My Articles

In late 1984 during the North East monsoon, I did a brief assignment as a site engineer for an electrical contractor at Chennai when I faced a challenge that tested both my physical endurance and spiritual resolve.

Tasked with delivering a sealed tender to the administrative office of the Sriharikota Space Centre —a mission complicated by an intense cyclone with torrential rains and winds reaching 150 km/hr—I found myself in a race against nature.

The contractor, Mr Surendran had delayed submission, intending to witness the tender openings just after the deadline. On the final day, despite the storm, he asked if I could ensure its timely delivery. True to my disposition of saying “Yes” to challenges, I accepted.

With roads blocked by fallen trees and no traffic in sight, reaching Sriharikota, about 100 km from Chennai, by the 3 PM deadline seemed daunting.

At 8:30 AM, I received the tender document, had breakfast, packed lunch, and reached Central Station by scooter, parked it there, boarded a train to Sulurpet. The journey was painfully slow due to the storm, and I arrived only by noon. With no transportation available, I persuaded a reluctant lorry driver to take me the remaining 20 km.

However, after just 12 km, a broken culvert and flash floods made further travel impossible. Undeterred, I stepped out, wrapping the tender in plastic, and pressed forward despite the driver's warnings.

The winds tore my umbrella away. With time slipping, at about 1:30 PM, I decided to run.

My athletic training from school came to my aid as I sprinted through the relentless downpour and howling winds. Each step felt guided by an unseen force, compelling me forward. For 8 km, I ran, braving nature’s fury, until I finally reached the submission office, drenched and exhausted. Lightning could have hit me since it was all open and I was the only one out.

I reached the office on the dot at 3 PM. The official there looked at me in disbelief and asked why I had ventured out in such extreme weather. When I explained my mission, his response sent a chill down my spine: “The submission deadline had been postponed by two weeks; since phones were not working, we sent a telegram; didn’t you receive it?”

The telegram had never reached, rendering my arduous journey unnecessary in a practical sense.

Yet, as I stood there, I realized this journey had been about more than just a tender submission. It was a test of commitment, perseverance, and surrender to a higher force. The obstacles—uprooted trees, blocked roads, delayed trains, and stormy skies—were not just external barriers but internal trials shaping my resolve. It was never about the contract; it was about the experience, the unwavering determination, and the realization that sometimes, the journey itself is the true purpose.

Guess what? The contractor got the contract after two weeks !! My Faith on my Commitment had paid off...