BOOK REVIEW. For the public good

Authored by former civil servant V Krishnamurthy, At The Helm chronicles the veteran technocrat’s stints as the head of three large public sector enterprises — Bharat Heavy Electricals, Maruti Udyog and Steel Authority of India (SAIL). Go for the book, if you are interested in learning about the many challenges faced by each of these companies in their early years. The book is a lucidly written account of how some of the prevalent practices were overhauled in the course of changing the negative image attached with government-run companies. The book details the measures initiated on several fronts — improving work culture, sprucing up discipline and efficiency, tackling trade unionism and bringing the customer into focus.

There is much to criticise and rant against in the functioning of the government and its various divisions today. But a look at the problems that plagued the public sector between the 1960s and 1980s makes one realise the extent to which things have improved.

For instance, among the numerous troubles encountered at BHEL was the delay in deliveries to customers, due to a lack of coordination among the company’s different units. “The customers would usually source equipment from each of the plants and put it together themselves,” recalls Krishnamurthy, who received the country’s second highest civilian honour, Padma Vibhushan, in 2007 for his services. A power projects division was then set up to provide an integrated service to customers.

Account of the search for a foreign collaborator for Maruti Udyog also makes an interesting read. “We could have struck a deal with Nissan but for its reluctance to invest in India... I was also sceptical about a fledgling organisation like Maruti collaborating with a giant corporation like Mitsubishi, as it would have become a collaboration of unequals... Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC) offered us the 800CC four-door car... I was keen to collaborate with an organisation where there could be close interactions at all levels... This, I felt, was possible only with SMC.” Following negotiations it was agreed that SMC (which was reluctant for a 40 per cent stake) would take up a 26 per cent stake. This “was a way of insulating Maruti from political interference.” Little known facts, that the first car produced at Maruti was donated to Lord Balaji at Tirupati, too find a mention in the book. The car was paid for by willing contributors within the company. Also, you can’t help but smile, when you learn that the then newly completed HT House building on KG Marg, New Delhi initially refused to rent out space to BHEL because it felt that it “would not be able to maintain decorum or cleanliness”.

The one count on which the book falls short is the self-congratulatory tone that it adopts is some places. For instance, there was no need to mention that he alone was originally chosen for the ‘Steel Man of the Year’ 1989 award that was given jointly to the author and Tata Steel’s Russi Mody.

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