Remaking of India 1975 to 1995. 'Before and After!'

The Remaking of  India: 

The special issue of 'India Today' celebrating its 50th anniversary inspired me to blog with the same headline. The magazine covers a wide spectrum of topics and events! 

It was indeed so, for many!
 My focus is on Manufacturing Industries!

A video* shared by D A Prasanna, the founding  CEO of WiproGE  and a pioneer in the MedTech sector motivated me to write this blog. Especially his views on how the Government of Ghana, which had sought his advice, could develop the Med/Tech Industry in Ghana. The quotes from his book 'Innovate Locally To Win Globally' in the video entices one to read the book!

The book deals with India's healthcare industry in depth and in great detail. It is fascinating to read how WiproGE navigated the early periods when the 'Control Raj' made it challenging. And how he and his team managed to build a very successful JV with GE after the structural reforms in India. It is a must read for those involved in the manufacturing industry! The story makes us feel proud. 

 Before: 1975 to 1985..

Others adapted!

Very creditable that others who persisted  progressed!

My story during this period is a bit long, but I feel it does illustrate how things can go wrong even when you have put all the effort. Was it just our karma !

 I joined Elpro International, managed by GE in the year 1975. The company had four different products. I took charge of the manufacturing; parts and the assembly of x-ray machines! Thankfully, I inherited a good team of supervisors and engineers! My shop floor experience was majorly in toolmaking and import substitution. Making protypes from design drawings was my forte.

I had an interesting entry into the company. IGE the sales unit of GE, arranged my visits to a couple of government hospitals wherein Elpro made x-ray machines were installed. The technicians I spoke to said that the units were electrically good, but mechanically so-so. They added that Siemens made better tables and columns, the mechanical parts of the x-ray machine. 

My task was very clear. I had to work with the designers and strengthen the mechanical parts. Thanks to my experience in making protypes, I could move fast. The toolroom support was excellent. The orders for tables and columns went up.

IGE wanted new higher end X- ray products. I was sent to GE Milwaukee to see and learn, and also seek new products to make in India. It was clear that Elpro facilities needed to be upgraded for making high-end products. 

Our engineering department had developed a new electrical product. However the prototype table to go with it was not up to the mark. Volumes did not justify tooling up. Getting licenses to import only the critical parts was not easy.  Hence IGE was quite happy to import the machines from GE and I guess the bigger hospitals were able to get licenses to import. 

Meanwhile Patil, who also headed the toolroom and I were deputed to visit a GE factory making vacuum tube circuit breakers. We saw no problem in tooling up for the manufacture of the Circuit Breaker! We did need help with the manufacture of the vacuum tube, the most critical part, and the operators required training to develop the necessary skills! Both Patil and I were confident we could do it. Sadly, for reasons not known to me, the project was dropped! It could be that even though we had enough space in the Chinchwad factory,  the government wanted us to set up a plant to manufacture this product in Aurangabad! Perhaps there were other reasons! As I had worked earlier in a factory making conventional circuit breakers, for me it was a disappointment!

Later, Nadkarni who headed the Engineering and I were once asked to rush to USA. It was a visit to a GE factory which manufactured Ultrasound equipment. The product was compact and looked easy to make!  When we said that GOI would not allow us to import a fully assembled product as suggested, and that import of only CKD or Semi CKD parts were permitted! The GE manager lost interest. He said importing only the parts would cost us more. Added that they did not have people to deal with this! A stalemate again. Apparently the young executive from GE who was the coordinator had no clue about the Indian bureaucracy!

It was also the time Elpro began producing GE made CNC. I had no role to play in that project. While it was disappointing not to have a GE product to work on. I had a bigger challenge.

It was the manufacture of  a Cancer treatment equipment! The cancer treating equipments Elpro had developed were sold by IGE. So far, we had made twelve units.

 I had put my heart into it to fix many issues in its design. It was a reverse engineered product. It did have a little jerky patient handling table. All it needed was the right kind of Ball Screw. For which we needed an import license! 

Our consultant at Delhi who dealt with GOI took me along to meet a DGTD officer. I explained to the officer the importance of the ball screw we needed to import for a life saving equipment. The officer was nice and friendly and promised to take it up in their next meeting and I thanked him profusely. As we walked out, the consultant told me candidly that nothing will be done! 

We were also trying to get work with AECL, Canada. In fact, Sam who had designed the equipment made a visit to AECL. 

