I come from a family of weavers in a village near Nilakottai. It has been a decade since I became an automobile advisor after completing Diploma in Mechanical Engineering. I had a charm for cars and bike even as a child and I always wanted to become an automobile expert. I joined Solamalai Maruti as a mechanic and later became an advisor. Now, I can call myself an expert, as I can gauge the problem in a car, just by the sound of the ignition. In some cases where the issue may be a little complicated, I take the car for a short drive to understand. At times, I also open it up to study the engine and other parts and accordingly I suggest repair works to be undertaken. Over the years, I have gained regular customers who trust my knowledge and experience. Every day, I provide service for nearly five to six cars and each car takes around two to three hours to be serviced. My shift starts at 8 a.m. and ends at 6 p.m. As I am in the service industry, I have mastered the art of receiving customers cordially, with a pleasant smile. I quite enjoy my job, as it helps me grow everyday, understand the nuances of various kinds of cars and their mechanisms. From the company, we are given periodic trainings to understand latest models and automobile technology better. With so many advanced features, cars these days are more like mobile homes. My parents are proud of me and I have two elder sisters who work as staff nurses in the Government Hospital. I am 31 years old and I am going to be married later this year, which I am pretty excited about.
(A fortnightly column on men and women who make Madurai what it is)