BRAD THE HONEST UPRIGHT BULLY.

        

      

BRAD    THE   HONEST  UPRIGHT   BULLY. 

India   had become  independent in 1947.   

It was the time when the  Brits,  who had business stakes in India,  had to decide , whether to continue with the business or sell it off and migrate to the  motherland.   

Mr  Clement Perkins  who fell in this category , was a worried  man.

His  asking rate  for his manufacturing  business  was found to be too high  for the Indian business  men. Perkins, chose to carry on in India.

Perkins was on a short holiday  in UK.   

He went to Bradford, to see his old friend Stev  Smith.

Smith  owned  a manufacturing [ fabrication]  unit , similar to that of Perkins in India.

Perkins, saw Smith at the manufacturing site. 

" Hi Clem,  said    Smith  you look worried, missing the Indian curry, I suppose?"   

"No, no  said Perkins,  its more than that;"

Just then,  Perkins  saw  a short fat man, slap a co-worker , couple of times hard; and shouting at him said ,"f***  you, what have you done ?"

"What was that for Smith ?" asked Perkins;  

"Dont know , the slapped man must have made some mistake;" said Smith 

"I like the looks of that man; What does he do here, Stev ?" said Perkins;

"Well, he is a foreman and I have put him in charge of this unit. He is basically a welder by profession. He is passionately involved in work, and sometimes tend to go overboard; thats where I come in and tell him to take it easy."  

 "Gee said  Perkins, I would like to have such a chap with me in India.. It would solve  my problem partly"  

"I don't mind  helping  you out, but you will have to talk to him, to see if he agrees.  By the way he is called as  Brad," said  Smith, and softly,  "the bully."

"Call him over   lets have a chat with him"said Perkins.

" Hey Brad, Come on over ; Mr. Perkins wants to talk to you"; said  Smith.  

"Hai mate  said Brad,"  "  This is Perkins and he wants to talk

to you"   said Smith.  " Hello Brad, have you ever been to India ? " asked Perkins  "Nope, but they

say the dames are dark and beautiful;  Isn't its climate  and food, very hot ?"  asked   Brad 

"Yes, yes", said Perkins, but would you like to  work there, similar to what you are doing here?" 

 "Why not," said  Brad,  "but for how much ?" 

"Oh don't worry about that,  I will take care,  and you will have your   own  house and  a car with driver. "said Perkins.

* * *     * * *

Brad Yardley,  entered the Perkins & Patterson  factory  as its  Works Manager.  

The first few days, he spent in observing the workers; he felt they were indisciplined,  and slow  in their work; 

Every day they started  their work late and  stopped  working  well ahead of the closure time.   

The factory worked  on two shifts and the production during the night was lower than  during  the day.  

That set Brad thinking , and he decided to pay a surprise visit at night.

He went directly to the toilet  &  rest room  and found some men  smoking and playing cards while on duty.   

His entry, made the men get up immediately and get back to work; 

"F*** you, what are you doing mate?" he asked and slapped the men.

The next day, the Personnel Manager came rushing to his office:  

"What have you done?"  he asked."The workers have threat ened to go on strike".  

"F*** you,  replied Brad; "You have recruited the wrong men  so you have to handle it".  

After a lot of pacifying, they resumed work .   

When Perkins heard about the incident, he took  Brad's side,  but also advised him to take it easy while handling Indian workers. 

Needless to say, the night production  improved dramati cally.

* * *    * * *

The company executed  several orders for the Government  and this required certification   by an independent agency. 

It had become a practice of the Company to  reward the certifying inspector with cash,  after he gives approval,  prior to the tenure of Brad.

When  this was brought to  Brad's notice,he refused to sign the inspector's cheque, and tore it up.

Brad's contention was that  he does not believe  in bribing; 

This upset the inspector; 

Brad maintained that if the inspector  rejects the next completed work for frivolous reasons,  the company can go directly to the Government  for assistance. 

This again won brownie points for Brad from Perkins. 

By now  Brad had  created  a number of enemies  for himself within the Company. 

While many applauded him for his bold and innovative approach to solving problems, there were many others  who felt that he had a racist mentality.

But the following incident was the last straw in the camel's back.  

Mr. Dorji [a director of the Company]   had sent his son, Ashish, to the factory  to work under  Brad.   

Now, Ashish, had the air,  and ego  of a Director's son, took his employment as granted  and walked into  Brad's  cabin, and said "  Say Brad, I am Ashish,  Mr. Dorji's son, How do you want me to help you ?"

Brad was completely taken aback, by his airs.  

He looked at the latter and said, " Just wait outside, I will call you"   

He called him  later, asked him a few questions , and said later,  "Sorry, you wont be of any use here".  

 Ashish  was fuming with  anger,"I will complain to my father about you",  he shouted.  

Brad replied  "F*** off from here,otherwise, I will throw you out."

The incident created a huge ruckus in the Company.  

Mr Dorji and other Indian Directors threatened to quit the Company. 

The English director rang up  Perkins   "Clem, something has to be decided  and done quick; Dorji and the other Indian directors  have threataned to quit the Company unless Brad  Yardley  is recalled by you".  

"Hold your horses, Jack", said Perkins;  "I will see them  personally  tomorrow".

Perkins met Dorji  and tried to defuse the situation; 

"Brad, might be rude, but whatever he has done was for the Company's good."  said Perkins.   

But Dorji  was not convinced; "Our demand remains", he  
said. "It is either Brad or us"    

That night Perkins was in a pensive mood;   

Finally , he decided  to sacrifice  Brad;   

He called  Brad over to his hotel. "Sorry Brad, but you have to leave  this Company.The Indian Directors  do not approve of your behaviour  here. I have tried talking to them on your behalf,  but they wont relent". 

"That's OK mate",  said Brad,  "but I wont bend  for anybody,
when I know I am right."

* * *     * * *

"Hey  the bully is back!" said Smith at Bradford; "What happened  boss, the Indian curry didn't agree with you?"

"F*** you", said Brad, "Let's get on with our work; shall we?"


G.Venkatesh