Director
DRDL, Air Commodore Narayanan, after knowing my background and experience,
ordered my posting to L.P.D. ( Liquid Propulsion Division). As I presented this
posting order to Divisional Head, Squadron Leader Gopalaswamy, a look of
surprise appeared on his face instead of normally expected happiness. Two other
scientists, Arun Kumar Nayyar and Vijay Kumar Saraswat working in the same
division were also in his room that time. He showed this posting order to both
of them also and I found all three of them sharing a mysterious smile amongst
themselves. Within next two days, however, as I talked to my other scientist
colleagues, I understood the reason behind this unexpected reaction of theirs.
Around 1
year back, with the posting of Narayanan as Director, the development
activities related to SAM-X missile began with an excitement at DRDL. As per
the threat perception of that time, the government at its highest level had
accorded so much priority for the time bound development of this project ( only
7 years ) that an asking was just enough to get sanction for any proposal
related to it. Getting money from Defence Ministry was not a problem but the
selection and appointment of suitably qualified and experienced scientists in
particular fields through UPSC was a 6 months processing cycle. That was not
acceptable for this project. DRDL, R&D Headquarters, Defence Ministry and
UPSC used to regularize the appointments of scientists under a pre-planned
unwritten arrangement. Senior scientists from the Laboratory used to visit
reputed engineering colleges in the country ( mainly I.I.Ts and I.I.Sc ),
interview the final year students and issue on the spot ad hoc appointment
letters. After a year or two, for regularizing this appointment, a suitable
advertisement was drafted and got advertised through UPSC. In this, under ‘desirable
experience’, the activity mentioned was same on which that particular person
was already working before hand on ad hoc basis. In addition to it, that senior scientist of
DRDL, who was present in the interview board as internal member had to inform
the chairman and external members that the selection of this candidate is
required for the success of Project. Thus, the selection of this scientist in
question was almost a certainty, after this “ interview”. Exceptions were rare.
My selection and subsequent appointment in DRDL was one such exception, because
the candidate for whom this advertisement was actually meant had performed very
poorly during the interview.
This was
the reason for that mutual mysterious smile between Gopalaswamy and his
colleagues.