Bhagirath Arya (Punia)

Bhagirath Arya (Punia) (भागीरथ आर्य) was born on 15th August 1935 at village Shyampura district Jhunjhunu Rajasthan. His father Harjiram Arya was a marginal farmer family Jat (Punia) who served G.D.Birla House Ranchi about 30 years. He presently lives at Damoh in Madhya Pradesh. He played an important role in establishing a Cement Plant at Damoh.

His family

Bhagirath Arya has two brothers: 1. Late S.D. Arya elder brother retired as senior RAS officer collector Jagirs Jaipur and 2. Dr.S.K. Arya, younger brother is settled in U.S.A.

Bhagirath Arya married with Mrs. Krishna Arya (Dhul) of Hansi and has two sons: 1. Sumer Singh Arya, Elder son is settled in USA. He married with Sunita Kumari Arya (Lohan) and has three sons Divyam, Yash and Harsh. 2. Vikram Arya, Younger son died early in a car accident on 04.02.2010. His wife is Nirmala Arya (Khicher) and have daughter Devanshi Arya and son Aryan Arya are currently settled at Damoh M.P.

Education

He studied at Maharaja college Jaipur Intermediate science biology.

Career

Having failed to get admission in medical College Jaipur he joined service at Grasim Nagda M.P.1955 as a textile laboratory chemist in first staple fiber plant 15 TPD established by G.D.Birla group in 1952.

Soon he came in close contact with Shri D.P. Mandelia the Chief advisor to Shri G.D.Birla who looked after administration of all the companies in the G.D.group. Due to process problem in the plant and plant head having injured seriously Mr Mandelia had to stay long at Nagda to manage things himself. Mr Mandelia shifted Mr. Arya from laboratory to reports department where daily reports from all the departments are received and a daily efficiency report is prepared in comparison of the Standard costing of the plant (Parta). This is the most important report sent to higher management every day.

1st January 1966 G.D.Birla acquired the first cement plant in his group from Kaiser International U.S.A. that of Mysore Cements Ltd. Plant at Ammasandra 76 Kms away from Bangalore producing Cement brand name Diamond. Mr Arya was was appointed there as General Officer heading Reports, Security, Building construction, Sanitation, Gardening, Guest houses.

Mr.Arya was transferred to Damoh M.P. in January 1974 as Chief Resident executive to take up the job of establishing a new cement plant at village Narsinghgarh district Damoh M.P. This new plant in the name of Diamond Cements Prop. Mysore Cements Ltd. started production in 1981. It was sold to Heidelberg Ltd in 2006.

Left Diamond Cement

Mr.Arya left company in 1983 at the early age of 48years after serving 29years due to differences with management. Mr.Arya does not want to explain in detail except that Mr.G.D.Birla and Mr.D.P. Mandelia in spite of having all appreciation for his performance could not make his site boss Mr.N L. Hamirwasia to do so which made him disgusted and he resigned.

It is well established lacuna in private Indian (marwari) management that though the top management selects dedicated persons and maintains them at all levels whom no one dare disturb but these persons are not respected by any local management head which makes them disgusted sometimes and they leave without any change in their respect and regard for the top management. The chief also keeps helping them in their new venture as before.

Established Cement Plant at Damoh

Author: Bhagirath Arya.

I was deputed in January 1974 to take charge of Damoh project of Mysore Cements Ltd. Bangalore for establishing a new Cement plant in district Damoh. I reached Damoh on 4th.Feb 1974 self driving a brand new Jeep waiting for me at Bhopal. I found that the Company has not a single smallest peace of Land at Damoh to put their foot. Three applications one for 4000 acres lime stone mining lease at village Narsinghgarh surrounding ten villages and two applications pending with Industries department for acquiring 800 acres of land at two places Narsingarh and Imlai for plant construction. And these matters were being pursued by Birlas Liasson office at Bhopal. As such there was nothing for me to do except renting a house for my residence and shifting my family from Jaipur to Damoh.

This idle period gave me golden chance to mix with Govt Officers and develop personal family friendship with practically all senior officers of the district. As a matter of fact this honest support of the District collector and all his other officers made the project a big success. Though the District was dacoit infected we absolutely faced no hurdles during entire period of construction of the plant. It was exemplary smooth implementation of the project and Mr G D. Birla and Mr. D.P. Mandelia expressed their their gratitude to the then Chief Minister Mr.Shyama Charan Sukla.

