my observations on changes in the society on various fronts.

1. 03 / My Observations on Changes in the Society on various fronts.
We must realize that ‘Change’ is part of Life and also inevitable. Change should be
anticipated and we should mould ourselves for the change and there after change should
be accepted whole heartedly. You should also enjoy the change. Then again get ready to
‘Change’.
Change takes place continuously in the Nature, our thinking/attitude/approach etc. You
need to track the changes if you intent to face change. You need to identify the changes on
which you have no control. You need to decide the matters you intend changing by your
deliberate efforts. Even if you do not wish to change, still the change will get thrust on you
and in such situation, your condition will become precarious.
In this Article, I wish to recapitulate the changes taken place in the country on various
fronts in my Life till date. My observations on changed mood of the society have been
summarized in the separate Article. Following changes are on economic, commercial,
infrastructural fronts.
1 In my childhood, BEST was plying ‘Trams’ from VT to Matunga. (Maheshwari
Udyan)
Many of you may not have seen ‘Tram’. Tram is nothing but one railway bogie with
engine plying on a railway track built in the middle of the road. Have you seen
Maheshwari Udyan at Matunga or Sion-circle? It was a Tram terminus. Tram used
to halt in the middle of the udyan/circle. Tram was double decker. The speed was
like Neral-Mathran train. Travelling from the deck was really a memorable event.
I have enjoyed this ride number of times as I was staying in Girgaon and my grand
father was staying at Matunga. After few years, Tram business was found un-
economical and hence it was suspended by BEST. If one Tram gets out of order for
any technical reasons, then all other Trams on the track would remain stand still.
2 After few years, the iron tracks laid in the middle of the road were removed. BEST
then started Bus running on electricity. Bus would carry large spool of electric
cable at the back. The cable gets connected to the overhead wire (same as laid down
by railways, where the train gets electricity through pantograph touching the
overhead wire). Here again, technically lot of problems were faced and these buses
were withdrawn. The overhead wires were also removed. Such buses used to ply

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between Girgaon to Grant Road.
3 Every purchase of Radio or TV was subject to obtaining License from the
Government. Fee of Rs.15/- was payable every year. You had to pay the same in the
Post Office before 31st December every year.
4 Food grains & major provisions such as rice, wheat, oil, sugar etc. were available
only in ration shops. Adult was allotted two units and minor child was allotted one
unit. Government would fix the scale of weight of sugar, rice, wheat etc per unit
and accordingly people were expected to stand in long Q every fortnight to
purchase these essentials. All items were never available on same day. Hence you
had to continously enquire about the availability of item. If one stands from 4 am in
the morning, then you may get ration by 9.30 am. We all brothers used to stand in Q
in rotation. Father used to come at 9 am to purchase the ration. I remember having
studied while standing in the rationing line. I never got punishment to stand in
the school but such LIFE Reality punishment has been experienced. Rationing
Inspector was most powerful Government Official those days. Once due to shortage
of wheat in the country, India imported wheat from USA under PL-480 scheme.
This wheat meant for cattle feed in USA was offered to Indian Citizens by USA.
5 Marathi Drama Theatre rates were Rs. 5, 3 & 2. I remember having enjoyed many
Marathi plays by purchasing balcony ticket of Rs.3/- Now the rates have gone up to
Rs. 200/-.
6 My Father expired on 21-08-1969 two months prior to his retirement from MCGM.
He was serving as steno-typist and was drawing salary of Rs.800/- pm. He was
managing a family of six members.
7 I was entitled for Stipend of Rs.45/-pm during my CA Articleship period between
14-06-1971 to 13-06-1975. I was given increment of Rs.5/- wef June 1973 on passing
Inter CA examination. Conveyance was paid separately. I was able to save atleast
Rs.10/- pm after enjoying one-two movies p.m., hostelling etc.
8 I passed Final CA examination in November 1974, securing 48th rank all over India.
My Articles got over on 13-06-1975. I joined Crompton greaves ltd wef 14-06-1975 as
Accounts Officer. I was drawing a monthly salary of Rs.1250/- (maximum in the

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Industry for a Chartered Accountant)
9 My society charges outgo was Rs.130/-pm in 1975. (10% of my salary)
10 Maximum saving allowed for Income Tax benefit was 30% of your salary unlike flat
limit of Rs.1 Lacs enjoyed currently.
11 I paid Income Tax at maximum rate. i.e.45% for many years.
12 Train service was as unreliable as experienced currently. Trains were also crowed.
I hardly remembered having got the seat every day in a First class compartment.
Water logging was common on roads & railway tracks.
13 Milk was not available openly. (Presently we are experiencing what is called Milk
Flood.) People were supposed to obtain Milk Card just like Ration card from Aarey
Dairy and quota was allotted. Glass bottles were provided. A person has to stand in
Q at about 5 am to purchase milk from the centre. You can still spot such centers but
now selling lassi, milk, paneer etc. The milk Van would reach at irregular time.
Electricity connection was not provided. The cashier and delivery boy had to work
in the yellow dim light of Lantern. The milk card was made of Hard plastic. One
could safely watch sun eclipse. There was no need to purchase special goggles. 
These milk stalls were made of wooden stripes. These bottles were useful for
satyanarayan Pooja decoration. I had taken such card in 1984 after my marriage.
Milk was not available anywhere else.
14 Calculator was not allowed till CA examination. We used to solve mathematical
problems using logarithm tables. Now calculator is allowed in college itself. My first
smuggled calculator Casio costed Rs.300/- (say 25% of monthly salary). The
calculator lasted for hardly 3 months. It had 2 pencil cells costing Rs.10/-.
15 All calculating jobs were carried out by a comptist. He would do the job on a
comptometer (huge manual calculator of 2feet x 2 feet)
16 STD facility was not available. Early morning, you should register STD call to your
local telephone operator. You may get the call any time during the day. If the
recipient is not available, the STD call would get wasted.

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17 Ordinary telephone connection would be available after 5-10 years. I booked my
first phone in January 1983. I got the connection on 10-04-1991. It would be out of
order for atleast 10 days in a month due to loose hanging wires from junction box.
18 Telex was used to send the letter, messages etc. (unlike Email) The letter had to be
typed and machine would be kept on stand by after dialing the telephone number
of that organization. Whenever the line gets connected, the message would get
transferred. The first job in the office was to check any telex messages received &
transmitted previous night.
19 Xerox facility was not available. Stencil had to be cut for taking prints on
cyclostyling machine. About 25% prints would be spoiled. Huge waste of paper (&
Nature.)
20 The size of computer was very big. (say 20 feet x 15 feet)
21 Steamer service was available from Mumbai to Goa. It would take about 24 hours.
I have the memories of sea journey to Goa in December 1976. Readers must have
read about the experience of sea journey in the Article My Village Memories in
Section I My Life Story.
22 House would be painted by Oil paint. It would take weeks to dry the paint.
23 Water shortage was fairly acute. Water had to be stored. Water supply from MCGM
was quite erratic.
24 Initially Black & White TV was introduced some time in 1970 in Mumbai and
transmission was restricted to about 3 hours in the evening.

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