in 2004 and in 2008 I planned threading ceremony of my sons.  I went his home to invite him for the same.  He was alone at the home, believe me he himself made the nice juice and offered to me.  Not only that he also made it to the event and spent over 2 to 3 hours attending the event.  Wherein again he never expected for a special attention and just like family member he enjoyed it fully. 

I repaint that off late not been able to connect with him regularly but on and off I get in touch over phone, whatsapp etc.  There is a lot lot lot to write but may be next time…. I wish you a Happy Birthday sir.  Live long, healthy, prosperous, cheerful and happy life to a person who literally made a real impact on our social, personal and professional lives. ..

Sharad Puranik – April 19, 2023