Behram Tehmtan Dhabhar (BTD), fondly referred to as BD Sir in the automotive industry and among friends. A man who was born to do only one thing - work and be with cars. Surprisingly, even his name has resemblance to Bottom Top Dead Center, an automotive jargon. I know him since past 9 years, and can very safely say, he came on this earth to do nothing but work on cars.
I joined M&M in August 2007 as a trainee and had the privilege and honor of working with BD Sir for 4 years. My first project - Thar Export & Domestic versions were created under his sole vision & leadership. In 2007 I was the first trainee reporting to BD Sir who was then GM R&D at Nasik, that gave me an opportunity to know him very close as a professional and as a person. Perhaps that was also the reason why I got to learn so much from him as an engineer. I got to work with him in Reliability & Vehicle Testing, Vehicle Development and 4WD Center of Excellence at M&M. After a few years, situation was such that people started calling me "Chota Dhabhar". Although I'm nowhere close to his knowledge and skills, I still felt proud when I heard it.
Behram Dhabhar, the very name used to cause people sweat, wet in their pants with fear - juniors or senior executives alike. Imagine my plight as a trainee, when I came to know that I would be a direct reportee to him. But soon I realized that BD Sir was like a coconut, hard from outside and delicate from inside, being from Kerala that was an easy one for me. In those 4 years he taught me things which people working for decades in the automotive industry never get to learn. He taught me how to sit properly in a car, how to feel a car, how to break a prototype while testing it, how not to break a prototype when testing it, and most importantly what to do when it breaks. He taught me how to test cars, drive fast, safe but not rash. Your sketches of clutch engagement and fuel starvation problems in Premier Padmini still remain etched in my mind. You have been for me a boss, guru, mentor, good friend, a father figure and above all a very kind human being.
People who know him closely could go on and on telling things about him, his energy, his passion and enthusisam for whatever he did. I would also like to jot down a few incidents, which flashed across my mind when I woke up to this tragic news today morning.
- I still remember the glow on your face when we made the first prototype with Vincent Sir in the Protoshop, an army green colored 4wd thar with NEF Non Crdi engine - this was the donor car for the legendary MH01V521.
- I still remember when I ruined a perfectly running engine 1 day before the EXAM/AKC challenge and you did not say a word to me. Someone else in my position would have got a lot of flak for it. True to his rallying spirit he said (at 5 p.m.), we need to get the car up and running before tomorrow morning. At 1'o clock it was ready -- 3 hours before our departure time to Lonavala, the next day you created history.
- I still remember how you used to bug me when you first asked me to make a sheet metal instrument panel prototype. I've got cheezed off at you at times, but then I realized that thats the only way you work. "There is only one way of doing things, and that is the correct way" you used to say. Needless to say your finickiness about perfection has made me at ease when I work with the Germans here.
- I still remember how you used to fight with the canteen wala to give you an extra cup of curd, the way you used to pester the hotel/restaurant guys when your fried eggs didn't come out as you wanted them to be.
- I still remember when we met with an accident at 2'o clock in the night while testing a mule. We reached Nasik at 4:30 a.m. you punched in the next morning at sharp 0800 a.m. and released an accident report email at 0900 a.m. with complete details of the test and accident. I remember you asking in the email when do you get to complete the rest of the evaluation on another car. Such was your ruthlessness and devotion at work.
- I still remember seeing you wash your cars when they were dirty- the Scorpio and the Bolero Storm (sorry Sir I forgot their numbers, I can't catch you on this front). For a GM, a call to the admin was enough to get this done, but you did it yourself - RESPECT !
- I still remember, how you knowing that a silent and shy character I was, asked me impromptu to speak in front of 350 odd Engineer Trainees, just to kill my fear.
- I still remember when you caught me at work posting on Team BHP as Spike Arrestor and the mighty laugh we had together. It was you who introduced me to the forum.
- I still remember you granting me a days leave to go to Mumbai and buy myself a helmet when you saw me arriving at work on my RX100 without a helmet. I tried dilly dallying, saying that the helmet I want is not available in Nasik. No goofing up with DB Sir, the next day morning I was on my way to Mumbai.
- I still remember to the minutest details every moment I spent and the huge amount of learning I got from you. Whatever little I know about cars, whatever little I'm today , and that now a few people know me in the automotive industry / 4x4 circle - the credit goes to you.
- I still remember how visionary you were, when no one in the company believed in you, that this product will sell, you believed in yourself and see how you have proved your naysayers wrong. Your vision for setting up a 4WD track in Igatpuri - you started it, see where it has come now, all credits to you Sir.
- I still remember how you danced on the day when we celebrated Thar's Domestic launch.
I talked with the Thar Team today, and we all are of the same opinion that there was / would be never a team like the Thar team. We didn't work under you, we worked with you.
I can't thank you enough for what you have done for me and what you have made out of me. If there is life after death, and if there is one person I would like to meet, you would be up there on that list. I'm sure you have your gurus Dada and Anil Patel for company up there.
May God give strength to Veera Madam, Cyrus and Darayus to cope with your untimely loss. We will miss you Sir.
On behalf of the Thar Team
Pratheesh Raveendran
10th August 2016, 22:42
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Thanks
