by Bernard VanCuylenberg
This is a tale of a planter who called the bluff of the union leader and the union, who in turn called his bluff which climaxed in an amusing finale ! For reasons of privacy I shall use a pseudonym and call him Les Parker-Bowles. LPB was a very popular member of his club, the planting fraternity in general, and in short the public with whom he interacted. A model of physical fitness, he was a superb rugger player a member of his district clubs rugby XV team, and this enhanced his popularity and reputation with lovers of the game. He played some cricket, but Rugger was his forte. He also had a reputation as being a strict but fair minded Superintendent of the plantation he managed, and was well respected by the community. In a word, he worked hard, and played hard.
Among the myriad problems that crop up in a planter's life, dealing with the labour unions could at times prove very testing. On the estate which he managed, LPB held a fortnightly meeting with the union. At these meetings any labour problems were thrashed out, and as far as possible 'resolved' to the satisfaction of the workers and management, thanks to mutual negotiations and the diplomatic skills of LPB. Discussions were always frank and open and in time the Union leader (the 'Thalavar') cultivated a healthy respect for his 'Dorai' and opposite number during such meetings.
Then one day the proverbial storm followed the calm ! At the next meeting LPB was surprised to receive from the union a list of demands (there were seven in total), foremost of which was the demand which stipulated that the number of bushes to be pruned by a worker should be reduced to 150 instead of the standard 200 which was the requirement at present. Up to this time LPB had been batting on a friendly wicket, but suddenly he had to face a barrage of hostile bowling with bouncers a plenty !
He did not flinch but was the epitome of sang froid and composure, displaying no adverse reaction at all. He calmly proceeded to take up the demands with the 'Thalavar', all the while maintaining eye contact with his opposite number which was part of the psychological weapon in his armoury. This took the wind out of their sails because they fully expected to bring him down a peg or two thinking he would ask them to reconsider. He then told them he would have to peruse their demands in detail and he needed time. But regarding the demand for a reduction in the number of bushes to be pruned, he despatched that one clean over the boundary for a massive six ! He insisted that there was no way that this demand could be met and 200 bushes was the final total.
He may have had the proverbial rush of blood which lulled him into a sense of euphoria, and he said "Dorai - if YOU can prune 200 tea bushes with the pruners in a day, we will withdraw all our demands and not resort to any strike action !" He thought he had LPB on the ropes. They all knew how meticulous their "Dorai" was about his field rounds, but none of them had ever seen him wield a pruning knife,. There was no way he could prune 200 tea bushes - (even 100 bushes) - which was a very labour intensive task , and they thought they had him on the back foot !
There was a collective dropping of jaws when LPB calmly told them he would take up the "challenge". A day was then fixed for "the clash of the Titans" , although some of the workers were still convinced they had called his bluff.
D-Day arrived and the pruning field resembled a Roman amphitheatre with the pruners like infantrymen ready for battle. They stood by their rows knives ready, awaiting the arrival of their 'nemesis' whom they would vanquish that day. The pruning Kangany stood his ground like a centurion, handed LPB a pruning knife after he arrived, and assigned him a row.
And the arduous task of pruning got underway. It was then that the surprises sprung fast and furious ! By the time the veteran pruners had completed sixty bushes, they were awe struck to observe that LPG had completed pruning 65! He was wielding his pruning knife with the same dexterity and speed with which he handled a rugger ball on the playing field !!! His 'sleight of hand' and lightning strokes wielded the knife swishing left, right, up, down, and sideways, and one never saw a better and cleaner pruned tea bush anywhere ! In a word he was 'The Master Pruner'. And to drive the point home - or to score the winning try - he pruned five bushes extra for good measure thus pruning 205 bushes in total, and in record time !
True to their word, the Union in stunned disbelief withdrew all their demands, and all threats of any strike action vanished like the mist evaporating in the morning sun ! LPB's reputation was further enhanced after this incident, and he continued managing this particular plantation until he retired from planting and left for England in the mid sixties.
Dorai - boss, saheb
Thalavar - leader, head
Kangany - supervisor
Meet the writer: Bernard VanCuylenberg
My late Dad was a tea planter...hence memories of the tea plantations are precious to me. My memories of childhood, growing up in the salubrious climate of the tea country are very dear to me, because my brother, sister and I had parents who were angels.
