And then there was Mr. Maruti, a Satyam colleague whose name we only knew vaguely, as he was working on a different project. He was a part of the same team as Revathy and Rafi, the legendary software duo who simultaneously supported our team of three, and then it grew to be five, as well as theirs.
It takes a lot of courage and an outstanding skill set to achieve what they did. Likewise, it should be acknowledged that—I hope this doesn't sound over the top—Revathy and Rafi were truly exceptional women with whom we had the privilege of knowing and working at Satyam.
Through the flexible, hands-on practice and personalized approach that Revathy and Rafi provided, we learned new software tools, best IT practices, data analysis, and codebases within our first month at Satyam. Their omnichannel support strategy enabled us to identify and resolve the technical issues we encountered daily. A confession: They helped and trained us to spare us from GG's wrath!
A Day in The Life at Satyam
“Maaaruuuti Maaaruuuti… Jale Kum, Tale Zyada!” was the catchy television ad jingle of the popular oil brand Maruti in late 1998/99. Once, while working in our spacious cubicle, we overheard someone yelling one of our associates Maruti's name from across the great hall, trying to catch his attention: "Hey! Maruti garu."
Curiosity piqued, Mandy and I exchanged a conspiratorial grin, sharing a knowing smile as if internally deliberating on the possibility of making up a joke for only the two of us that had arisen like an urgent necessity. Mandeep voiced, "Don't you think that name sounds familiar? Huh?" "It does, indeed," I responded excitedly. I could tell that soon he would be concocting something in the form of a joke or something: I could sense that his germane mind of jokes and jingles was already in the throes of wriggling and brainstorming, as though looking for an opening just like this one to joke about for a while, for he had something up his sleeve and would shoot out anytime now.
“Kuch soch raha hai tu?" "Do you have something in mind?!” I said a little too enthusiastically for a grown-up.
“Yeah...you know... I love the fact that I do! You know it, don't you?” said Mandeep, revealing the broadest conspiratorially-inclined smile ever while composing an email delineating roaming issues to Susanne with a cc-copy to GG and Balaji.
Given our surge of enthusiasm for Hindi films and music—one of those highly energizing preferences, in my opinion—boys (going on to be men) like ourselves have always been in good stead while keeping up positive morale at the workplace. We were all equally upbeat about our professional life at Satyam.
(To be continued…)
By Arindam Moulick
“Yeah...you know... I love the fact that I do! You know it, don't you?” said Mandeep, revealing the broadest conspiratorially-inclined smile ever while composing an email delineating roaming issues to Susanne with a cc-copy to GG and Balaji.
Just as I had supposed, his eyes twinkled, just as the meeting place of his brows twitched a little with the usual enthusiasm he had been known for: a typical Sardarji style, if you like, ever since we joined Satyam on the same day.
Meanwhile, I gulped and blinked rapidly like a proverbial fish (called Wanda?), even as we kept working with our hands hammering away on the computer keyboard: programming, shooting emails, messaging on the official chat window, creating marketing reports, troubleshooting, rectifying errors, doing 'R&D' as it were, along with numerous other things — all for the love of keeping up with the daily targets and deadlines!
Meanwhile, I gulped and blinked rapidly like a proverbial fish (called Wanda?), even as we kept working with our hands hammering away on the computer keyboard: programming, shooting emails, messaging on the official chat window, creating marketing reports, troubleshooting, rectifying errors, doing 'R&D' as it were, along with numerous other things — all for the love of keeping up with the daily targets and deadlines!
As we started jesting with one another, I recounted the ad jingle, which went something like "Maaaruuuti Maaaruuuti… Jale Kum, Tale Zyada!”
Mandeep corrected me humorously and said, "Are nahi re! Bol (Say): Tale Kum, Jale Zyada!” Ha ha ha...
Hooting with laughter, we would sing the ad jingle the other way: "Maaaruuuti Maaaruuuti... Tale Kum, Jale Zyada!"