I had suggested to our president Ketkar, that we should go see an installation ourselves. We traveled to Indore and saw a unit installed at the hospital. I still remember the special room where the machine was installed, it had a soft and a calming lighting. We saw an old lady walking out of  the room. Her son, when told we were from the factory, came to thank us and said 'You should have seen her earlier. She could hardly stand'. There were no complaints and we returned feeling happy. And then there was a bolt from the blue! IGE decided to stop selling the machine. 

It was the last straw. Times were confusing at Elpro at that time. It was after  B.Sircar, President, a very dynamic person had sadly died while in office. It was also around this time that a stream of  GE executives came to Elpro. They gave us advice and lectured us about being number 1 or 2.  I do remember a one-to-one talk, with the current GE head for India. I think my irritation about this constant flow of advice showed! 

There were also positives, GE Milwaukee had suggested I try visit GE Spain, which I did. They were making X-machines closer to the ones needed in India. People were very hospitable and said 'take whatever you like'. Their mobile x-ray unit was just right for us. When I asked whether we could buy the design drawings, they said yes and said it was free for us. Only asked me to arrange printing it. I thought it was a good opportunity and a few young engineers joined me. They saw the factory, met the people and printed the drawings to take home!

I moved out of India in 1987. I must add that I missed Elpro and the many colleagues who had become my friends. I used to get in touch and meet G.D. Patil and A.N. Dhoot whenever I visited Pune. Also made it a point to meet Dham, Belnekar and Latkar, my very dependable  colleagues! Also the Personal manager, Srinivasan who picked my application for an interview! 

I had a good Rapport with the many IGE sales and service people. Especially Sheri Vakil with whom I am still in touch. Many more whose names suddenly appears in my mind in some context!

The After... 1985 -1995

Around this time, I learnt about a  factory coming up in Thailand. I knew the person promoting the project.  He had also a worked in Elpro in Pune before moving to Singapore. As it happens sometimes in our life, things moved fast and I was in Bangkok by mid December 1987. A story to blog!

I must add that while I had moved out of GE, a mention that I was working in a GE company in India helped me immensely. I had made cold calls to the many factories around Bangkok to introduce our company, Wireforms! Many of our possible customers were Japanese. 

I remember this visit distinctly. It was almost lunchtime and the lady in the purchase department, politely agreed to meet, even though it was her lunch time. She asked me put the brochure on the table and she would look at it later! About a month later, a Japanese and a Thai Chinese gentlemen came to visit our factory.

It was a requirement for the company to buy springs made in Thailand. Luckily the purchase-in-charge had saved our company brochure and remembered. It so happened that the spring coiling machine we had just installed was Japanese! And we had also a few coils of spring wire bought for trials and demo. When I told them I was an ex-GE, I guess the deal was done! 

Soon the two gentlemen and  I were on our way to Japan. The Thai gentleman was heading the project and the Japanese was their advisor from the parent company. The Thailand factory had an order from GE. The purpose of our visit was to understand the product, and for me it was the function of the spring and its importance. I was treated like a partner! At my request they arranged a visit for me to the vendor who made the same springs in Japan! The vendors said yes, when I asked them whether they would depute a person to Thailand to help us in getting the right quality! Incredible!

The news spread amongst the many expat Japanese executives. In time many Japanese factories working in Thailand became my customers! When things fall in place, it looks easy!  They also saw that we were prompt in delivery and fully committed to quality! 

Once there was a problem with dimensions of a critical spring. I remember the spring was at the upper level of the tolerance. I just replaced thousands of these springs. Also took back the springs that could not be used! I did not argue. 

There were murmurs about me being too soft etc., in our factory. I did manage to salvage the springs later on! 

.. 1985 -1995 How it was in India

Is it all timing?

While it was good to make cars, India needs to do more!

While in Bangkok I had heard things had changed a lot in India. Friends asked me what are you doing there? Come back, Engineers with your experience are needed! 

It was tempting, but finally decided to stay back. I could not leave the project I had begun midway!

I  had heard and also  seen that many traders just ran to China to fulfill the pent up needs of the control raj victims (!). 

It feels good that companies like Wipro got into tech products and stayed with it. It is only when I read this book, I learn how it went for those who were committed to manufacture in India. It was no cake walk. 

There is no way I can summarize 'the after' story briefly. The book 'Innovate Locally to Win Globally' has so much to share. I can only say  'just read it'!

“out of box solutions come, when a leader sets aspirational goals”
“In early stage of a company with a small team and limited resources- leader has to create a spirit of ‘nothing is impossible’. Frugal innovation emerges”

See aspirational goal of $1 B by 2005

*

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/d-a-prasanna-49a7092_innovation-in-ghanas-healthcare-system-activity-7520722024022061058-sGyA

TECHNOLOGY to save the world. There is Hope

I saw this on CNA and am sharing it with you.
Let's keep hoping. 

