The author, Nitin Shankar, was sent at the age of 16 by his father for an engineering course in Germany. Arriving in Berlin in June 1955, two months after the start of his practical training course at Telefunken, he faced challenges such as finding accommodation and obtaining a visa. Life in the divided city of Berlin was exciting and the welcoming hospitality of Berliners helped him settle into his new life.

In ‘BERLIN – Past and Present,’ the author describes the challenges of his first years as an engineering trainee in West Berlin. He had to learn to work with his hands and adhere to a rigorous training schedule. Through self-discipline and hard labour, he managed to complete the course. In the process, at the age of 18, he became a self-assured and focused person. His story shows a path that any Indian can take to derive the maximum benefit of training in a foreign country.