Some more on Conical Bit

Since last two posts have been revolving around conical bit (cutter pick), I thought to continue Sandeep’s flow and add some more on the cutter picks. The presentation will give glimpse of various forms, sizes and types of conical bits that me manufacture and export.

Team Spirit

I was visiting some exhibition on construction and mining in Bangalore a few years back and came across a German Company Wirtgen. I knew and had heard about Wirtgen but never knew they had a sales and service setup in India by the name of  Wirtgen India Pvt Ltd. Wirtgen GmbH, a world leader in manufacturing Road Construction and Mining Equipment, manufactures a wide range of Cold Milling Machines, Cold Recyclers, Soil Stabilizers, Hot Recyclers, Surface Miners, Slipform Concrete Pavers and Mobile Cold Recycling Mixing Plant. They are a big buyer of Conical Bits and were sourcing there requirements mostly from their parent company in Germany. I had the opportunity to meet one of there senior guys, Pankaj Kumar. Pankaj a north India was speaking fluent Bengali which surprised me. Fortunately being born and brought up in West Bengal and having done my schooling at Ramakrishna Mission I also speak, write and read Bengali. So we struck a good rapport. We kept discussing their requirements for Conical Bits. Pankaj invited me to there sales and service warehouse in Bangalore. I reached there facility on the scheduled time and date. It was a very pleasant welcome and the major agenda was supply of Brazed Conical Bit for wirtgen machines in India. Wirtgen that point of time had almost 50 machines working in India. After our meeting we went for lunch in there canteen and were joined by the core team including the Manging Director. There were people from all across the country including Kashmir and also a sardarji. What was surprising there to me was all of these guys were speaking fluent Bengali and that too in the state of Karnataka. Later on I came to know this whole group has been working together for last many years in a different company and then joined here in mass with the managing Director and there MD happened to be a Bengali guy and rest of the team picked up the language for the leader. What a team spirit!

Quality Control at LNM Auto

Not be left Behind in show casing how we manage Quality Control we take this opportunity to introduce one of our Quality Control machines for testing hardness-

LNM Auto has installed MIRO HARDNESS TESTER model of M/S CHROMA SYSTEMS. The tester is used for micro loads ranging from 100 gms. to 3000 gms. for estimation of VICKERS HARDNESS using a diamond pyramid indenter. The tester is accomplished by a software computer interfaced for auto measurement and reporting.

The operation involves keeping the polished specimen on the table of the tester and the numbers of impressions by indenter are programmed at fixed interval of the distance from surface. The impressions are measured for two diagonals of the pyramid automatically for Vickers’s hardness. The software gives the graph of Hardness v/s Distance. The effective case depth is automatically calculated by feeding the cut off value in the software.

Major applications involves Effective Core Depth (ECD) measurement of case carburised parts, Decarb & Partial decarb values, hardness of very small and thin parts.

Here is a Typical Report format that we share with our customers lnm-quality-controlmicrohardnessanalysis.pdf

The Beauty for your eyes :=)

Forging

Beginning today I will be sharing the some of the manufacturing processes with the readers of our blog. It is so important to know how we are able to produce with precision what we do for our consumers. Today I will talk about Forging process.

Forging is the working of metal by plastic deformation The processes of raising, sinking, rolling, swaging, drawing and upsetting are essentially forging operations although they are not commonly so called because of the special techniques and tooling they require.

Forging results in metal that is stronger than cast or machined metal parts. This is because during forging the metal’s grain flow changes into the shape of the part, making it stronger. Some modern parts require a specific grain flow to ensure the strength and reliability of the part.

Many metals are forged cold, but iron and its alloys are almost always forged hot. This is for two reasons: first, if work hardening were allowed to progress, hard materials such as iron and steel would become extremely difficult to work with; secondly, most steel alloys can be hardened by heat treatments, such as by the formation of martensite, rather than cold forging. Alloys that are amenable to precipitation hardening, such as most structural alloys of aluminium and titanium, can also be forged hot, then made strong once they achieve their final shape. Other materials must be strengthened by the forging process itself.

Forging was done historically by a smith using hammer and anvil, and though the use of water power in the production and working of iron dates to the 12th century CE, the hammer and anvil are not obsolete. The smithy has evolved over centuries to the forge shop with engineered processes, production equipment, tooling, raw materials and products to meet the demands of modern industry.

In modern times, industrial forging is done either with presses or with hammers powered by compressed air, electricity, hydraulics or steam. These hammers are large, having reciprocating weights in the thousands of pounds. Smaller power hammers, 500 pounds or less reciprocating weight, and hydraulic presses are common in art smithies as well. Steam hammers are becoming obsolete.

In industry a distinction is made between open- and closed-die forging. In open-die work the metal is free to move except where contacted by the hammer, anvil, or other (often hand-held) tooling. In closed-die work the material is placed in a die resembling a mold, which it is forced to fill by the application of pressure. Many common objects, like wrenches and crankshafts, are produced by closed-die forging, which is well suited to mass production. Open-die forging lends itself to short runs and is appropriate for art smithing and custom work.