Prior to migrating to Australia my working background was in the field of tourism and hospitality.
In Australia I worked for seventeen
years as an Administrative Officer in the Victoria Police Department,
and retired in 1999. I played lead and rhythm guitarin two bands ( in
Sri Lanka, and in Australia). I loved the Sitar and always hoped I could
learn it one day. Ravi Shankar was my idol.
Here is a link to all Bernard's stories on this blog: https://teastorytellers.blogspot.com/search/label/Bernard%20VanCuylenberg
Is this your first visit here? Welcome to Indian Chai Stories!
Do you have a chai story of your own to share? Send it to me here, please : indianchaistories@gmail.com. My name is Gowri Mohanakrishnan and I'm a tea planter's wife. I started this blog because one of the things that I wouldn't want us to lose in a fast changing world is the tea story - a story always told with great seriousness, no matter how funny - always true (always), maybe a tall tale, long, or short, impossible, scary, funny or exciting but never dull.
Happy reading! Cheers to the spirit of Indian Tea!
ADD THIS LINK TO YOUR FAVOURITES : https://teastorytellers.blogspot.com/Indian Chai Stories
This is a tale of a planter who called the bluff of the union leader and the union, who in turn called his bluff which climaxed in an amusing finale ! For reasons of privacy I shall use a pseudonym and call him Les Parker-Bowles. LPB was a very popular member of his club, the planting fraternity in general, and in short the public with whom he interacted. A model of physical fitness, he was a superb rugger player a member of his district clubs rugby XV team, and this enhanced his popularity and reputation with lovers of the game. He played some cricket, but Rugger was his forte. He also had a reputation as being a strict but fair minded Superintendent of the plantation he managed, and was well respected by the community. In a word, he worked hard, and played hard.
Among the myriad problems that crop up in a planter's life, dealing with the labour unions could at times prove very testing. On the estate which he managed, LPB held a fortnightly meeting with the union. At these meetings any labour problems were thrashed out, and as far as possible 'resolved' to the satisfaction of the workers and management, thanks to mutual negotiations and the diplomatic skills of LPB. Discussions were always frank and open and in time the Union leader (the 'Thalavar') cultivated a healthy respect for his 'Dorai' and opposite number during such meetings.
Then one day the proverbial storm followed the calm ! At the next meeting LPB was surprised to receive from the union a list of demands (there were seven in total), foremost of which was the demand which stipulated that the number of bushes to be pruned by a worker should be reduced to 150 instead of the standard 200 which was the requirement at present. Up to this time LPB had been batting on a friendly wicket, but suddenly he had to face a barrage of hostile bowling with bouncers a plenty !
He did not flinch but was the epitome of sang froid and composure, displaying no adverse reaction at all. He calmly proceeded to take up the demands with the 'Thalavar', all the while maintaining eye contact with his opposite number which was part of the psychological weapon in his armoury. This took the wind out of their sails because they fully expected to bring him down a peg or two thinking he would ask them to reconsider. He then told them he would have to peruse their demands in detail and he needed time. But regarding the demand for a reduction in the number of bushes to be pruned, he despatched that one clean over the boundary for a massive six ! He insisted that there was no way that this demand could be met and 200 bushes was the final total.
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| Image sourced from Robert Wilson Ceylon Tea's 'Field Works on an Estate' |
At the next meeting, the Union was more belligerent. They began the meeting by spear heading a hostile bowling attack ! They said that if at least six of the demands were not met to their satisfaction strike action was inevitable. The meeting ended with some tension, although LPB maintained a cool demeanour. By now the union leader felt he was holding a winning hand . Not losing the momentum, and being carried away at the thought of winning some of the demands, he played his trump card at the next meeting!
He may have had the proverbial rush of blood which lulled him into a sense of euphoria, and he said "Dorai - if YOU can prune 200 tea bushes with the pruners in a day, we will withdraw all our demands and not resort to any strike action !" He thought he had LPB on the ropes. They all knew how meticulous their "Dorai" was about his field rounds, but none of them had ever seen him wield a pruning knife,. There was no way he could prune 200 tea bushes - (even 100 bushes) - which was a very labour intensive task , and they thought they had him on the back foot !
