Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Punched Card Machine Operator and admitted in M.Sc. (Pure Math)

punched cardpunch cardIBM card, or Hollerith card is a piece of stiff paper that contained either commands for controlling automated machinery or data for data processing applications. Both commands and data were represented by the presence or absence of holes in predefined positions. 
After some application I got a service in Indian Statistical Institute as a Punched Card Machine operator for which I had to undergo an apprentice for 3 months and then permanent appointment would be available. I joined it. But I could not continue tuition of the two girls of Mr. Mukherjee. Mr. Mukherjee asked me to arrange a tutor for his two daughters. I requested Kanti to do it in place of me which he accepted. But after some time  Rupashree, the younger one, showed her unwillingness to take lesson from Kanti. As such I had to take the responsibility of Rupashree and Santashree, the two daughters of Mr. Mukherjee. At first I was going 3 days in a week to teach the son of Mr. Mukherjee. But when I had to teach the two girls, also, my routine was extended to both the shifts, morning and evening.  After getting my job I discontinued to teach the two girls making my morning free to join my service. 
Our apprenticeship usually started at 10 A.M. and ended at 5 PM. After that I had to go  home. But this time after reappointment to teach the daughters of Mr. Mukherjee I used to from office direct to Mr. Mukherjees house.
That is I used to  teach them in two shifts  in the  Evening. I was offered good tiffing at the break of the two shifts.
Learning the prospects of Punched Card Machine I wanted not to continue . Anil Gupta , my friend, gave some tips how I might get admission in M.Sc. in pure Mathematics since I could continue only in  the subject of  Pure Mathematics.
Anil Gupta passed B.Sc. with distinction in the same year as I did and was staying in front of our house of 23/D Sankharitola Streeet. I asked him the details of admission in Postgraduate classes. He was studying M.Sc. in Pure Mathematics My score in Mathematics was not sufficient for admission. I met Prof. M.C.Chaki known to me since I was a student of I.Sc. On hearing from me, Prof. Chaki advised me to apply for admission as a player and he would see that I got admission. Actually I procured certificates of a player in College team  of Bangabasi college, a certificate of  player in V th Division (Allen League) of IFA from my local Club Maitreyee Sangha in which I was a member and applied for M.Sc. With the recommendation of Prof. M.C.Chaki I got admitted in M.Sc. in Pure Mathematics in 1956.
But this time too I could not find time for studying. Moreover, I tried to depend on class notes given by the Professors. Apart from Prof Chaki there were some more good teachers. my daily routine was very simple. I remained out for tuition in morning as well as in the evening. from this time I had to contribute Rs.100/- towards my family expenses.