Bitech.
I still remembering stepping in this office to visit my friend Ashfaq Hussain, who had just settled down after an year long assignment in Dubai. I was kind of fascinated with the environment, as I belonged to a business community and was not exposed to this side of the world.
Later part, I was introduced to Talitha Paul, who explained me patiently the course chart and as it was pre planned, I took Unix, C, Oracle as my launch pad to a career whose bits and bytes often
confused me.
Then, Dandy Dude Bro. Abdul Kareem, was my first colorful faculty. By colorful, I mean his ties changed colors daily. I can never forget in the most simplified manner, he explained the file permissions and CHMODs. After finishing my never ending C project, I took a break for a month, and initiated my Oracle course.
Moorthy, who is in Sun California was my instructor. I used to notice Syed Ali, Pratibha, Nayeem Hussain, Krishnan and lot others working as faculty.
After a brief pause, I joined and started my career in Bitech as a faculty. Prabhakar was kind enough to demonstrate me the role of a faculty. I was allocated morning and evening batches. His special advise to me was to keep eye contacts with the students.
Great thanks to Mr. Robert Daniels, who understood my need to run my shop as well pursue my career in Computers. Sadly, this gentle soul is is no more with us...
BTW Refaitheen was my C guru, who helped me with answers to all the twisted questions posed by the students.
By this time, we used to share our food in 4th floor of IDM Bldg. We used to wait for Shahul (Tall) Hameed, (who is cozily settled in Klamath Falls, Oregon with a son )and end up finishing his lunch, which always used to be too tasty.
We had the luxury of enjoying Rehman Bhai's tea often.
Then, I was shifted to Adyar Branch. I was the first faculty there and Prabhakar/ Pratibha used to be there
initially. I closed my shop and concentrated fully in IT.
Then Saravanan, Haseeb Hussain Raja, Ravi Shankar, KK, Syed Ali, casanova Azeemuddin,(now in S'pore), Kamini, Valarmathi, K.Ravi (who would sing good tamil songs) and others followed.
I also used to take classes in Guindy Bitech, and everyone who took classes here under went the torture of Mr.Balram.
Sporadically, I was requested by Robert to take classes in GR plaza too. There I came into contact with Farhathullah, Sultan Aarif,Saradha.
Then for the first time a strike struck in Moores Road Bitech. Guys had the nerve to literally say No to taking classes. I still dont know the issue. Robert and Doctor K got pissed off.
After a tenure of 18 months working as a faculty, I was moved into Projects. Well! I noticed Gertsie, Johnson, Valli, Syed Ali, Amin Mohiuddin, Pratibha, Raffic, Haseeb Hussain Raja working hard to put life into Orbits.
After a brief pause, there came a cartoon named Jaidu.
Well! Lots of good people either left or packed to S'pore, Malaysia. I remember Ravi Shankar packing his bags to Indonesia.
I was moved into Asset Mgmt System project and with me was Melban, Martin.
As Jaidu Babu was new, one fine day, he was visited by a dutiful pious moslem named Syed Ali who requested his passport to perform Hajj. Jaidu Babu believed and handed over him the passport. Next day, Jaidu Babu was handed over a resignation letter from the same Syed Ali.
That became a big furor. Everyone enjoyed the trick.
Then I witness one of the biggest disaster happening in Bitech. 5 rooms were allocated to 5 VPs. Marketing
(Indian Thatha Vishu), Emerging technology (Barrel who accurately peed every 30 minutes), and few others
wasteful resources.
After taking heat for a year, I requested HR to hand me over my passport, as I was trying from other
sources to get out of the country.
I was regularly visiting Bitech HR and Washington was taking care of my affair. Syed Abrar who was then HR executive, under Sundar HR VP had resigned, who was my only hope.
Then a miracle happened.
During one of my frustrating visits to Bitech HR, one day, I found Sundar and Washington out of office. Sharon, the HR assistant to Sundar came rushing requesting my resume. I asked for what. I had made up my mind to leave Bitech.
She shouted at me saying, a VP Abdul Cader from New Jersey, Transworld office is on his recruiting tour.
She modified my resume and within 1 hour, I had my offer letter from him.
This infuriated Jaidu Babu to the max. He literally shouted for over taking him.
A game of patience and torture started.
I was informed by HR that Fedex lost my H1B papers. That too by Fedex. With me, were TRS, Arthur Shaw, Mahadevan. Anyway TRS flew to NJ little early.
The game of wait went on for months.
Mahadevan lost his cool and blasted Sundar with Adengwa...
I used to keep in touch with Ashfaq/Nayeem who had comfortably settled in California. He updated me about my H1 status. Also, I got an assuring mail from Ashfaq that I am tasting the vicious taste of bad politics being played around me.
Anyway, all of a sudden like a bolt out of blue, I got my papers in May end, and landed in NJ on 3rd June
1998.
Every vacation visit to Chennai, would never end up unless I paid my visit to transformed Bitech.
Bitech got shifted to the new building.
Then, we heard about closure of franchises. Well! it is truely saddening to know that Bitech is about to shut its door. Its door is closed in IDM bldg. It is breathing its last breathe.
This is the current position of Bitech.
Since there is no project or any activity in Bitech, they reduced the staff count to 20. They have started another company called Transworld Information Solution Pvt Ltd for doing only offshore projects and planning to fire 15 more and close BITECH. Right now there is an Clarify offshore project is
going on and only 15 people are working.
Bitech office at Moores road will be closed very soon since there is only one Southern Railway maintenance
project is going on. Now they have moved back to our old Bitech office(IDM building). At last our Jebaraj Daniels has resigned his job and went to Saudi. The New Transworld Solution office has moved to Kellys (Kilpauk Gardens) and the Clarify team is working from there. There is no more software office at Buharia Towers.
Today, its been more than a decade since I left Bitech, Only one thought now comes to my mind .....
Astala Vista Bitech.....
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