Closed-die forging is more expensive for mass production than is casting, but produces a much stronger part, and is used for tools, high strength machine parts and the like. Forgings are commonly used in automotive applications, where high strength is demanded, with a constraint on the mass of the part (high strength-to-mass ratio). Forged parts are more suitable for mass production. The process of forging a part becomes cheaper with higher volumes. For these reasons forgings are used in the automotive industry, usually after some machining. One particular variant, drop forging, is often used to mass produce flat wrenches and other household tools.

LNM is into these two types of forging processes.

Hydraulic press forge

In hydraulic press forging the work piece is pressed between the two die halves with gradually increasing force, over a period of a few seconds. The quality of the pieces is better than drop forging as there is more control over metal flow, but takes longer and requires more energy. It also makes the same shape continuously

Hot forging

Forging is the hammering or forming of hot or cold metal into a certain shape. When the hammering and forming is done by hand it is called hand forging and when it is done by machine it is called drop forging. The forging process starts after having brought the steel to the correct workable temperature between 900°C and 1100°. It allows us, through a process of reduction (for crushing), to get the most various shapes

TB TO LNM

At Purulia, we have been known as TB group. TB represents Thakurdas Badrinarain. Thakurdasji was my great grand father and Badrinarainji was my grand father. Since more than 130 years, our family was doing business under that name and was recognized for our honest dealing. We grew from nothing to most leading business concern of the locality. And at Faridabad, it is known as LNM group and within factory, we including all our staff and workers are self designated as LNM Pariwar. LNM represents my name as LAXMINARAIN MALL .When I thought of exploring business at Faridabad, our family priest suggested to do business in my name and he further advised that I must make myself available and attached to the business for its prosperity and success. Otherwise I was inclined to do all in Sandeep’s name.LNM group as it stands today is the result of many year’s struggle and was not built up over night Yes, I had dreamt of the project and initiated it also, but three key persons are instrumental to make it as it is today besides sincere contribution from staff and workers. Hence to know how it all got built up, I must focus light on these three persons and their contribution first.

When I joined business after graduation, we were into wholesale trading dealing in food grains, oil and oilseed, tobacco, yarn etc. It never gave me job satisfaction. I was always interested to create or manufacture something. But Purulia did not have necessary infrastructure or facilities for industrial growth. Under compulsion of situation, I continued in business .Our transition from trading to industry; shifting from Purulia to Faridabad and total transformation from TB to LNM owe a lot to following three persons.

SRI A C MAHESHWARI (JIJAJI)

The first and foremost person instrumental behind establishment of LNM group was my Jijaji. Yesterday I was present in the function organized to inaugurate his statue at the Holy Hope Foundation School. He was the founder chairman of the institution. It took me to the most refreshing and rewarding memories of my association and long contact with him. And today I have decided to put these memories into black and white in response to interest of some of my close staff who wanted to know all about how LNM got initiated.

When I was 6 years old, he became my jijaji by virtue of his marriage with my cousin didi. I have blurred memory of him as the groom arriving at Howrah station with his barat. I have hazy memory of his subsequent visit to Purulia also. He was about 13 years senior to me. My first close interaction with him began during my marriage in 1965. He was with us for 10 days during the ceremony. He came all the way from AMRITSAR and accompanied us to NAGPUR for the marriage. He was the first person to congratulate me on my selection when he saw us as couple there. He presented us a view master with some very interesting photographs and slides from KHAJURAHO and KONARK temples to start with our married life. That was the opening of our intimate relationship which flourished with time. Next year when I happened to be in MUSSOORIE, he drove all the way from AMRITSAR to take me along with. I was forced to stay with him for 10 days, not only to enjoy his friendly fellowship but to learn all about steel rolling mill industries with a mind to explore into it. He ignited the spark within me and offered all possible help. In spite of my zeal and efforts, I could not succeed. Neither I was matured enough nor was PURULIA suitable for industries. Four years later in 1969/70 when he decided to move to Faridabad, he initiated to apply for an industrial land for me along with his up coming plant. But I was not in a position to leave Purulia and he had to withdraw the application on my request with great disappointment. There after I used to visit him more frequently with his shifting to Delhi. That made us very close. I had great entertaining time with him in and around Delhi and to Kullu Manali etc with him. But his emphasis for me to come into some enterprising business was always there.

A congress convention was held at Calcutta sometime in 1987 perhaps. Jijaji along with Sri Bhajan lalji, the then chief minister of Haryana were there on the occasion. I too joined them at grand hotel. During conversation he narrated all about his efforts to bring me in to production line with nil result so far. Bhajanlalji could not believe that. Being pioneer of steel industry, he could have brought me easily in to any relevant industry. He took a commitment from me not to back track if one more effort be taken. I agreed to it and returned back to Purulia. In fact I did not take the conversation so rigidly.