During my idle period one instance is worth mentioning. Because sanction of our mining Lease was taking abnormal time and this delay was due to Central Govt. They were delaying in approving certain special conditions which the state had proposed. I new this fact through our Bhopal Officer Mr N.C.Shastri. I played an honest trick. Local people were not fully convinced that Birlas are really serious in establishing the plant. They were telling during last elections when Mr Shanker Giri. Presidents son won parliamentary election from Damoh. They had promised they will construct Cement factory. Now because elections have been declared they are again active.

I decided to take a chance. I drafted a telegram exactly what the local people had their opinion and requested Mr.Jagannath Prasad Tiwari Narsingarh village head to post this telegram in his name to Mrs Indira Gandhi the then Prime Minister. He gladly did the job. Within two days of firing this telegram Collector Damoh Mr.K.S.Thakur received a SOS from Bhopal Industries Secretary that send the local officer of Mysore Cements Ltd to collect the sanction letter of their mining Lease. Next day I collected it. Our Bhopal Officer was surprised why the secretary did not inform him about it. Obviously because the Secretary wanted to do the fastest compliance matter related to PM. 22.07.1975 Mr. N.C.Shastri came from Bhopal and we executed the Mining Lease agreement with Collector Mr.K.S.Thakur at Damoh for 4000 acres ML. This was the first successful step for Damoh project.

Thus when Mr. G .D. Birla was a part of daily life of Mahatma ji which Congress leader dare disturb house of Birlas? Even Pandit Nehru had a good opinion about their working. Once he remarked in some meeting quote as long as they do not waste or hoard the money and keep making new factories out of their profits every year I do not mind whether they are paying taxes genuinely or not. I can recover taxes whenever I want. We can not make new factories out their taxes. Only they are capable of doing it.

Grasim (Nagda) episode when the President I.H.Parikh was injured . I believe there was staff strike against the behavior of Mr.D.P.Mandelia. It so happened one night 0200 hrs. Mr. Mandelia was on surprise round of the plant. I was also on night duty in textile laboratory. He first went to spinning department which was actually facing problem. Regeneration of fiber process was failing. The duty Chemist Mr.S.M.Saxena was not present on spot he was sitting in the canteen with other few chemists. This was quite normal practice for night shift supervising chemists operators would call them in case of any problem. Mr.Mandelia sent one man to call the duty supervisor from canteen. He waited more than half an hour. when Saxena came Mr.Mandelia asked him where were you.? He did not reply simply kept standing because it seems he did not realise the seriousness of the situation. He was son of chief boiler inspector Indore and was appointed by Mr.Mandelia. Mr.Mandelia was so furious that he caught hold of his hand and brought him near main door asked him to get out of the department we do not want such people.

After this he went round the plant which took him more than a hour. By this time this news went round the plant and all the duty Chemists gathered near the main gate of the plant and when Mr.Mandelia was going back they came near him and wanted to talk. He again fired them and said this is no time to talk go and attend your duties. After this they called more staff from the colony and also called the production Manager Mr.P.M.Jhaveri.

A meeting was held in the plant office and after an assurance from the Production Manager that If Mr.Mandelia does not apologise about his misbehaviour in the morning he will also resign with other Chemists. All of them went on duty.

As stated I was in night duty and I was watching all these events rather I was a member of their assembly. Soon after completing my night shift at 0700hrs.First time after joining service at Nagda I rushed straight to Birla House on river bank on cycle and informed the duty Guard. Mr.Mandelia was taking break fast all alone immediately called me and asked to sit down on the front chair. I narrated all what had happened after his leaving the plant in the night. He asked me one question why it so happened when we have our many members in the staff ? You will be surprised this was my first meeting with Mandeliaji earlier my father or my elder brother who was Company Secretary in his office at Gwalior talked to him about me. I told him what I have studied so far in very plain and fran language which was as follows:-

1.I am a regular member of Tennis club and Mr.Parikh the President also. What talks at tennis court are held every day I can not narrate but the way all enjoy the remarks passed by Mr.Parikh about you shows that they do not have any respect for you.

2.Allmost all technical staff is either from south India or Maharastrians from Bombay and Indore. All young staff mostly unmarried. For them Mr.Parikh is all and all.

He immediately booked a call and informed some one at Gwalior that a person sent by G.D.Babu from Calcutta Nandlal Hamirwasia be sent here by first train. In the end he told me that he will take their resignations in the morning.

At 10 A.M. all gathered in office. The Production Manager Jhaveri was trying to convince them not to precipitate the issue .This infuriated them further . Mr.Mandelia was in Presidents cabin where I entered and informed that all are in Production Manager's cabin and pressing him to go and call you for apology. And Mr.Jhaveri is actually weeping. Mr.Mandelia immediately left the cabin took Mr.R.G.Perry a British Scientist chemical advisor with him and went to conference hall and occupied a Chair. I stood behind his Chair. Soon the whole crowed moved in conference hall and all stood infront of Mr. Mandelia the production Manager did not come.

