By Biswajit Basu:
How I was posted on my first ship
I received a telegram in Delhi to report to our Calcutta Office of Scindia Steam Navigation Co. Ltd to start my career as an engineer officer on a merchant ship. It was mid September 1970.
I took the brand new Rajdhani Express which was reputed to do the journey in 17 hours.
I was put up in the Marine Club in Calcutta and told to get my papers ready.The most important document I needed to travel anywhere in the world was a Continuous Discharge Certificate (CDC) which was a bit of a procedure and was issued by the Shipping Master. Finally I was issued one (No 143408) which, essentially was more powerful than the Indian Passport as ai could travel to any country in the world while a passport was a a document with some restrictions in those days.
On 28th September, I was told I would be taking the afternoon flight to Madras from Calcutta. It was on an Indian Airlines flight on a Sud Aviation Caravelle. The odd thing about this aircraft was that it had 3 rear mounted engines But who cared. I was on my first flight and that too on a jet plane!
(From Jetphotos website)
There seemed to be a terrible hurry once I reached and I was bundled into the Shipping Office to 'sign on' and straight to the ship in Jawahar Dock where I was introduced to the Second Engineer (I was 5th). Before I could say Jack Robinson, the engines rumbled on and I was underway.
(Madras now Chennai Port, Wikipedia)
After dinner, my first on board, I was introduced to the Chief Engineer (a senior and a gold medallist). Next in line was the Master who was an old Englishman, Capt. Paget. Capt. Paget was not in his cabin but on the bridge and so up I went. Everything was black on the bridge with various lights (some coloured) blinking on various desks. As my eyes adjusted to the darkness I made out the Captain looking into the night with the twinkling lights of Madras receding in the distance and a strange orange glow over the city.
There was pindrop silence on the bridge except for the distant rumble of the engines and the hiss of the wind. The solitary helmsman was at the wheel taking orders from someone I could not see and repeating them. Then I heard the Capt say "Mate, forget that contraption. At night you don't see the land: you smell it"
It was the hoary captain teaching the young 3rd Mate (who was peering into the radar) the tricks of their trade. I was then introduced to Capt. Paget who wished me a great career.
That was my first day at sea. It was 29th September 1970. Little did I know then that 27 months would pass before I could go home again!
Post Script by Monisha Choudhury:
Wow Dada! What a great beginning away from home! Great memory. I do remember your long trips and short visits home. One was on Daddy and Ma’s 25th Wedding Anniversary. When we garlanded them both and you gave me my first golden Seiko watch which I proudly displayed and wore forever, for ages. Must be 1972. I was wearing my designer blue with yellow flowered bell bottoms and a short blue shirt which was made by a famous tailor frequented by LSR fashionistas at Kailash Market. You, of course, looked handsome and impressive with your black rimmed glasses!
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