To my amazement, after three or four months, one fine morning I found his representative coming all the way from Faridabad to Purulia with bunch of papers for me to sign with an instruction to send a sum of one lakh to start with. I had no opportunity to discuss the matter with babuji even. I had no alternative then to comply with the request. This is how it all began. He used to send the person with documents when ever necessary and I used to send fund as per his instructions. I had no idea about the project or the location of site where it was being installed to start with. Once I had to visit the site to take possession of the shed. Then only I could know how under developed and backward was the place known as ROZ KA MEO near Sohna in Haryana, about 60 kms from jijaji’s residence in Delhi. But I had full trust on his action and was ready to take over the challenge. Mean while Sandeep got engaged and was to be married on 30^th Nov 1989. We performed opening pooja of our unit on 12^th sept 1989. Shobha and Minoo as would -be -daughter in law attended the tiny ceremony with me. Some machines were installed; foreman and some staff were appointed. All this was done courtesy jijaji. Now it was my turn to run the plant. After Sandeep’s marriage, I took over the charge on and from 1^st January 1990. My idea to hand over it to Sandeep from the beginning had to be deferred as per jijaji’s advice. He wanted Minoo to be at PURULIA for sometime to get acquainted with our family culture and customs. He also wanted me to be in charge to face the initial struggle period over. So unwillingly I had to be at the helm of affairs of this business for five years though Sandeep used to come over there in between. It was jijaji’s moral and otherwise support that I could carry on there with all the inconvenience. It was his and only his company that made me to live so away from family. In spite of all odds, he wanted me to succeed. I took over in January and in July I reported to him that our plant was likely to earn some profit for the first time after incurring initial loss. He was so delighted that he celebrated this happy information with champagne in presence of my visiting friend Biren. The glow on his face made me determined never to let him down with his trust up on me. His efforts to build my business platform since last twenty five years seemed to be heading towards positive ending.

For the first year I stayed with him in Delhi around two weeks every month. Our factory was around sixty kms. I used to go to factory partially by auto and bus. It was a tough time and hard life but that made me love my plant more. Biscuit, banana and tea only were available as snacks or lunch. No suitable company was there to develop. My accepting the tough life made him confident of success and he provided all possible support to make me sustain my momentum. Unfortunately his business was on back foot since 1991 and could never recover in spite of his best efforts. But so far our unit was concerned, all possible and sometimes even out -of- way support was there from his side. After one year he managed to bring us in to a small flat very near to his factory to provide us his guidance and company at hand. He used to visit us and take lunch with us at times. We used to meet almost everyday for good amount of time. On week ends we used to be together in Delhi. We became known as made for each other. All his staff and family members were very particular to be admiring and respectful to me. He was my guardian, friend, councilor and what not. At short notice or need we used to visit each other even during odd times. We shared` all joy and worries of life during that period. From a rustic life in Purulia, he brought me to five star life style of Delhi. He taught me many lessons of live; from shaving, eating to meeting VIPs. He contributed a lot in shaping me and my surrounding in modern way but he always reminded me of my cultural and family root for which he had great respect. Today we are into export business by virtue of his support. He provided me the initial technical support to develop the first component to be exported. I was more intimate to him than even with my didi. Similarly he considered me more into his confidence than his brothers or sons. It was the shock of life to witness his rise and fall in business.

With his sad and sudden demise, an era was over. It all began with a moderate beginning at Amritsar. In due course his business got spread over to Ballabgarh, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Govindgarh, Indore. Many national awards were rewarded to the group by different government agencies. Within his own life he could achieve this and unfortunately rounded off too. He was a far sighted person. He could visualize the future of his business and family, of late. That is why he got one of his sons settled in Dubai. It was his vision that he could institute a well equipped school for didi to run and manage it. It was on his 2^nd death anniversary that his statue was installed there at the school campus. While going to our factory every day, we cross across his factory dail. It is painful to see the ruins. I have seen and enjoyed its glory with him for many years. I as well as Sandeep and all our family members who know his selfless contribution in building LNM AUTO will be ever grateful to him and will always cherish for his sweet memories. Even after death, he will remain a guiding and inspiring source to us.

RAMAN, my friend.

Good memories are the most precious of our treasures. Nurtured and caressed, they remain with us all our lives like favorite books. And to peep into the sweat memories of period spent and shared with friend is pleasant experience.