Shri D.P.Mandelia narrated the exact treatment given to Mr S.M.Saxena last night in spinning department while he was on surprise checking round at 0200 hrs. After this he asked Mr.Saxena who was standing in front row whether what he has narrated is true or not. Mr Saxena simply said Quote I felt insulted unquote. Shri Mandeliaji ended saying if anybody from you will behave like Mr.Saxena did he will get the same treatment we do not want to keep people who do not care for their duty. Now Mr. Perry you explain them what all problems we are facing these days. How can we afford to be lethargic in our duties Mr Mandelia remarked and left the conference hall. Everybody left peacefully resignations all remained in their pockets. Hardly half an hour for whole damage control exercise.

That day Mr. Madelia was in continuous conference with the Vice President Mr.V.N. Bagrodia and made many changes. He directed Mr. Barodia to transfer me immediately from Textile Lab to reports department and his duty will be to go round the plant day and night and submit a hand written report to you for taking suitable action. And hereafter all the textile lab chemist will be included in the regular staff list. They will no more be card holders.

Grasim Birlagram (Nagda) MP. Period. 1955 to 1965: After the incident of Chemists protest against Mr.Mandelia which took place some time during 1956,57 two more workers agitations which followed are worth mentioning sometime around 1960.

As directed by Mandeliaji Mr.N.L. Hamirwasia moved from Gwalior to Nagda. Mr.Madelia issued a circular under his signature appointing Mr Hamirwasia as personal assistant to the President Mr.I.H.Parikh who was undergoing treatment at Bombay. As a matter of fact Mandeliaji stayed pretty long at Nagda and toned up administration as per his style no tolerance for Indiscipline and disobedience. Mr.Hamirwasia shared my office cabin (Reports deptt.) We both together started moving in plant and go through the departmental log books maintained in every process department where smallest of mistake/process problems are put in writing for investigation if need be. And then submit daily report to the Vice President Mr.V.N. Bagrodia and he in turn started demanding explanations from the departmental heads. This process created lot of stress on departmental heads who were mostly from south and who till yesterday knew Mr.Barodia as a CA a Gold medalist Vice President looking after commercial departments of the plant. The biggest side effect of this stress was that the workers of the plant who actually started suffering because ultimately they have to take responsibility of most of the lapses. The result was the trade union leaders were up against Mandeliaji and Mr Bagrodia. They were friendly with President and departmental heads. Ultimately this resulted in two very serious violent acts by the trade union, which I will narrate here later.

Before that one important incident which is as follows:-

The departmental heads started keeping the daily shift log books under lock and key and stopped displaying it all the 24 hours in open for anybody to read and note. I reported this matter to Mandeliaji. He took a serious note of it and issued a circular for all departmental heads first time ever under his own signatures. The matter of the circular which I still remember by heart was as follows :-

All departmental heads to please note that reports department is the most important department for our management. It is the primary duty of all departmental heads to submit correct daily reports to the reports department. The department has the authority to see inspect any records maintained by department for smooth running of the plant.

Anybody having any difficulty in doing so can personally discus the matter with me. Only one departmental head Mr.I.S.Mehta met Mandeliaji none other. And Mr.Mehta can not have any difficulty because he was pro Mandeliaji.

Workers attack on administrative office building at Nagda. One day large crowd of workers gate crashed the main office just opposite to the main gate of the plant. The crowd rushed to first floor to attack Vice President Mr.V.N.Bagrodia who was in his office. My office was very near to stairs I rushed and stood in front of Mr.Bagrodia's office. The crowd pushed me and the door opened. The whole crowd was in the Office they were hitting me badly but I stood at the point where one has to enter and reach behind the table to hit Mr.Bagrodia who was standing calmly in the corner. Suddenly a smart sub Inspector arrived climbed over the table brandishing revolver and warning the crowd to get out. He was standing on the table and hitting badly by his legs. The crowd with equal speed left the office. I saw there was no other police man in office one sub Inspector saved the situation. Luckily no body could hit Mr.Barodia. After this incident Mandeliaji transferred Mr N.C.Shastri from Bhopal to Nagda to take care of labour issues.

