Col J M Batra of Arjan Auto, a Rs 2.30-crore company, always wanted to be an engineer.

His ambition was realised and he spent 27 years in the EME Corps in the Army. ``For me, it was immaterial whether I was working in the armed forces or on civil side. What really mattered was that I was doing the job I always wanted to do". In fact, he is an engineer by breeding: his father was an engineer with the Railways, so is his brother; his two sons are IITians.

On retiring from the army in 1978, Batra took up jobbing work for Clutch Auto Ltd., Escorts Motorcycles and Kelvinator's scooter division. ``I got a number of good offers from public sector companies,'' he remembers. ``But I was determined to start a business of my own; there was the desire of establishing a unit with professional integrity.''

Finance was a problem; it still is. Batra took loans from friends and relatives, borrowed a small amount from a bank and put in all his savings, more than Rs 1 lakh, in the new venture which was, many well-wishers warned, an adventure.

Though he was supported by his brother, there were several who dissuaded him from venturing into uncharted seas: `Why don't you just go for a cushy job in a decent company?' they would ask. Batra chose to persist.

The setting up of a factory was no cakewalk. Batra has had his share of woes to tell about the inspector raj. ``The inspectors feel that all the industrialists are minting money and can be squeezed to any extent". However, his experience with Government officials has not been as bad or frustrating as that of many other entrepreneurs. His service in the Army as a commissioned officer gave him confidence to approach senior bureaucrats directly. ``Businessmen should not hesitate to talk to high officials if they face harassment at the junior level.''

In 1988, Batra started Arjan Auto which manufactures Maruti parts and employs 70 people. ``It doesn't matter whether the company is small or large, what is important is that it should be propelled by modern ideas. A broader outlook, commitment to quality, professional integrity, and honesty of purpose are indispensable."

"Unless I am fair to my employees, vendors, customers, etc, I can't survive in the market.''

"Our products are not checked for quality adherence by Maruti. It seems a tall claim. But it also means I have to be extra cautious. My company was among the first 10 to receive ISO 9002 certification", says Batra. He is now looking forward to QS 9000, the next step to total quality management.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.