What LNM Auto is today, it owes to Raman a lot. We have been very closely associated since childhood. This association has instilled its mark at many important crossings in my life. We were class mates from class 4 to 11 in Rajasthan Vidyapith, a hindi medium school. He was the topper in class from very beginning and continued to be so, though he was never a very systematic student. His conception about any subject was very clear and distinct. That made him the first boy with vast difference in grades. I was never near him. During early years we were never good friends. He used to tease me and was never in my group of friends in school though we had family relations. Perhaps while in class 6, we had been to Sindri on an educational tour to see the fertilizer plant there. Thereafter we were not in that good terms for years, reason I don’t remember specifically. Gradually I improvised my result and was second to him in class ten. Then in matriculation board we both and only we both passed with first division from our school. Thereafter we came closer and became friends as ever. We both joined JK College with science stream. We used to go to same professor for tuition. We used to study together for hours in my home and he was very helpful to me in studies. But for some or other reason I could not come out with good result. He as usual passed with higher first division and I got second division. We decided to take admission at Ranchi or Chaibasa with Purulia having no good college for higher study. It was because of his company that my parents agreed to send me out of town for studies. We applied for admission into St. xavier’s college, Ranchi. My application was not to be considered for admission with second division marks though he canvassed for me very strongly before the principal. Next ay when we met the principal, he returned back our application forms with one accepted and one rejected. He had wrongfully rejected Raman’s application in place of mine. Raman did not allow him to rectify his mistake and pleaded so strongly for me that the principal had no choice but to accept us both to be admitted. Otherwise also, he had decided to be with me in any other college. We also took admission at Rajasthan Chhatrawas, about three miles away from college and thus became room partners in the hostel.

In August 1961, our session started. We could feel the difference between Purulia college and St. Xavier’s. It was a very rustic and small college at Purulia with only five rooms, two trees as the common room specified for boys and girls to stay during leisure periods, a small laboratory with one spirit lamp to work around and with no other facilities available though the teaching staff was good. On the other hand, St. Xavier’s was having a four storied building with more than fifty spacious and equipped rooms, laboratories, library and sports complex. It had three sessions going on in morning, day and evening in all three streams of arts, commerce and science with thousands of students around. In fact we felt to be lost in the vast see of students initially. We faced great difficulty in matching with the situation, to start with. I decided to switch over to commerce to enlighten the burden. And it was Raman’s good gesture to switch over to commerce only to be together without any other consideration. Well ultimately good sense prevailed and we continued with science. This way, Raman’s influence had been there up on my life since quite early. It was due to his persuasion and company that I was permitted by parents to go to hostel and was in St.xavier’s. Otherwise I would have missed the golden opportunity of being in such college and hostel. I was a home sick person. I used to visit Purulia every week end. That hampered regular studies. Usually he used to be with me to Purulia. But he could make up the lapses through his God gifted extra intelligence. In hostel also, he was like guardian cum friend to me. Our room number was 14 and it used to be one of the dirtiest rooms in the hostel. In fact, we used to sleep in one bed out of two provided with and other one used as store. Although no one from my family ever visited us, we never allowed any distant visitor to enter into our room. One of our classmates, a charming south Indian girl, was Laxmiraman and we together constitute the same name. So in college boys used to call our names at a time to draw her attention and to annoy her. She could ultimately understand the reason after having clarified the matter with us.

Following incidence will further reflect Raman’s impact on my education. Due to home sickness and frequent visit to Purulia I could not perform well in my first examination in spite of Raman’s help. I could not pass in one of the subjects. My preparation for the 2^nd term was good but I got very nervous on the eve of examination. I wanted to escape away. But Raman persuaded me to appear in examination by any means and helped me to obtain pass marks in the same subject. There after he took me to the college notice board where it was clearly notified for every student to clear all the papers at least in one of the terminals. I could continue my studies further because of his insistence only.

Thus the year ended. Raman passed with higher first division as usual and I was placed in 2^nd division. And reluctantly we had to depart. He got admitted into engineering and I had to continue with B.Sc at St. Xavier’s. He took admission into BIT,Ranchi but soon got transferred to BIT, Sindri about 150 kms from Ranchi. Though leaving apart, we kept our contact intact. We used to meet at Purulia during vacations. In addition he used to visit Ranchi in between. He joined our hostel sponsored trip to Rajgir, Telaiya, Pawapuri and Hazaribagh National Park. It was a three days trip with about 50 wards from our hostel. Our photograph taken in the ruins of Nalanda is on my office table still. Its memory is still very refreshing. We enjoyed at all the places.

In two years I completed my graduation when he was in the third year of engineering. We had an opportunity to visit Biratnagar in Nepal to attend one of our classmate’s marriage.. It was our first tour to any foreign country. We brought a lot of imported goods from there. Raman started importing stainless steel utensils from there. He was business minded from the very beginning. He had the urge to become self dependent even during student life.