When Mr.Parikh returned from Bombay after treatment he was the most disturbed person. He did not talk to Mr.N.L.Hamirwasia all though he was his personal assistant. Mandeliaji transferred him to Mavoor Kerela where Grasim had taken up construction of a wood Pulp plant to be used at Nagda. He was made head of Building construction department. This was the first Industry of Birlas in Kerela where communist Govt. was in power and Mr.Nambudripad was the Chief Minister. It is a fact that this plant was taken up on the personal request of Mr.Nambudripad to Mr.G.D.Birla and certainly it was a big success, the Govt. supported at every stage. Thats what Mandeliaji confirmed and also col.Rajan the unit head.

January 1966 when Mysore Cements was taken by Birlas Mr.N.L.Hamiressia was transferred to Ammasandra and took charge as Dy.General Manager under Mr.R.G.Perry as General Manager and the author as General Officer.

Foundation history of Jauligrant Airport, District Dehradun, Uttrakhand.

Author (Bhagirath Arya) a retired Sr. Executive of G.D.Birla group of Industries(1955-1983).

Some time in 1977 Shri G.D.Birla suffered a mild heart attack. A new house was constructed for him on the bank of river Ganga in a private agriculture farm hardly 10 kms down stream from Rishikesh Laxman jhula. Simultaneously an exercise for the construction of a private Airstrip somewhere near the said site of new Birla House called Ganga Lahari was going on. As per Govt.of India's policy no private Airfield is permissible in the desired area. However the Govt. had decided to provide one civilian Airport to Dehradun.

Birlas got the solution they agreed to built the Airport for the Govt.as per their plan On their land free of cost. The Govt. Immediately agreed and the Officials of DGCA approved the site very near to Dehradun city on West. The author was posted at Damoh M.P. where Birlas were constructing a Cement plant under the banner of M/s Mysore cements Ltd. Bangalore. The author being incharge of construction over there had built an Airstrip of 5000. Ft.long and 100ft. wide in a nominal cost of Rs.30,000/-in March 1976. I was directed to go to Dehradun with an Officer of HINDALCO (Birlas Alluminium plant at Mirzapur) to inspect the site for airport construction approved by DGCA officials. Shri D.P. Mandelia the chief advisor to Shri G.D.Birla directed me at Damoh over phone that if the site is fine then you take up construction work immediately and finish the work within one month as you did at Damoh for Sitanagar Airstrip.We want to fly Babu(G.D.Birla) to Ganga Lahari house within a month. I explained him that the site is a very difficult Land old Brick Kiln area, fully packed with jhuggis .It requires heavy earth work and cost will go in crores and wll be impossible for us to complete it within one year. His immediate reaction was, then forget this site and you go again and search a site where you can make a Airfield within a month. So I left Damoh on 19.12.1977 for Dehradun in the same old company of HINDALCO officer from Lukhnow. We both met Collector Dehradun before starting our search operations. The Collector responded very positively and said he has two patches of Land 20 kms from Rishikesh side on state highway for the rehabilitation of Tehri Dam farmers. The farmers are willingly taking the lands on south of the highway. But none is willing to take on Himalian side. If you want I can give that land to you for the Airport construction without any delay. We both straight drove about 25 kms east on the highway and it was easy to locate the site. First it was just touching the highway and secondly it had no vegetation on it not even grass, full of pebbles sand as if it was done for the Airport. I simply walked on foot and measured it. It was more than 6000ft long. Really a beautiful site. So easily we got what we were going to search.

After this we saw that the village is nearby. We went there and met the surpanch. Who will believe he was my cast man. I told him if you agree we can construct an Airfield here. First he thought we were joking. Then I gave him my ID and told him that I am personally coming after few days to start the work you should give me all possible help. He was happy and satisfied and we drove to Ganga Lahari. The Officer drove back to Dehradun alone to inform the Collector and do his Liasson work.

I took a Jeep and went around Rishikesh for further searching but found no site and returned to Damoh on 26.12.1977. Since my President did not relieve me to undertake the construction of this Airport Shri D P. Mandelia probably directed Gwalior Rayons to take up the work and complete it within one month.

I did not follow further progress but the work was completed in first quarter of 1978 and it was inaugurated by U.P. Governor Shri Dharamveer. Thus Late Shri G.D.Birla was the Founder of Dehradun Airport in 1978. Shri G.D.Birla expired on 11th June 1983. 17th.Nov.1986 Shri Rajiv Gandhi attended a ceremony at this Airport. The first major expansion was done in 2008 spending 72 crores. Runway 7000ft.width 45 metres, ATC tower. One more expansion done in 2021 which indicates current position. 14th Feb 2024 Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated. Currently it is owned and managed by airport Authority of India. 32nd busiest Airport of India 1.5 million passenger per year. Website, Dehradun Airport. Phone no.0135 241 2052 IATA..DED ICAO..VIDN Map DED

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