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n 1964, Mr B.M.Khaitan was co-opted as Managing Director and Active Director of Williamson

Magor.The inaugural trip upcountry, however, took place after a gap of nearly three years, in 1966.

Pertabghur T.E. (Bishnauth Tea Company), was the first property he visited and to date he has a

special corner in his heart for this domain.

“It was all new to me,”

he says,

“I was curious to understand

the problems, excited and in the learning process.”

He went around the factory but could not really

understand the different steps to manufacture.

“Being the head of the Company and not knowing what

fermentation was! It was all double Dutch,”

he laughingly admits.

In the initial years at the helm of affairs

Mr Khaitan’s focus was on finance and

consolidation. He left the actual running of the

estates to his trusted team of two,

Mr Morice and Mr Hannay. In 1972,

Mr Morice moved to London and, shortly

thereafter, passed away. Mr Hannay, too,

relocated to London and, soon after that,

Mr Pennel retired from the services of the

Company. Mr J.G. Oliver was posted at

Pertabghur T.E. as Visiting Agent and invited

to join the Board; the establishment became

the upcountry headquarters of the entire

Group. This is so even today, with the Visiting

Agent posted there while the AssistantVisiting

Agent is located at Margherita T.E. in the

South Bank.

Mr Khaitan remembers his trips upcountry with affection,

“I was so well looked after; it was very

comfortable and nice.”

He went up at least once a year; he felt that there was no need to visit more

often as Mr Richard Magor made an annual trip to Assam in February and Mr O.J. Roy in

November/December. The two gentlemen discussed the affairs of the estates after they returned to

base and accordingly, decisions would be made in Calcutta.

Pertabghur T.E. was the hub; the Cessna was based

there and that eased the logistics of travelling

within the state. Mr Khaitan admits that flying in

the Cessna was not a comfortable experience for

him; however, it did facilitate touring from district

to district. He had key personnel to assist in

organising and managing the affairs of the Group.

Mr R.R. Stammers and Mr J.M. Trinick were the

experts on quality and all contributed towards

labour relations, a high standard of manufacture

and subsequent sale of teas.

I got the best reception,

enjoyed the best atmosphere,

friendliness and hospitality.

I was proud of it, how the

planters interacted; I got so

much respect.

“

”

B.M. Khaitan

ATraditionalWelcome for Mr & Mrs Khaitan

At the Factory

The Cessna (painting by Paresh Maity)

Aspects of the Estate (paintings by Paresh Maity)