In 1965, I got married when he was in the final year of engineering. 11^th May was my date of marriage and his final examination was to commence from 14^th May. I had doubt about him being present at the ceremony. But he made it. He accompanied the barat to Nagpur, attended main ceremony on 11^th, left for Purulia on 12^th, reached Sindri on 13^th and appeared in examination on and from 14^th and scored as ever with higher first division. He was exceptionally brilliant. Next year he completed engineering and decided to go to US for further study. He executed all his plans by himself .To start with his plan was to return back after MS. He suggested me to plan accordingly to be in US for a pleasure trip together. I was blessed with Sandeep on 23^rd July and he left for US on 4^th September perhaps. I was there to see him off at Calcutta airport. When he was to board on to the plane, he put the motherland’s soil on his fore head. . That brought tears in our eyes. He was leaving away initially for one year only. But he was destined to be there for good. He did M.S and then PHD and got settled there gradually.

He used to visit India frequently in quest for a suitable bride and ultimately engaged with Shashi bhabhi. We used to have good amount of time together when ever he be in India and in particular in Puruila. In addition we were in close contact through intermediate correspondence and sharing of our well being and developments at our ends very regularly. In 1972 he got married with Shashi Bhabhi at Jaipur. I was through out with him during the process of sermonizing the marriage ceremony from Purulia to Jaipur, which was enjoyed by all including his foreign friends. During that stay he informed about his plans to take an East West coast trip of US in next summer and he wanted me to join along with Shobha. So I started with its preparation. Meanwhile Shobha was conceived after seven years. It seemed that she would not be in a position to join the trip. Sangeet was to young to be taken with. Hence I had to go alone. Regarding US trip, I had mind to write about separately.

Thus our friendship and intimacy remained intact in spite of living so apart. In fact it developed into an ever lasting relation. When ever he used to come down to India, we had very good opportunities to renew our relation. He was gracious to attend Sandeep’s marriage in 1989 with full family. By that time he was blessed with Amit and Ritu. I had also laid foundation of our manufacturing business at Sohna during same period. It was a surprise information for him also.

During his next visit to India, I took him to our plant. I had a mind to develop some export business. Our country was facing foreign currency reserve crisis. With an honest idea to bring a little foreign currency to our country in need, I wanted to venture into it. We were in the process of moving to Faridabad and Raman being in US, situation was ideal for some export business. I took him to Sohna to see to believe that the process of our shifting had begun. I simply suggested him to identify some item to be manufactured at our end for export to US to bring some dollars to the national kitty even without making any profit. He accepted the proposal and provided with the drawing of dust hog for me to explore the possibility. He was not very hopeful to be competitive price wise with Taiwan. But we ventured into exploring with such noble cause.

Initially what appeared to be a simple job, it ended into a challenge. It took us three years or more to develop the component with unexpected good amount of investment. It was a testing time at both ends. Raman kept his patience in spite of early set backs and so did we. It was a great achievement for us along with technical staff of Partap steel,who helped us by all means when our samples were reported to be near approval. At that time I was at the helm of affairs as Sandeep was totally involved with Rotaract affairs at Purulia/Calcutta. The first consignment of 6000 numbers was exported as learning process to know various formalities and to establish the whole system of export. In between Raman visited us and was very supportive through out. His staff in US and even Shashi bhabhi was of little hope about our success, but Raman kept his hopes alive. Once first lot got approved, we decided to install specific machineries needed separately in a hired shed at Muzesar, Faridabad under the name and style of LNM AUTO INDUSTRIES PVT LTD exclusively to manufacture and export various components to Raman. But quality problem persisted. And for a while it took serious nature and Raman wanted desperately to stop production. I had to intervene with a request to keep in mind for always about Sandeep’s career in future. And there after he never came with any such negative idea in spite of all odds. On the contrary he wanted to join LNM as equal partner once we got shifted to sector 59 in 1997. I left the matter to be decided in between Sandeep and Raman. We discussed all the aspects and decided to make it a joint venture. It was Raman’s great gesture to consider the initial burden backlogged due to bad quality as the training investment on Sandeep.

Thus it all took shape and improvised on the path of success. The story of success under Sandeep with Raman’s full co operation is being left for Sandeep to focus some time conveniently.

Who am I?

As we grow this blog, I think it is a great idea to share with all what one of our valued clients share with us recently. Here is the unedited version of the article – Who am I?

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As I sit down to write this article on a cold Sunday morning, I look out the window of our home and see snowflakes falling onto the white blanket of snow that already covers the lawn, trees and bushes. It is hard to believe that we are now into the spring season with the temperature only 32° (0°C). I have to keep reminding myself that the warming temperatures of spring will soon be here and I can shed that heavy winter coat that I have been wearing for the past 4 months.

Tomorrow as the sun rises I will travel on my daily 45 minute commute to work. During my drive to work I get a chance to see children waiting for the school bus, view farmers busy at their chores and other people just like me heading to start their workweek. The countryside is a panorama of beautiful scenes of our hills, streams, rivers and valleys. The journey to work is a time for me to reflect and plan for the upcoming day. Upon arrival at our plant, I typically start my day with a short Instant Messenger conversation with Mr. Sandeep Mall of LNM. I am just starting my day and he is now at the end of his workday. We exchange welcomes and then discuss current issues that face us. We conclude our conversation with agreed actions that both of us will be doing until we meet again on-line. My day continues with meetings, phone calls, receiving and sending faxes, and doing many other duties that vary from day to day. I enjoy the variety of work and the various challenges that face us in competing in today’s markets.

