Tributes to our Mosaboni Colleagues!

My Journey to Mosaboni & days flew !

My First Visit to Mosaboni:

My journey started way back in 1971, while we were to graduate from Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad in a quest for our first job and we were giving interviews, some at ISM campus some at different Mines locations or there head offices etc.

Some time in June / July '2010, we were invited for interviews for Graduate Trainee (Mining) positions, few of my class mates along with me who were invited / selected were: O P Arora, R K Diwedi, along with myself from ISM and M S Raju from Raipur Mining College. And approximately 15 to 16, joined from Diploma Trainees, and PDPT trainees who converted and joined with our batch. Later  we were asked to join in the month of Oct / Nov 1971, and me and my two class mates again visited Mosaboni to get our joining extended to Jan ' 1972 as we were in the midst of our final exams , followed by our final year thesis . Our request was granted, although we were given option to join and complete our thesis from Mosaboni.

Well finally on completion of our thesis and exams we joined right on 01st January' 1972, which I still remember was a Saturday, and were given a place at newly built New Hostel block in-front of Old Hostel, near Nepali Line or near Gurdwara etc.

I stayed with M S Raju in Room No: 10, whilst my Friend O P Arora & R K Diwedi stayed in Room No: 09, on our left. First day at Mosaboni was at Training Manager's office, where we signed off our joining, along with we were given stores requisitions for mining boots, helmets, safety belts (safety gear) etc. If my memory is correct, it was either K L Ramaswamy and later  K M Agarwal who were our Training Manager that time etc.

First few days we were taken around, different sections of mines, like South Section, North Section, North Badia and Badia sections of mine, and eventually were allocated a School Stope (19L/320mN), which we trainees (both graduate and diploma) ran it as miners. It was a very hard life, and we used to get dog tired at the end of the day. Our section under ground manager was R P Prashara who used to over view us, although we were directly reporting to A K Basu and then M S Dutta, the then Senior Mining Forman (Graduate), from our senior batch from IIT Khargpur.

It was here at School Stope, where we  started hand on training in various fields like drilling, blasting, mucking, fixing of timber logs for support, experimental blasting & rock bolting which was just introduced then, along with tramming daily production from stope to grizzly platform, breaking stones at grizzlies, marking of face etc.

But always week ends were more rejoicing as we could all go out, some times for picnics to Tata Nagar or for Movies there. It was later that Mosaboni had its own movie hall near bus stand. Those days we were not allowed to join Mines Club, its facilities and cinema club etc as we were trainees, until covenancy (First Class Officer's Grade), I got in the year 1978 / 79.

Our training period ended in June / Sept' 1973, when we took over charge of Mate / Senior Mining Foreman, when we got attached to different sections, and started different shifts etc. We all graduates in mining after hard day work had to study to see we complete our First Class Mine Manager's Certificate Examination, (FCC conducted under the umbrella of DGMS, Dhanbad). Our colleague, R K Diwedi left this hard job some time in 1975, sooner he got job in Goa Iron Ore Mines. M S Raju left us, there after on his completion of First Cass Exams, followed by O P Arora who also joined Iron Ore Mines in Goa. I completed my First Class in the year 1977/78 after my marriage (Dec' 1975) and I had my first daughter, in Dec' 1976.

My life carried on, and sooner I started feeling settled here, although I also kept on trying to get jobs outside Mosaboni. I was still living at New Hostel, and I was transferred from Mining Production by then Mr. J K Mahajan - Chief Planning Engineer to join Planning Department, and hence started doing general shifts, at that time M S Raju was in planning, and I had seen his life, much better than mining shifts life.

My life changed totally, as I could see that I am now working in technical department, and evenings are free to myself. My decision to leave Mosaboni also changed for a while, but after I got married (Dec' 1975). I also tried to leave, initially I thought of leaving mining for good, to join my Dad's Business in New Delhi, but he did not agree and his decision today retrospect say was a good decision made for me. Later I got through various jobs at other places, within and out side country. But then General Manager Mr. M A Khan made us feel very homely here, and at times gave me and my family advices  to stay on etc. and also I was rewarded with new roles, so called promotions in ICC hierarchy.

It was when he moved out to HCL Head Office to Calcutta, we decided to quit in 1989, and it was this time, he said and agreed for our departure.
 

Still in progress>>>>>>>>>>>>>.

