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India-Pakistan
In Communist ruled Bengal, bring your own Remington Typewriters
2009-03-17
In the 1970s the Unions in West Bengal, backed by the Communist Party, prevented the introduction of computers in banks
Around 500 young men trooped into Howrahs Salkia Hindu High School on Sunday afternoon, wielding an anachronistic device that could help them land a job. Some slung it over a shoulder, others carried it above their heads like a modern-day Atlas, while some others hired cabs just to ferry it.

In an age of laptop-toting business executives, the state department of West Bengal, oblivious to Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjees claims of industrialisation, demanded that candidates for the typists job come armed with their own machines.

It is hard enough to find typewriters anywhere these days, but somehow, the aspirants managed. Still, in Kolkatas humid weather, lugging around a typewriter that could weigh between five and 10 kilogram made for an inhuman exercise.

Those from far off districts like Midnapore and Burdwan were the worst hit. A few candidates came on foot from Howrah station while many others reached the examination centre in rented vehicles.

Laxmikanta Samanta, from Keshoari in West Midnapore, said he started from home around 4 am. "I hired a taxi for Rs. 2,500 and paid another Rs. 700 to rent a typewriter from a neighbourhood typing school," he said.

Bakul Garai from Dharmagram in West Midnapore came by train and reached the examination centre carrying the machine on his head. "I had to hire a machine for Rs 600 from my locality," said Garai.

Anticipating the huge demand for typewriters among outstation candidates, the locals made a killing. "Many of my friends had to pay Rs 1,200-2,500 to arrange the machine from local persons," said Barun Kumar Dey of Midnapore.

"For a 15-minute typewriting test, I had to pay Rs. 1800," complained a candidate on condition of anonymity.

What will they think of next? Getting your own bus to apply for a drivers job?
Posted by:john frum

#7  And of course they'll have that airplane...

Good luck getting the salt water stains off the instrument panel.
Posted by: SteveS   2009-03-17 14:01  

#6  *giggle* And of course they'll have that airplane...
Posted by: trailing wife    2009-03-17 11:41  

#5  But JFM, what will happen to the candidates who didn't think to put a hook thingy on the bottom of their airplanes, for landing on carrier decks?

People who don't think into putting a hook thingy are obviously not Navy material but can get a Darwin Award as consolation prize.
Posted by: JFM   2009-03-17 11:24  

#4  Getting your own F/A-18 to apply for a pilot job in the US Navy

But JFM, what will happen to the candidates who didn't think to put a hook thingy on the bottom of their airplanes, for landing on carrier decks?
Posted by: trailing wife    2009-03-17 10:36  

#3  What will they think of next? Getting your own bus to apply for a drivers job?

Getting your own F/A-18 to apply for a pilot job in the US Navy
Posted by: JFM   2009-03-17 10:30  

#2  Hope Bambi doesn't hear about this.
Posted by: AlanC   2009-03-17 10:23  

#1  Whoa, "back to the future" + OWG-NWO with REMINGTONS???
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2009-03-17 00:42  

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