As my workday concludes I look forward to the drive home in the sunset. Passing the same scenery but somehow it looks much different now. I arrive home and get to enjoy being with my family for the evening. We have a very busy family with school functions, and recreation that we do together. The time passes fast and it is now time to start a new day.

Who am I? I am a customer of LNM. I have a name, family, concerns, goals, and needs just like everyone reading this. I am not a company, place, or thing to be viewed as having no feelings needs or desires. That is why I enjoy doing business with LNM; I am treated as a person who is valued by the employees of LNM. Together LNM and their customers will achieve new heights as they continue to view customers for what they are; PEOPLE.

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Duane Saxton lives in the North Eastern Region of the Unites States with his wife, Michelle, and their two children Megan and Kyle. Duane has been doing business with LNM for four years.

BUSINESS and CAREER

Let me trace a bit of our family history. Our ancestors belonged to Jaisalmer in Rajasthan. They were Diwans under the king of Jaisalmer. It was about 700 years back. They were expert in wrestling and hence the title MALL was rewarded to them. After some bitter altercation with the king, they shifted to a place called JANGLU about 40 km away from Bikaner and later to Deshnok, about 30 km away from Bikaner. Deshnok is famous for Karni mataji’s temple, where hundreds of kabas (rats) freely move around the temple. Karni maa is our kuldevi. Recent history, as told to us by elders in family relates to our life and struggle at and beyond Deshnok. My Great grand father Late Sri Thakurdasji and his elder brother Late Sri Jainaraindasji lived there. Some of their cousins started some business at Calcutta and Purulia. But they were living at Deshnok in rustic way with no job at hand. Once his cousin brother came from Calcutta and brought some fine dhoti (wrap around fabric for men). Thakurdas ji wanted to have one dhoti for himself. He was told to go to up to other part of the country and work hard to earn if he wanted to have fine dhoti etc. That hurt him and he took up the challenge to go to Calcutta and explore the possibilities there. He was just 14/15 years at that time. His elder brother tried to convince him to change his mind and stay back but he was determined. There was no train connection between both places. He had to go to Jodhpur on camel cart. From there, he traveled up to Raniganj by train and then to Purulia again by camel cart. After being established there in Purulia within four years, he called upon his elder brother Jainaraindasji also to join him. That was the beginning of our establishment at Purulia. How strongly determined he was to accomplish his goals!

 

