5 look to be very peculiar number, in many senses. It has some special but unique characteristics. We have 5 fingers in either hand or leg. A fist formation requires 5 fingers. Human being has 5 sensory organs. A government lasts for 5 years, if it is in majority! Government announces 5 years plans. Gratuity of any working person is locked for 5 years! Completing 5 years in any profession makes anyone ‘someone’ in the company. Elections are done every 5 years, to select next governance. When I joined JSW 5 years back, I didn’t know that I shall be completing 5 years at JSW. Don’t believe me; even my friends, teachers and co-workers at JSW were confident that I shall be moving out of JSW shortly!
I was just wondering on one Sunday evening- what made me stay so long. Was it my inability to get another job? Was it the close association with friends and colleagues out there? Was it the beautiful township and a secure life – that blocked my thinking to move beyond? Was it my urge to prove my worth? Was it the patriotism that I was showing to the studies I made at IITK? Was it some insecurity? Or was it some commitment I made to someone, knowingly or unknowingly? The inner I spoke very softly and quietly. A bit of everything!
Though suffering from Allergy and sneezing all day, a wry smile flashes all day on my face. The reason was simple yet very impactful. I was getting congratulating calls from friends, mostly from abroad, for completing FIVE years at JSW Steel. I finished my day’s works and was sipping Green Tea (Mr. Nash, I still sip green tea!) at Jindal Mansion. It is then I decided to pen down my memories. Exactly 5 years back, on March 21, 2006, I joined JSW at Vijayanagar Works. I, or for that matter anyone, did not anticipated in 2006, that I shall stay that long. There is a compulsory induction program from HR dept, and I was not special! So, I was confronting only two questions while I was visiting any production shop- How come you joined Jindal ? and When are you going to resign ?.
Questions were obvious. I was the first B. Tech. from No. 1 Engineering College in India to join a core job and particularly JVSL (JSW was famous at JVSL in 2005-06). Even faculty members were skeptical about my career in core sector. Core job meant joining SAIL or Tata Steel or may be Tata Motors at college!
Now, when I look back, I realize that there were some parameters that helped me continuing my career at JSW. Had it been other organization, I could have taken alternatives like my batch mates did – went for PhD, B School or Switch job.
I got two things at JSW
1.) One of the best Bosses; and
2.) An ocean of Learning with complete Independence.
Vijayanagar is blessed with good people. They are kind hearted supportive people who always encourage newcomers in understanding and taking responsibilities- at least they did with me. I had a chance to meet most of the people before dedicating my full attention on project works at R&D and SS. I witnessed JSW Steel growing from 2.5 Mtpa to 4 Mtpa with the commissioning of BF-2. I happened to see batteries of Coke ovens, Converters, BF-2 and BF-3, to count a few, from inside. In a way I had witnessed the growth path from 2.5 Mtpa to now 14.5 Mtpa (11 Mtpa expansions and 3.5 Mtpa ISPAT acquisitions).
List mentioned in the image
are some of the lists I saw while it was under commissioning phase. Hope, the dates mentioned is correct! From Wagon Tippler at RMHS to state of art CRM and BRM/WRM, I rate myself fortunate enough to see all plants while in commissioning to post commissioning. I too, grew from a newbie in professional career, to ‘someone’ in professional field. From an unknown to understanding the morphologies of Iron Ore, from theoretical knowledge of Rolling to practically understanding surface defects, from memorizing various grades of steel at college to practically witnessing the alloying mechanism and packaging of various grades of steel, I went a long way. With an award for best project at NMD to Patents and Copyrights and providing technical supports to user departments- I see my learning grew exponentially, if nothing else. After five years when I find myself in new shoes now, I realize that I have gone back by five years. But, Now I am confident that I will grow again.
I rate my tenure with Ranvijay Sir (now Scientist at IGCAR) as most cherishing time. We were racing against time, and challenging all odds. To count a few, we experimented on HPS (Hybrid Pelletizing System) and successfully reported to senior management in 2008. In 2011, JSW is thinking of putting up a HPS system at JSW! Most memorable time at Vijayanagar would be 2010 summers, when I was working on an average of 16-18 hours ensuring Pellet Plant Productivity and quality. Well, having said all this – you could have imagined that I am like a cannon, or a super man at JSW, so I must be elevated to higher ups – but worry not – 6th year running, I am still Assistant Manager. Irony is, next year my batch mates would be promoting to Manager, and I shall be promoting to Deputy Manager with juniors of Two Years! The reasons are interesting, but it would be part of another BLOG!
Everyday Life at JSW is challenging but full of experience. Growing to a 36 Mtpa company by 2020 means a lot. I am sure many more proud JSWites will come in future with experience better than me. Since it’s the time for new joiners to join JSW family, and for some people ‘to think alternative’- I’ll just say- ‘be patient’. Learn. You are at the temple of Learning and in the ocean of Opportunities. Give sometime to yourself and soak some of JSW in your blood. You will not be able to count fruits, when it starts ripening.
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