There was a collective dropping of jaws when LPB calmly told them he would take up the "challenge". A day was then fixed for "the clash of the Titans" , although some of the workers were still convinced they had called his bluff.
D-Day arrived and the pruning field resembled a Roman amphitheatre with the pruners like infantrymen ready for battle. They stood by their rows knives ready, awaiting the arrival of their 'nemesis' whom they would vanquish that day. The pruning Kangany stood his ground like a centurion, handed LPB a pruning knife after he arrived, and assigned him a row.
And the arduous task of pruning got underway. It was then that the surprises sprung fast and furious ! By the time the veteran pruners had completed sixty bushes, they were awe struck to observe that LPG had completed pruning 65! He was wielding his pruning knife with the same dexterity and speed with which he handled a rugger ball on the playing field !!! His 'sleight of hand' and lightning strokes wielded the knife swishing left, right, up, down, and sideways, and one never saw a better and cleaner pruned tea bush anywhere ! In a word he was 'The Master Pruner'. And to drive the point home - or to score the winning try - he pruned five bushes extra for good measure thus pruning 205 bushes in total, and in record time !
True to their word, the Union in stunned disbelief withdrew all their demands, and all threats of any strike action vanished like the mist evaporating in the morning sun ! LPB's reputation was further enhanced after this incident, and he continued managing this particular plantation until he retired from planting and left for England in the mid sixties.
Dorai - boss, saheb
Thalavar - leader, head
Kangany - supervisor
Meet the writer: Bernard VanCuylenberg
My late Dad was a tea planter...hence memories of the tea plantations are precious to me. My memories of childhood, growing up in the salubrious climate of the tea country are very dear to me, because my brother, sister and I had parents who were angels.
Prior to migrating to Australia my working background was in the field of tourism and hospitality.
Here is a link to all Bernard's stories on this blog: https://teastorytellers.blogspot.com/search/label/Bernard%20VanCuylenberg
Do you have a chai story of your own to share? Send it to me here, please : indianchaistories@gmail.com. My name is Gowri Mohanakrishnan and I'm a tea planter's wife. I started this blog because one of the things that I wouldn't want us to lose in a fast changing world is the tea story - a story always told with great seriousness, no matter how funny - always true (always), maybe a tall tale, long, or short, impossible, scary, funny or exciting but never dull.
Happy reading! Cheers to the spirit of Indian Tea!
ADD THIS LINK TO YOUR FAVOURITES : https://teastorytellers.blogspot.com/Indian Chai Stories
Great story. We were always taught to lead by example and to never issue an instruction that one couldn’t carry out himself. The initial years in the field for Assistants, were always to master the tasks employed in the field.
ReplyDeletewonderful reading Bernard! reminds us of the 'vichars' and the outcomes which sometimes used to be rib-tickling funny.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant! Happened to be about two months into my entry into planting. My Field Officer, Mr. O. T. Varughese told me that I should tie a taat (plucking taat) and pluck a chaaal (plucking line) and that I should be able to do it perfectly. I agreed, much to everyone else's surprise. I did that at every opportunity until I could pluck perfectly. One day I was in the plucking field and told an elderly Malayalee lady to pluck the Banjis. She said to me, 'Saaivu kaanikke. Paranja poray.' (Dorai, show me. Simply saying it is not enough). So, I told her to give me her Taat. She was astonished. Then I tied it around my waist and plucked her whole chaal and handed the leaf to her and said to her, "This is my gift to you." All the pluckers raised a huge cheer and I became their favourite Dorai. Leadership is all about demonstration. You have to do it only once. And that sets the boundary.
ReplyDeleteGreat story. Many thanks indeed.
Setting example earns respect.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully related tale. Thank you. As greenhorns in tea, we were encouraged by our managers to learn how to pluck and prune tea bushes and we did learn these well. We would often help the workers by plucking or pruning a few bushes for them. They greatly appreciated our close involvement in their field work.
ReplyDelete