---
Mr. Maruti was exceptionally easygoing, a software engineer who never knew how to be rigid in his working style. Characterized by his subtle approach to work, he had a simple, approachable persona that made it easy for anyone to connect with him on various levels. Though we never had a chance to work together on any project, his subtle disposition preceded his equally outstanding work ethic. At the workplace, he stood out as an incredibly courteous associate, always willing to lend a hand to help others and thoroughly gracious in the way he carried himself. I still remember his inviting us to the Exhibition Club to celebrate his wedding, which Revathy and Rafi, the dynamic software engineering duo, also attended. Mandeep (alias Heartlight) and I decided not to miss attending the function, which we had been looking forward to until the day it finally arrived. Before starting, we went into GG's cabin to get his express permission, and thank God, he shook his head knowingly and enunciated the words haughtily: "Okay! You can go."
(Expending more energy and saying something more sociable than "Okay! You can go" would have been appreciated. Yet, since the man is called GG, we couldn't have expected more than superficial sociability or anything beyond a shallow level of friendliness from the boss-man! What were we thinking, everyone?)
Permission granted. We eagerly hopped on our bikes and set off to the central part of Hyderabad city to attend the marriage function. Not to mention enjoying the sumptuous marriage lunch that awaited us there! After savouring a delightful spread of fresh preparations and desserts under the awning drenched in the daytime sunshine, we returned to the office and resumed our tasks. Knowing I had a long shift that would stretch until 11 pm, I settled back into my work schedule while Mandeep wrapped up his tasks of preparing reports and other things to leave at 6 pm, which marked the end of his general shift timing. (I can’t say for sure whether Mr. Maruti had been aware of our little joke about his name, but I am sure he would have burst out laughing finding out how we altered the original lyrics of the ad jingle to “Tale Kum, Jale Zyada!”) highlighting our playful twist on the familiar tune.
Sitting there giggling, I thought my colleague, nicely parked on the seat of his chair beside me, was amusing in more ways than one; his entire personality brimmed with humour. In other words, his whole persona teemed with funny jokes, riddles, and great laughs! No one could match his exceptional sense of humour. The line "Bhavani Junction..." was from an old Hindi song featured in the Hindi movie "Bhavani Junction."
Permission granted. We eagerly hopped on our bikes and set off to the central part of Hyderabad city to attend the marriage function. Not to mention enjoying the sumptuous marriage lunch that awaited us there! After savouring a delightful spread of fresh preparations and desserts under the awning drenched in the daytime sunshine, we returned to the office and resumed our tasks. Knowing I had a long shift that would stretch until 11 pm, I settled back into my work schedule while Mandeep wrapped up his tasks of preparing reports and other things to leave at 6 pm, which marked the end of his general shift timing. (I can’t say for sure whether Mr. Maruti had been aware of our little joke about his name, but I am sure he would have burst out laughing finding out how we altered the original lyrics of the ad jingle to “Tale Kum, Jale Zyada!”) highlighting our playful twist on the familiar tune.
+*+*+*+
Finally, in the story of our team's spirit and camaraderie, there was this person, Bhavani, who, despite her serious demeanour, was very cordial and distinguished by her substantial IT experience, played a tiny part unknowingly in our jovial tendencies. As expected, when Mandeep heard someone calling out her name in the large hall (where our cubicle was located, in the East Wing), he immediately perked up while smiling in my direction, hummed, "Bhavaniiii Junction… Bhavaniiii Junction!" Sitting there giggling, I thought my colleague, nicely parked on the seat of his chair beside me, was amusing in more ways than one; his entire personality brimmed with humour. In other words, his whole persona teemed with funny jokes, riddles, and great laughs! No one could match his exceptional sense of humour. The line "Bhavani Junction..." was from an old Hindi song featured in the Hindi movie "Bhavani Junction."
Given our surge of enthusiasm for Hindi films and music—one of those highly energizing preferences, in my opinion—boys (going on to be men) like ourselves have always been in good stead while keeping up positive morale at the workplace. We were all equally upbeat about our professional life at Satyam.
(To be continued…)
By Arindam Moulick