Myself being successor of such self made and determined person, I was never that strong to fix up my aims and to put sincere efforts to accomplish them. After matriculation, when choice to select out of various stream came, I preferred science, but with no clear vision. Perhaps, I preferred science because smarter and students with high grades used to go for science. Other attraction might be for co education as girls were not at all inclined to take up commerce at that time. More over commerce classes used to be in morning or evening session only and I wanted to be fully occupied. I was asked by my elders as to why I opted for science. We were in trade. And with no industries there around; science should not have been the right choice. I wanted to be an engineer and might opt for a suitable job thereafter. It was a negative choice, according to them. Well, without very clear vision, I took science. After graduating with Mathematics, Physics and chemistry, I tried for law with an eye for expertise in taxation. I discontinued the same following my marriage. I had to join my parental business all of a sudden under some unfortunate circumstances in 1965 immediately after my marriage with no one to provide guidance. Within a year, the tasted old pattern of business crumbled as I could not manage properly without experience whatsoever. All my customers deserted me. Others took advantage of the situation. Our customers used to be from rural villages coming on bullock carts and depended on us for their supplies. As I could not maintain full verities as per their requirements, they had to turn to other suppliers. I started dealing in limited items and with limited urban customers gradually. But it was not my choice of business. In July 1966, I visited my brother in law in Amritsar. He inspired me to install a rolling mill. He wanted me to shift to some bigger city, but that was not at all possible. So he suggested me to set up one steel rolling mill at Purulia with his help. But I could not get success in that venture in spite of all efforts for two years. By the way, I continued my Food grains and oil business but without much likings. 1966 to’ 1969 was the period of famine in eastern and northern India. I could have flourished and earned handsomely out of my business, but morally I could not digest the situation. So diversification to other business was always in mind. In 1967, Bokaro steel Plant was coming up at Bokaro, only 35 km away from Purulia. We formed a company named M. M.& co with two other relatives and got a tender for material handling at Bokaro steel city station. We were in this business for more than two years but could not handle it properly and ultimately withdrew out of it with handsome losses. I could understand that I had to be in my traditional business and hence tried to change it suitably. All such business was having Gaddi type of seating arrangements till then. I introduced table chair and counter system to be more comfortable. To start with I had to face criticism, but ultimately others followed the system in due course. My urge towards industry continued and in between. Paper work for rolling mills, nut and bolt plants and nail manufacturing unit were in hand from time to time. In 1970 during my Bikaner visit I met someone who used to manufacture polythene film plants. I placed order for supply of one unit to be installed at Purulia, but ultimately I cancelled the proposal. In 1973, when I planned to go to US I brought my prevailing business to minimum level as no one was to look after it during my absence. On return from US and by the end of 1973, I joined hands with some other partners in a refractory unit coming up in Purulia, but had to discontinue it when I found the partners very cunning and dishonest. There too I incurred losses. Meanwhile we had started financing business in big way, though I never had job satisfaction with it. We developed financing business at Purulia, Calcutta, Rajnandgaon, and Nagpur etc. Meanwhile we sold some of our non lucrative properties and developed some other properties so as to earn some rental income out of that. Earlier we had business in tobacco, yarn and cloth also during my grandfather’s regime. So I tried to renew that. I started stocking of tobacco leaves at Dinajpur in West Bengal through some contacts, though I never tried to visit the place or to open an office there as some other businessman of Purulia had done.. But my inclination was to consider that if my efforts had desired results. I continued it for three years, but found the contact person there not that satisfactory and also found my moving there not possible. So that preposition was discontinued also, though without any losses. So life was on move with many experiments, but with less satisfaction. I had just one friend around there and a few contacts within family members only. That was not up to my liking. So I instantly agreed to join Rotary, when proposal came in 1974. Earlier I had avoided it in 1968. Rotary changed my life. I would deal on it later. Here I am to write about business ventures only. With no aggressive business in hand, my movement was restricted to pleasure trips only. Even for two years or so, I did not go to Calcutta in between. And just to come out of that situation, I again tried to venture a business in small way. I explored with Bombay dyeing people for an exclusive showroom at Purulia with a mind to develop it into a big cloth business in due course. That opened an opportunity for me to visit Calcutta more frequently. And my mamaji supported and joined me in my efforts there around. We opened the showroom in most fascinating way in 1976 with one of my cousins to be in charge. I used to be there only during evenings and of course, all Calcutta assignments were under me. With Rotary, Bombay Dyeing assignments and Calcutta visits, life changed for good. I got constructively engaged and to my liking to some extent. Some new contacts developed through Rotary and Calcutta business. My time in the evening used to pass off nicely dealing with young customers as Bombay Dyeing was popular with youngsters and young housewives. Rotary provided to invent new friends and ideology. And at Calcutta, new ideas and ventures used to come through mamaji, who was a great entrepreneur even at that age. He always encouraged me for any new business proposals and we became very close. I found a nice advisor and well wisher in him. And I could enjoy love and affection of my nanihal and in particular of my naniji,. And I became a bridge of contact between my mother and her mother, which we all cherished for long. But my dream of developing cloth business could not be fulfilled as my cousin, who was with me in Bombay dyeing business had to quit due to some very unfortunate happenings in his family. And ultimately we had to close our showroom in 1980.So I had only financing business left over and though without my liking, it was convenient for us to continue it. But my efforts to venture new business continued. Life was not that boring now with Rotary and friends through Rotary in hand. In fact, I had the best time in Purulia during that period and will focus on it in my Rotary write up later sometime. Meanwhile I started to explore trading in yarn. We were in this business long back before I joined and my in laws were in this business thoroughly. That made me to visit Bankura every week and Ranchi sometimes and Adoni in AP and some yarn mills in Orissa and M.P. That made me active too. But that was also a dieing business.. During same period jijaji had frequent visits to Calcutta for various reasons and I had to be in Calcutta for Rotary assignments. I also visited his Hyderabad plant and as usual he was always with some ideas for me to explore and come out of my cage to join hands with him. He suggested me to install an induction furnace at Hyderabad and also to have a farmhouse there near Hyderabad for grapes farming. In fact he initiated paper work on induction furnace for me and bought a farming land also. But I could not take a decision considering my base in Purulia and with no other support. Sandeep, my son was there at Nagpur doing engineering at that time and I was anxious for his career. Purulia was to be connected with TV facilities soon. So I explored electronic business prepositions keeping in view Sandeep’s electronic line and ultimately made a contract with Maaegabyte computers to start an academy there at Purulia and bought a computer for Sandeep before his return. Perhaps I was in haste. Purulia was not a matured place for computer business at that time. Meanwhile by chance, it so developed that Jijaji had to initiate for Mall Machine shop, an ancillary for his tractor unit and there after through many steps we are here as LNM Auto Industries Pvt.Ltd. and LNM Exports Pvt Ltd.