St. Joseph's Convent High School - Photos

St Joseph Convent School, Mosaboni

 

My two daughters studied in this school, which made there foundations for future studies. My elder daughter Gitanjali studied from 1979 to 1989 and second daughter Monica studies from 1984 to 1989. Me and my family left Mosaboni in Dec' 1989, after availing Voluntary Retirement, as in my hearts new that this mine future, in terms of our career and children higher studies are quite bleak. I got the opportunity, with couple of jobs in hand, but finally we decided in favor of moving to Zambia. 

My both daughter's when they saw first photo were too happy, and thereafter, I kept on requesting all past and present children to help me with more photos, via emails or face book. Over a period of time, I have collected, few of them which I am placing it on-line for all the colleagues / their children to rejoice, which made your life, what you are today. As much I have enjoyed, these photos, so will most of them will say "WOW", and on the same note, I thank all who have brought memories of Mosaboni, and today, I have placed few of these photos on blog for people who are settled around the globe:

Add caption

Memories - Mosaboni Days - Photos from MSB

I had been not keeping well, but nevertheless, in my heart, had the desire of placing some more photos, for everyone to rejoice. My many thanks goes to children who contributed, and helped me to my request for my blogs are, Amrit Pal Singh, Rekha Dev, Bera Shibu, Chayya (Mishra) Jha, Ruchita Prasad & pain staking efforts taken by Deepak Manna who tried to take photos on my behalf against the list I sent him, he described me in his words, that some of the photos he is unable to take due to real deterioration of the camp and his eyes get filled with water. These are the words, as expressed by our children who grew up here, and how much Mosaboni meant to them.

I still need few more photos of Mines Club, Recreation Club, Hindu Temples, Sikh Gurdwara, Church etc, to make our memorable journey live to all who still have a lot of love, passion to know about this place, so dear to my heart and equally believe its same for you all. I have called many of our friends over the past few months, with whom we got connected, when we first saw group for Mosaboni started by Neetika Mittal on face book.

Long Tom with shrubs growing!

Long Tom closed for ever or Kerala Smaj last used!

Long Tom where all Trainees lived, till New Hostel was built and first occupied by our batch, near Nepali Line.

 

Mosaboni Mine College

 

Mosaboni Hospital, in shambles

Mosaboni Hospital converted to Inter College

Mosaboni Cock Fights was a great fun

Mosaboni life a deserted look, once very busy road

Road leading to bus stand, opposite Mosaboni Police Station

St Joseph Convent School Sister's Bungalow

 

South Surda Head Gear, mine is operation

ICC Mosaboni Bakery close to Mines Club

Recently, in Feb' 2011, our colleague visited Auckland, namely Mrs .and Mr. R Y Kutumbe and we enjoyed few get together s with picnic lunch at one of our picnic spot Mission Bay, a clean beach with lot of greens for children to play. There photos are attached below, who may remember them. It was a pleasant surprise, when one night our phone bell rang,(he came here to visit his elder sister who had invited them) and we enjoyed and remembered Mosaboni days. Incidentally he had been our close friend and my boss also.

From left, Mrs. Kutumbe, Mr. Kutumbe, Centre Mr. Talwar, Mrs. Talwar & my grand daughter Meera, my daughter took these shots, so she is not in photo. Sooner we get photos from Mr. Kutumbe we will post and share with you all. Great Time Together after we left Mosaboni in Dec' 1989.

Memories - Mosaboni Days- Photos from Moubhandar!!

MBR - Late evening shot, for sun set

MBR -Sun set, where memories are locked

Ghatsila Railway Station tracks side

MBR Circus Maidan

MBR Copper Club Tennis Court

MBR Golf Greens

MBR HCL / ICC Guest House

MBR Administration Block

MBR Ladies Club

A Fishing catch near Subernekha Banks

MBR way to Director's Bungalow

MBR Workers Club

MBR Workers Club

MBR Works slag pollution into Subernekha River

MBR Works Anamalai Restaurant

MBR- Rekha's comment as we move forward, I see my past!

MBR - Rekha Dev's home once her family occupied!

MBR- Smiling Rekha Dev, once it was her home!

Smiling Rekha Dev on the side walls of Subernekha Bridge

MBR Refinery still steaming smoke

Subernekha New Bridge

Tributes to our Mosaboni Colleagues!

Dear Fellow friends,

Just to let every one know that we have lost following friends and our heart goes with their families. I have started jotting down their names here and pay our respects to our fellow colleagues on behalf of myself and on behalf from all of Mosaboni fraternity, some may know them some may not. Few of them I do not have a family photo, sooner I get it will place on my blog.

It is not necessary that I or U may know them personally, but the fact being they all worked for the same goal at ICC.