The pictures below are about the visit of a Reporter visiting from CNA. Just added a few pictures as video is long. Bramh Earth company experts take the CNA rep to a farm in Nippani to show how sensors are installed and how data is transferred and the farmer uses a phone to see and read suggestions. Farmer can also talk to AI  and ask questions in kannada as well..

The reporter came to Bangalore.
To learn about how technology helps.
 Especially about how it helps agriculture

At BrahmEarth, we are committed to a greener, healthier, and sustainable future. Our indoor farming and environmental monitoring products are designed to help you make a positive impact on the planet.
"The company is
  situated in Bangalore "

The founders

One of them is from Nippani in Karanataka
about eight hours drive from Bengaluru. The reporter was taken to see an installation in a farm in Nippani 

The data is relayed back to AI

A sensor measures soil,air and moisture conditions 

The farmer can read the advise given. Can also talk to AI in Kannada

Briefly, the farm they just visited faced a deep drop in their output. 
It had gone down to 1/3 of its former output in the past twenty years.
While farmers know the issues affecting it, excess use of fertilisers, rains and
weather and so on.
Lack of labor included.
They are  not able to act on time.

Technology is able to help them
 to act well ahead
They are hoping to get back to the good old days soon.

The farmer looks happy! 
They have been farmers for many generations.

The reporter is quite impressed!

Let us also hope

 That the Indian Politicians learn from the Brazil election report! 

India is in a confused state at the moment.

A few are dreaming of a regime change with or without an election. Or is it facing an attack from outside India as claimed by some! Anyway we are going on protests and counter protests. 

Politics is at the lowest ebb! A few advocates/judges are disappointed with the Supreme court judges. Chief Election Commissioner is under pressure for conducting SIR in biased manner. He appears to be all-powerful, to be able to influence a million BLO's on the field to write off 13 crores of voters. 

Meanwhile Brazil has refused to follow the American dream and have elected against it. I read that EVM's are 'mostly' used in Brazil!

I quote a few relevant comments from an article written about Brazil elections...

What election-fraud narratives should we be watching for?

As DDIA has long shown, election-fraud narratives get recycled and repeated across elections and country contexts. The strongest clues for what we are seeing / are likely to see in 2026 come from the 2022 playbook.

In 2022, narratives included claims that electronic voting machines secretly changed or deleted votes, that particular models of machines were unreliable because they were produced abroad (mainly Venezuela), that the TSE has been hiding evidence of fraud, that the judiciary was conspiring against Bolsonaro, and that international actors or technology companies were helping determine the result of the elections. Following Sunday’s vote, and ahead of the second round, DDIA recommends watching for some of the same claims that generally fall under the meta-narrative that elections are fraudulent and can’t be trusted. 

These may look like claims that Brazil’s voting machines are rigged, that the courts stole the election, that polls were fraudulent, that votes disappeared, or that Brazil’s establishment (especially the Judiciary) prevented the real winner from taking office.

As research shows , fraud narratives often begin before results are affirmed, making prebunking especially useful. Explain beforehand what normal vote counting looks like, what audits exist, why polls can differ from results, and what constitutes actual evidence of fraud.

 Misleading information is more prominent than outright disinformation, in that a lot of what we see is content exaggerating facts, omitting context, or reframing authentic events to mislead.

The target of misinformative and disinformative attacks in Brazil has been expanded to include institutions. Falsehoods used to focus much more prominently on portraying a candidate as corrupt or unfit. Today, we see bad actors online increasingly claiming the election itself cannot be trusted, targeting Brazil’s electronic voting machines, vote counting, results, and the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) or the supreme court itself.

Disinformation has also moved prominently into private messaging. Facebook appeared in 76.5% of Agência Lupa’s election fact-checks in 2018. By 2022, WhatsApp appeared in 92.4% of cases. That shift makes falsehoods harder to detect and correct. Journalists and researchers have a hard time monitoring encrypted conversations, and debunks rarely travel through the same networks as the original claim.

The full article: good to read the full article. 

https://ddia.org/en/ten-questions-and-answers-about-the-2026-brazilian-elections

Sapthak Bangalore celebrates: The 20th Anniversary and Amrut Mahotsva of G.S.Hegdeji at Chowdiah Hall

 

The right place. It is Hegdeji's  favorite Hall.  
And he always thanks the management and staff for their full support

The function began rightly by Honoring
 Guru Pandit Vinayak Torvi

Hedgeji and Geethaji
Pandit Torvi said her total support is invaluable

Hegdeji spoke of support of many! 
Karnataka Bank is in the top of the list of supporters
And of course Dhananjay!