 

I am at a loss to define my business explorations. Is it a story of failures or successes, I don’t know. What I could ascertain is that I got success whenever I put all efforts of my own with full honesty and devotion. Rotary and successful struggle and Mall Machine Shop speaks it. Other business prepositions, I ventured with partners and depended on them. I did not involve fully with them or some business which was not up to my liking. Then family circumstances did not allow me to take initiative so strongly. But I don’t have regret for that. Initially I did what was proper for me to do as per my parents and family priority and later I could take up right decision at right time for Sandeep. I always considered myself as a trustee to all establishments I inherited and not constituted by me. And I have great satisfaction that I could manage it nicely for 35 years without any downfall. Keeping the high ethical tradition of the family. God has been gracious that I could manage the transition adequately from Babuji to Sandeep, from old and tested ideology to modern and updated technology. I might be a weak bridge in between, but luck favored me at all times. And my achievement is the love, affection, respect and regards bestowed by one and all, within and outside family circle, from my ancestors to present generation, from kin to strangers with whomever I had to deal with. During this management period, I always let others feel that I led a retiring life. That’s why when I opted retirement as chairman from LNM Auto, Raman jokingly questioned: Retirement from what? Yes, with all tensions within, of apprehensions of not managing the little kingdom that my ancestors established after great toil and I inherited by virtue of my birth, with high skill, I always appeared to opt for light and soft means, but its gravity is known to me only and that is my reward and asset. I had many sweet and bitter memories, had many high and low moments, had affectionate and insulting situations, faced moments of proud as well as of shame in between, But at the end, I feel satisfied to hand over all in tact to the safe and solid hands of Sandeep. And I am more satisfied and grateful to God as well that all this could be done in presence of my parents. They are lovely parents and great persons and Sandeep, my ward is a competent chain of our family to look after them and their heritance. So I am happy at the end. I will try my best to remove all complications, if any in between so that he does not have any complaint whatsoever in future. And I am indebted to Shobha, Goura and Sangeet for their not at all demanding nature which could make it possible so far.

 

It was tough to move from Purulia to Faridabad, but I could make a beginning. One would think, I broke the tradition of children following their parent’s career. Dynamic succession is very normal, in particular in Marwari Community. My great grand father broke that norm for betterment, my grandfather flourished that to establish our set up at Purulia, Babuji nourished that and I laid foundation of diversification. It is considered a virtue to belong to a long and illustrious lineage. The logic is very simple. You are what your surroundings make you, as you grow you also pick up the flavor of the environment around you and indeed skills are better passed this way than through rigorous learning in institutions. But that does not necessarily make dynastic succession healthy or right. Such children will rarely move out of family shadow, they will never be recognized for their own worth as in my case. But I have no regret for that. I could make my parents happy and satisfied and then later could find a suitable platform for younger generation to build up. Young people, now a day instinctively rebel against authority. They want to be different from their parents. It is this that shapes their personalities and creates distinct individualities. And we are satisfied that Sandeep could build that for himself on the little platform I could built.

WHAT DOES LNM STAND FOR?

On one sunny morning, citizens of Athens were amazed to see their great philosopher wandering on the streets with a lantern in his hand in search of some precious thing. He seemed to be very desperate as if some valuables had lost and to find that is question of life and death for him. If he would have been an ordinary person, people might consider him to be insane, but he was a great philosopher. On inquiring, he hopelessly told that he was in search of human beings. People around were shocked that he did not consider them as humans. He further explained that he could see a cobbler, a smith, a businessman, a courtier, a dancer, and so on around, but not a human in true sense.

Friends, through this story, I want to impress upon you, not to consider LNM as a machine shop or a production center only. It’s not only a place where CNCs and VMCs operate with whispering sound, where we work in airconditioned atmosphere, where systems are monitored through ISO and ERP, where computers make it a paperless and voice less environment, where we all work for our bread and butter, where its blue all around with no red spot anywhere, where quality in production is the top most priority, where timely payment is commitment, where customer gets a one-stop-shop facilities, where expansion and upgradation go on continuously, where challenges have been met successfully, so far.

It is something more than that, it is more lively and vibrant and let us pledge to make it a place, where work is considered to be like worship, where we begin and end our day smilingly greeting JAISRIKRISHNA, where we try to earn for country and self, where quality of human resources matches quality of production, where oneness prevails in sharing happiness and sorrow amongst all without any prejudice, where smiling faces welcome everyone, where everyone cares for others, where spirituality and honesty drive every action, where ‘love and to be loved’ principle co-exits amongst management and coworkers, where fellowship and friendship spring out all around, where regards and respect flourish in between, where sentiments and heart overwhelm mind and intelligence, where family members of all feel have their faith -and the list goes beyond the ability to express health-felt emotions.

It was a small dream project to begin with. With fulfilment of every dream with everyone’s dedication and God’s graciousness, we continue to dream bigger. Sky is the limit - not for monetary achievement, but for value based targets and let us pledge for more dedication to usher towards new goals, together.