The ones, I have been told, who are not with us:

1. Late D K Sen - Diamond Drilling Engineer, (settled in Calcutta, when tragedy took place),
2. Late Dr. S. Ramarathnam -Geologist, Rakha Copper Project, (settled in Banglore, when tragedy took place)
3. Late Desmond Ross - Mosaboni Mines --- (Refer photo on blog),
4. Late Edward O'Shaughnessy - Garage Foreman, Mosaboni- (Refer photo on blog),
5. Late B L Khandelwal - Mining, (settled in Jaipur, when tragedy took place),
6. Late Mrs A K Ghosh, wife to Mr Amal K Ghosh - Chief Electrical Engineer, (settled in Calcutta, when tragedy took place),
7. Late Mrs S K Gulati, passed away on 09th July' 1994 (Malanjkhand), wife to Mr S K Gulati - Chief Mechanical Engineer,Mr Gulati is settled at Indore, India.
8. Late A P Banerjee, - Chief Safety Officer, MSB, passed away in Jan' 2003 (settled in Ghatsila, when tragedy took place), his son is working in Bombay & Mrs A P Banerjee settled in Calcutta, India.
9. Late G C Mittal - Mining, (settled in .................., when tragedy took place).
10. Late B B Sarkar - Mining., (settled in Tata Nagar when tragedy took place).
11. Late L N Mishra - Mining, died in an unexpected road accident on Surda Mine turn off.
12. Late A K Singh - Mining, died due to his ailment, blood cancer, some time in 2007/08.

Nostalgia by Photos of Mosaboni Days - HCL/ICC

Ghatslia Rly Station

Well for every town, city, or a place, the most important mode of transport are Bus, Taxi, Air and Train. For all of of us, Ghatsila Station had been a long dent in our hearts, either to see off our friends, relatives or our own travel either for business or personal travel (like leaving for home on leave etc).
This photo taken from the collection of Ruchita Prasad. Looks to be better out look, as at least steps to platform looks newly built.

Ghatsila Railway Station - What a great smile !

View of Ghatsila Railway Station Platform 1

I have taken these photos from the collection of our colleagues children Rekha Dev & Dolonchampa Chadhuri and bring back to us Nostalgia of this place, which I believe will always be remembered in our hearts.

Mosaboni Post Office

Next very important place was Mosaboni Post office, where all our letters used to come and delivered by postman to every home, flat, bungalow or hostel old or new, long tom etc. and same for out going letters both business or personal.

I can only see, a cycle/scooter shed added in front of it.

One of my friend Mr. M L Dhar used to live diagonally opposite this post office in the bungalow. His father retired from Mosaboni during our times there. As you face post office, on the left was a two floor, home of our contractor Ram Rich Pal whose son's Lalu Lal and Kailash Agarwal carried on the legacy and business with Mosaboni Group, for tail disposal, to road construction to buliding roads etc.

Facing post office on right was a road or main artery leading to mine general offices / mines and south side road lead to Pathargora Mine, Surda Mine etc to Ghatsila Railway Station or Tatanagar.

Some of the other landmarks close to post office were: Near by grocery shops, JTQ Flats, ICC Flats, Mines Club, Church, MSB Stores (Mr Chaudhary was head clerk, if people recall was also the person whose son / and his employee's used to deliver newspaper and magazines to our homes. And another bifurcation of that road lead to Recreation Club, Middle School and St Joseph Convent School etc at the far end and yes.......

Mosaboni Mine Bakery Owner's son

 
Mosaboni Mine popular Bakery (a always great smile from owner' son who served us, with our purchases), possibly that smile always make me still feel as if, I am in Mosaboni. How about children, they will certainly remember this man and some may remember his father.

We were leaving Mosaboni for good in Dec' 1989, and I recall coming to his shop for settling our bills, as children used to pick up cream rolls, biscuits etc, on the face value of signed chit by there parents. He was nice to hand over my bill, and I left with him my address for home town, just in case any bill he forgot to charge us. Later, I remember we got a lovely letter, that we left our address, and in his apologetic  letter had one or two bills of ours to be paid, which he had misplaced then and now found it. My parents sent him money order, and he acknowledge my parents with lot of thanks.

Last time I met him was when we came back from Zambia in  1992 on our first holiday, and he had not forgotten us, and with folded hand smiles and gave me lot of thanks once again. I believe his business is still running, as you can see him giving a smile, and his shop is having good to display for selling. This shot was taken by Amrit Pal Singh recently on his trip to Mosaboni.