I completed my BE in Mechanical Engineering from Annamalai University in 1967. We had only 3 choices of Engineering – Mechanical, Electrical and Civil – great demand for Mechanical Engineering admission.

My father was a doctor and we were living in a small town known as Vriddhachalam. As the highest University rank holder of the town my mother presented me (in 1967) a brand new Royal Enfield Bullet 350 cc! (Rs.4000/- all inclusive – waiting period 6 months!!).

Those days it was difficult to get a job. Tamilnadu Government started a scheme as Paid apprentice (Rs.225/- pm) for Engineers. I got my apprentice in Madras Transport maintenance (Leyland) workshop. I moved to Madras with my Bullet and stayed with my old College friends in shared accommodation at T.Nagar, Chennai. I used to go in my Bullet for work and that was an Eye-sore for my colleagues and Girls!

In 1968, my father managed to get a job in the factory as Assistant Engineer at Pennadam (a small village), near Vriddhachalam .

Daily I used to go by my ‘Bullet’ to Pennadam from Vriddhachalam. Those days I was the only graduate Engineer to join the factory. So I was sent to many reputed Sugar Machinery manufacturers like Buckau Wolf, KCP, Larsen & Toubro, Walchandnagar Industries, Triveni Engineering, John Thompson etc.

One fine day in the year 1973, my boss told me that I had been selected as one among 16 delegates to represent “Indian Institute of Sugar Technology” of Government of India to Mauritius as special Invitees of Government of Mauritius. I also came to know that I was the youngest (28 years old) Engineer among the delegates, others were in 50’s!

Though I have flown many times in domestic flights – in Avro, Fokker Friendship A737 etc., I had never taken an International Flight that too in those days famous Boeing 707!

I realised that I need a Passport to fly abroad. Those days, no computers, Thakkal facilities – only one passport office at Madras. Being Government delegate, the association sent me a bunch of papers and documents and requested me to fill and send to Sita Travels in Madras immediately as I had hardly 2 weeks for my flight to Mauritius! Quickly I filled all the documents, and got them signed and attested by various Government officers (Of course my Dad had a lot of influence!) and sent it to Sita travels by Registered post (no couriers those days!) Within 6 days I received an Air Ticket from Sita Travels for the sector Madras – Bombay - Madras and told me that the passport and Air ticket for the sector Bombay – Port Louis (Mauritius) – Bombay would be given at Bombay Airport as soon as I land. He also said that I would have only 4 hours to collect my documents and ticket to board the flight to Mauritius!!

My parents, relatives, my Factory staff and workers, friends etc., more than 70 came to Madreas Airport to see me off with Garlands (Those days it was a practice for people going abroad) and list of foreign goods that they want....the most common item was Johnny Walker Whiskey Red Label!! One of my close friends came with a bottle of my famous Mango pickle!

When I landed at Bombay, a representative of Sita Travels waited with a white board written ‘B. R. Ross’. He took me to his office (inside the airport) and after signing some papers (blindly!) I collected my brand new Passport and Air India Return Ticket. He also guided me to the place where other delegates were waiting (all holding senior positions in Sugar Factories!).

It was nice smooth flight, I got the window seat. When the plane was landing, I was anxiously looking through window to have a look at the tiny Island. I could see only water and the Island was hardly visible. Finally when it was about to land I couldn’t even see the Airport and Air strip...the wings were almost 2 feet above Sugar cane field almost touching the leaves! We had a special red-carpet welcome by the Secretary to then Prime Minister Dr.Ramgoolam, didn’t have any Custom, Immigration, Security formalities at Port Louis International Airport. !! The trip was for 7 days, 5 days we visited about 10 Sugar factories, one evening Dinner with Prime Minister and his cabinet. We also visited lot of places. A Clean Island full of garden Duel way roads with nice flowers in the median! I tried driving also across the island - only 30 miles across sea shores around the Island!

When I returned to India, there was a big welcome again at Madras airport. My boss honoured me by double promotion from Asst. Engineer to Project Engineer!

This trip also made a great change in my life. In the same year my parents fixed an alliance for me – an Indian girl born and settled in Colombo, Ceylon. I saw only her photo – same with her also. We met each other just one hour before our engagement at Madras! Then my next International (Honeymoon) flight was to Colombo!! Now I have flown by many airlines/aircrafts and visited many countries, I cannot forget my first International flight!