Artist of the day.
Dr. Ashwini Deshpande

 

https://nidhibengaluru.blogspot.com/2011/12/sapthak-dream-come-true-in-bengaluru.html

Worth reading! Interesting that the blog also has more than 1000 views!

Going back to India Today's "Remaking India"

There are many estimates though. 
A long way to go!

I took a break from blogging on India Today as I was traveling. We were also busy after our return. 

 I liked the special edition of 'India Today' celebrating their 50th anniversary by focusing on 'Remaking India' 1975-2025, covering their first fifty years of publishing. It is well designed. Covers a spectrum of subjects, not just politics! Sports, art, movies, TV, industries, and disasters both man-made and due to natural causes as well!

Incredibly, I began this series of blogs with a blog on the arrival of CJP, seemingly out of nowhere! They were successful in demanding accountability and a resignation in the  NEET paper leak scandal. 

I am with Mohan when he wondered whether next party would be a 'Gecko Party'. I guess I am one of the early members of GP. Actually my blogs are basically about my observation of humans, very similar to a gecko, which, safely stuck to the roof, looks down.  I am rarely vocal about it.

It appears that we have begun to believe that as a nation we have arrived, while there is a lot to be accomplished!

I have great respect for the freedom fighters who together made it happen! Especially the ones like Tara's uncles, Govardan and Achyut mama, comes to my mind! There are many more! The fighters were given a 'Tamra Patra' for their role and sacrifices during Quit India movement. They did their best under the circumstances! 

 Going back to CJP,  they were having a good innings. However they changed their priorities from demanding  improvements to schools (Inspired by France?) to over hauling CEC. A very different task. They have showed their smartness in the way they have acted, finding young Abhimanyus to face the inevitable goons in such a confused melee! 

Recently I  blogged about a group of youths organizing Ganapathi festival. Incredible that they started having a pooja in around the same period, from 1977 onwards. I am sure they went back to their studies and focused on their plans for the future after a week Ganapathi pooja. 

They could be called the early generations after Indian idependence and it indeed was a demographic dividend. Times then were surely different. While I was disadvantaged due to MRTP. Things did look up for this group of Ganapathi Bhakthas. 

Note: 

 I had collected these points for my next blog. I hope to deal with them in my future ramblers. 

Briefly : Population went up from about 611 million to 773 million, 26.4 percent growth. 

Strict government permissions were required for private firms to start, expand, or diversify production during the first five years. 

 The government reserved hundreds of items exclusively for small-scale industries to boost employment.

 The Foreign Exchange Regulation Act (FERA) capped foreign equity at 40%, limiting multinational expansion.

 Laws made it mandatory for larger factories to get government approval before laying off workers or closing.

The good news:

 During the next five years, the government began relaxing licensing rules for select industries and allowed private players into areas like coal and oil. Infrastructure 

 Investment in infrastructure jumped significantly, growing at nearly 9.7% annually in the early 1980s.

 Increased agricultural prosperity from the Green Revolution and rising government spending created new consumer demand.

Industrial productivity improved, pushing overall industrial growth to an average of about 6% to 7% during the early 1980s.

It is debatable whether migration to other countries were right:

Between 1975 and 1985, Indian migration went up,  blue-collar labor moving to the oil-rich Persian Gulf and white-collar professionals heading to Western industrialized nations.

Workers traveled to Persian Gulf nations like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Kuwait, and Qatar.The Cause: The 1970s global oil boom created a sudden, massive need for infrastructure, construction, and maintenance.

Millions of semi-skilled and unskilled workers—along with engineers and doctors—left India.

Employment was strictly contractual and temporary, as Gulf nations did not offer permanent citizenship or naturalization to foreign laborers.

"Brain Drain"?? .... Professionals moved to the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

 Post-1965 immigration law reforms in the U.S. and labor shortages in Western healthcare and engineering created new entry paths.

 A steady wave of highly educated engineers, scientists, and medical doctors established permanent roots abroad. Family reunification channels also expanded during the late 1970s and early 1980s, allowing settled professionals to bring relatives over.

As I scanned the Special Edition of the India Today Magazine I saw this picture!

A very astute analysis by India Today
"Rahul was a reluctant power politician" 

It is never too late I guess.
Hope he is taking care of his health!

