Mr. Tarsem Lal, proprietor of M/s Natraj Tools, is a chapter straight out of Tata Motors’ history. He was one of the 24 first batch apprentices (1954) when the auto plant was set up. He worked in Tata Motors for 20 years before striking out on his own.

With a far away look in his eyes, 78 -year-old Mr. Lal recalled his days in what was universally acknowledged as the finest Apprentice School in the country.

He says, “In those days, it was a pride to work with one’s hands and it was inspiring to see even senior German officers do so. This tradition was further ingrained in me when I was sent by the company, along with three others of my batch, to complete further 2-year training at Daimler Benz, West Germany. I enjoyed my days in the Apprentice Shop. There was strict discipline and hands on work but also a great spirit of camaraderie.

Twenty years into my career at Tata Motors, having acquired valuable experience in Auto Tool Room, I decided strike out on my own. So in 1974, with a capital of Rs.3 lakhs, partly raised through loans, I started M/s Natraj Tools in the Adityapur industrial area. I commenced making tools and then diversified into making auto components. I must add that Tata Motors helped me to adhere to quality norms, even loaning me expensive precision gauges whenever required.

Later I set up two other companies D R Sons & Co (ISO 9000 certified) and Indolinc. The turnover in my three units is Rs. 1.3 crore. And if I’ve been able to reach this far, it is thanks to the technical expertise I had gained during my stay in Tata Motors. The emotional bonding still continues.

I must add that Tata Motors has also been a good paymaster, even in difficult times. There is one difference though which strikes me and that is in work culture. In my days most of the junior ranks had people who may not have been engineers but who were very practical. Today I find even the junior levels are manned by engineers and systems are followed. All this augurs well for the company.

I’ve had a good innings and there are no regrets”.

(Source: As told to Daphne D’Souza, Tata Motors, Jamshedpur)