A list of “firsts” at National Dairy Development Board

List compiled by By Shri G.Rajan

Designed by Mr. A Barooha, Creative director of CONCEPT Markeing & Advertising. Bombay. It was originally meant for Indian Dairy Corporation(IDC), in 27.7.71, But the design “Drop” was selected for IDC , and NDDB took over the Mohan-ja-daro BULL .

NDDB Campus

Moved to present campus (sometime in 1970) , Architect AP Kanvinde & Rai , New Delhi, Civil Construction by civil by Ms Himatbhai J. Patel, Anand. contractor.

NDDB was registered in 1965 under the Bombay Trust Act 1950 and thereafter under Societies Registration Act on 23rd sept 1967. Dr. V Kurien as it’s founder Chairman. It became a body corporate after the Indian Parliament passed NDDB Act 37 of 1987.

Office locations of NDDB over the years

NDDB office first started functioning from was a rented house near the present Amul Dairy main gate. This particular house has since been demolished by its owners and a commercial building has come up in its place.

NDDB then moved on to the third floor on Amul’s main admin. building on a monthly rent of Rs.3000/. inclusive of furniture etc. borrowed from AMUL. For the key positions, initially Dr.Kurien borrowed the services of Amul`s staff . NDDB office moved to current campus location in 1970.

Some Firsts at NDDB

First honorary. Secretary of NDDB Mr. NN Thakker of Amul.

First honorary treasurer Mr. JM Shah, Accounts Officer of Amul.

First full time Secretary of NDDB Dr SC Ray as Secretary, NDDB, Dr.Ray was a retired Milk Commissioner of West Bengal and Dairy Development Advisor, Govt. of India.

First full time Treasurer –NF Rangwalla,

First accounts clerk – George Kurien,

First Assistant in Administration Arvind Patel

First Cashier Naginbhai Patel

First Personal Assistant in NDDB – BK Iyer,

First librarian – ShirishPatel

First PRO – Vikramsinh Rana, Yuva Raja of erstwhile Jambughoda State

First driver – Rajnibhai Parmar

First Peon –cum-duplicating machine operator, Fataji parmar

Tea(morning and afternoon) was served at Rs.6 per month (Martin Parmar was inchrge)

First Estate officer and all-in-one on this campus – Vasant s kulkarni

First Gardner-cum,-watchman on this campus – Sarjuraam

First electrician- Rambhai Vanker

First carpenter- Ajmeri

First medical officer – Dr.Ashabhai patel

First official warden of the hostel – Shailendra Kumar followed by shekar roy , who joined NDDB along with Deepak tikku and others, as apprentice engineers/apprentice executives.

First receptionist – Mrs.Uma Guptey

First Matron at the guest house Mrs.Uma Guptey

First cook at the guest house, – Ramachandran

First cook at the hostel Raojibhai,

First official photographer – Thakker senior Proprietor National Studio, Anand , followed by his son Shirish Thakker. It is said that Shri Thakker senior clicked the first photo of Dr.Kurien & Mrs. Kurien on their return after getting married.

First official news paper reporter: ND Zaveri of PTI

First movie screened on the campus at the small auditorium – Summer of 42(black and white in 16 mm). The auditorium was under construction, and the chairs were not even fixed then. Everyone sat on the unfinished concrete stairs, watched the movie quietly. Before that movies on 16 mm were shown in front of the hostel.

First Garba on the campus was initiated by Mrs. Bhartiben jhala(w/o. late Shri GM Jhala a former secretary of NDDB , ) – in front of the hostel, about a dozen persons were present.

First holi celebrations on the campus initiated by sinha family whose house was also known as ‘bachelors headquarters`; there is not a single bachelor at that time who had not tasted tea and bhajiaat their D-1 ground floor quarters, offered by Mrs. Sinha.

Creation of Boho club – BOHO (BUFFALOES OF THE HIGHEST ORDER) named by PT Jacob who got a prize too of Rs 21 or so. Entry free for suggesting a name was Rs 1/- and the money thus collected was to be given to the person whose suggested name for the club got chosen. Shri Ashok Koshy IAS organised this.

First Christmas father (Santa Clause – G rajan) who continued till 1998.

First badminton team of BOHO club – MK Sinha and G Rajan played and lost against Amul’s team HM Dalaya(DGM,Amul) and Mrs. Sheela Dalaya.

The first excursion cum picnic organized by BOHO club – to river Mahi at vasad, (organized by Ashok koshy, Exe. Asstt. to Dr.Kurien, chairman. All the families living on the campus (total around 50) participated in this picnic. All went by train Ticket cost 0.50 paise.per head, paid by BOHO.

The first donor of books to BOHO club – RH Variava a Deputy Secretary ( a dozen of old Readers Digest Books), followed by Ms. Nirmala & Mrs.Kurien with a rosewood cupboard full of children’s books

The first ICL 2950 Computer arrived on the campus on 23.9.1978

The first and only PC computer operator at that time was Oman Kuttan, popularly known as OK.

The first long distance STD connection from Baroda exchange to Anand was to Chairman NDDB Dr.Kurien’s office (helped by DET, Khare), This was much before the advent of STD.

The first long distance underground HT connection was provided to NDDB campus (Mr.Gangadharan, Supdt Engineer) – while Anand city may not have power but NDDB will have continuous supply of electric power thanks to this HT connection.

The first FAO Advisor, with an Indian heart, who scripted tons of documents for and on behalf of NDDB & Dr.Kurien, including Operation Flood,I,II & III project, Oil Project documents etc – Dr.Michael Halse. Popularly known as Mike he He worked with NDDB from 1968-1983. A UK national, MBA and PhD from Harvard, Mike was also one of the founding team members of IIM-Ahmedabad.When NDDB was formed in 1965 Mike was one of the founding members of the NDDB board a position he held till his appointment as FAO advisor and later Team Leader Of FAO Advisers attached to NDDB.

As mentioned earlier this list 
has been compiled by          
Shri G.Rajan, NDDB, (1969 - 1996)

It was first read at Reminisces-I 
A reunion of former NDDB employees held
at NDDB campus, Anand on 28th February / 1st March 2015 
and at Reminiscences-II held ion February15,16, 2020 
it was used for asking questions as a quiz.
Please suggest changes, if any, and also share other 
“firsts”  which are not listed here.