The way we are going today, our senior political leaders need to introspect. Lawyers included! It is a shame. There is a lack of civility all across. 

Indians are top cricketers today. It is a game played by following all the rules! Our people watch cricket as a religion. I am sure they are also watching the drama that is being played by the political parties! I  have already seen many forecasts . But this old Gecko can only watch!

Lord Ganesha has been visiting this small community for the last 50 years!

 M.C.Nagaraj, our neighbor and family friend dropped in, and gave me an envelope saying  

"it is their 50th year"

 I was quite perplexed as I read the invite. And wondered how old he was 

when it all began?

ŭ

I was amazed when he said "In fact, it is a younger group of friends, all pre-teens, who started the Royal Association". 

The story of how a small group of school kids installed and performed Ganesh Pooja each year, and how they had managed to continue it for the last fifty years surely needs to be shared. 

I requested Nagaraj and he spoke to the founders and here is the story! An inspiring one! 

The story in their own words.

Great things often begin in the quietest corners. In 1977, it wasn’t a grand committee that started this journey—it was just five school friends. Aditya, Govinda, Nimish S, Ravi and Nagaraj .S, driven by a shared spark of devotion, gathered in a humble garage portico. That spark was the birth of the Royal Association.

As the years rolled by, that small circle grew into a massive family. By 1989, the garage gave way to a grand, traditional Pandal, echoing with the sounds of community. But our growth wasn’t just about size; it was about spirit. We made a proud, silent pledge: no door-to-door collections. Guided by self-reliance, our members stepped up to completely self-fund our vision, proving that devotion thrives best on pure, voluntary love.

Over the decades, this sacred stage transformed into a vibrant cultural sanctuary and a beacon of hope. We recognized that true service means nurturing the future—and so, the association became a lifeline, proudly sponsoring over twenty-five deserving students to pursue their dreams through primary and higher education.

Our Pandal became a launchpad for the arts, intentionally seeking out and shining a spotlight on raw, budding musicians who just needed a stage to be heard. But we didn't stop at melody. Every year, we made it our mission to look deeper into society—bringing to light the extraordinary, yet lesser-known champions across Education, Sports, Yoga, Art, Culture, and Public Service. By honoring these unsung heroes, we honored the very best of humanity.

Through regular blood donation camps and massive community potlucks, we bound thousands together as one family. Every Vedic chant raised, every Homa performed under the tenets of Sanathana Dharma, was a profound prayer sent out for universal well-being.

Replying to my question M C Nagaraj said..

When they started in 1977,  I was sixteen years old. In the beginning only the Ganesha was installed, there were no cultural programs. They had  a small procession,  around their homes, used a vegetable cart! And we quietly took the Idol in a car and immersed the idol.

During 1980's it picked up. We, a few older, but also young neighbors, impressed by this 'Royal' group began to support them. Quite a few parents also pitched in with funds. 

Enthusiastic  local children, both boys and girls, practiced and performed, drama, dance and singing!

Years 1990 onwards the activities went bigger. A homa was performed followed by lunch! Year 2000 onwards it got even better, they invited known artists,  paid them for their performance. 

Once, Nagaraj says, by God's grace I arranged a concert by the well known senior artist Padmashri Kadri Gopalnath!

Royal Association had turned fifty!

Fifty years of keeping the flame alive. Vidya Ganapathi Ki Jai !!

Now, the calendar had turned to 2026. Five decades! Fifty golden years of faith, culture, and unity. There was a request.

 "This landmark Jubilee is as much yours as it is ours. We invite your love, your passion, and your presence to help us write this grandest chapter yet."

 Reacting to this call, we formed committees with specific objectives. Had few review meetings, addressed action items coming out in each meeting. Objective was to have Events going smoothly. We had planned variety of events.

We are happy to share a few pictures of these memorable days. And on the final day, our Ganesha left in a well decorated chariot to sankey tank for the immersion. 

The meeting included a well deserved breakfast.

A week full of activity

A few pictures to highlight the five days of activities!

Cheif guest
Padmabushana Dr. Shatavadaani R Ganesh

Event was covered by Doordarshan kannada channel


The beginning!

The first day

The younger generation!

Yakshagana

This special deccoration with vegetables.
Next day the vegetables
are used to make the 
Prasada!

Taking a break!

Honoring our flower man
Seen with his special headgear.
He used to do alankara for many years,
 now aged!

Spitited performencev of the disciples
of Dr. Sanjay Shantharam

Ensemble l

Audience having fun. Sing along and dance.