From Prayers to Practicality: A Day of Groundwork and Grit 📅 Date: 16th April
From Prayers to Practicality: A Day of Groundwork and Grit
This morning, on my walk from the main gate to the workshop, I bent down and picked up some plastic waste lying along the way.
Near the stores, I noticed a tall young worker observe me. Without a word, he too bent down, picked up a piece of plastic, and walked alongside to dispose it in the same bin.
That’s the moment. Leadership without a title. Influence without instruction.
Morning Assembly: A Stronger Voice and a Deeper Message
We had a first today—a loudspeaker system installed for our morning meeting. A small yet powerful improvement. Everyone could finally hear, and that’s where engagement begins.
I sang ‘Itni Shakti Hamen Dena Daata’, one of my favorite prayers—deep, stirring, and full of intent. Then I translated it for everyone present, especially for those who didn’t understand Hindi.
But I didn’t stop there.
I shared once again the chilling and inspiring tale of the Rana Plaza collapse in Bangladesh and the girl, Reshma, who survived seventeen days under rubble. No food. No water. Only prayer.
“You may believe in a god or not, but belief in strength—mental, emotional, spiritual—is what keeps us alive. That’s what I wanted them to take away.”
Plant Walks and Puppy Smiles
After the session, I resumed my rounds:
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Mechanical Workshop
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Main Gate, where I again greeted the security staff
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Two pups by the dispensary—a small joy that I allowed myself. Played with them, took a selfie. Others saw, smiled.
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Automobile Garage and then deeper into the kiln, where I clicked a few more selfies with the team
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Finally, stopped by CCR to catch up with the shift
These walks are more than inspection—they’re about connection, presence, and accountability.
Crisis: Line#2 Kiln Feed Bucket Elevator
A serious issue surfaced today—Line#2 Kiln Feed Bucket Elevator was found badly damaged. This isn’t a casual breakdown. It’s a red alert.
I inspected it myself. The damage is real.
For now, we’ll attempt a temporary repair—but it’s one of those moments where I don’t know if we’re barely surviving or teetering on collapse.
The plant is living on edge—consequences of long-neglected maintenance.
At the Power Plant: Asking the Right Questions
Visited the Power Plant, which has three DG sets of 10MW each.
They were struggling with a fuel overflow issue. The manager had a big plan—an overhead return line to the main tank, 100 meters away, with heavy support structures.
But I asked one basic thing:
“Why is it overflowing at all?”
No level sensor. No automatic pump control.
Instead of rushing into a major civil job, I proposed a simpler alternative:
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Install level sensors
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Use automatic pump operation
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Temporarily monitor manually
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As a backup, install a small ground-level collection tank with sensor-based pumping
Engineering is not always about building more. Often, it's about building smart.
Labor Inspector Visit: Preaching vs Practicing
We had a visit from the Labor Inspector today. I requested a sit-down and spoke frankly about issues:
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Workers sleeping in plant areas
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Theft incidents
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Struggles with manpower control
His response was typical—“Do more.”
No real solution, just recycled advice. But still, I recorded the moment, because at least the dialogue happened.
Message to Director General
After seeing the pattern of breakdowns, the widespread damage from neglect, and how close we are to critical failures, I finally sent a brief but honest message to our Director General.
He needs to know. Not dramatized. Not sugar-coated. Just the truth of what we’re dealing with daily.
Thunder, Heat, and a Night at the Plant
There was a rumble of thunder around evening. From my office, no clouds were visible, but the weather felt heavy—humid, hot, and pressing.
No rain, though.
Tonight, I’ve stayed back for night vigilance—not because I have to, but because it’s needed.
Leadership is also about being there when others are not.
Closing Reflection
Today was a blend of prayer and precision, reflection and resolution.
Whether it’s fixing a broken bucket elevator, offering a low-cost engineering solution, or inspiring someone to pick up litter without being told—it all adds up.
In a place with little rain and lots of thunder, we must be our own storm—calm, consistent, and full of charge.
Key Points – 16th April
Picked up plastic waste en route to workshop; a young worker followed the example
Morning prayer ‘Itni Shakti Hamen Dena Daata’ sung and translated
Shared the Rana Plaza survivor story to highlight faith and resilience
First day using a loudspeaker in the morning meeting
Plant rounds: Mechanical workshop → Main Gate → Kiln → CCR → Automobile Garage
Serious issue found in Line#2 Kiln Feed Bucket Elevator
Inspected Power Plant; suggested a smart and cost-effective oil overflow solution
Met the Labor Inspector, shared ground realities and issues
Sent an update message to Director General
Stayed at plant for night vigilance
No rain, but thunder and heat dominated the day
Played with two puppies, took selfies
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