Page 30 - Seniorstoday May 2022 Issue
P. 30
Spotlight
Right way, wrong way or
railway?
Suresh P Khade recounts an incident that occurred in the Indian railways,
which can be correlated to working life in general
Organisation structures that have fight about AC /DC continued till the nineties
departments with their own sets of goals and in the railways. In this fight, the supporters
people create the hardened groups within of AC won and the only pocket of dc traction
the organisation. It is unavoidable in the in Mumbai- India got converted to AC. The
railways where the knowledge of all branches conversion was mainly to match the traction
of engineering is needed. As in the orchestra voltage with the rest of the country. To me
where the theme has to be internalised well, DC appeared as more suitable for suburban
to produce a harmonious output, the different sections. There was a prelude in ‘Vichha
departments in such organisations need to Mazi Puri Kara’. A general was commanding
complement each other like instruments a parade of two soldiers, with swords in
in an orchestra. That the Indian Railway is their hands. Dada Kondke held it correctly
working, is proof of its teamwork. I, being an at the hilt but the other senior person held it
electrical engineer, was part of the electrical at that point. When the general noticed the
department. This department has many sub difference, the senior being senior made the
areas like rolling stock, traction distribution, junior hold the sword in the incorrect way!
general services etc as well as strong Something like this has happened for the
departmental bias. The Tesla Thomas Edison decision to convert DC to AC in Mumbai!
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