krishnan mama stories

This is another story told by krishnan mama..
It is a story of Demand Draft.

Krishnan mama was then working in a Steel Company near Calcutta..
His son Mr.N was studying for Engineering in Kerala.
Krishnan mama was very prompt in sending money to his son.. He was a loving father and never wanted his son's name on the College Notice board or the Hostel. But never for extravaganza.
There are two school of thoughts for parenting..One is "I had never the opportunity for any extravaganza and so i worked very hard and i am now like this." Another one is "I was never able to enjoy like this in my child hood and my children should not be deprived of this..let them enjoy"..But some say the second school of thought would bring out a spoilt child..

Krishnan mama would have been a mixed type of fixing limits for both..Anyway Master N was a good son of a good father and he understood the father well. He never asked for more..
It is month begining at Calcutta..As the salary is only to meet both ends, banking was, for many, only a savings bank account and of course trusted means of sending money to aged parents.. For many a malayali it could be a Demand Draft for a son doing education in far away Kerala. Our Krishnan mama also had his son educated in Kerala and looked upon the Bank as the most trusted means for sending money.

He says..
It was a night mare, without sleep for many days..when a month end is coming..I have to get a Demand Draft for Rs.500/- (Now the very same son would laugh at the mention of rs.500/- But in those days five hundred in equal to five thousand.. nay much more..) to my son. The Draft should reach him before the 10th. Or else, anything can happen..Standing outside the class, caning, The class teacher calling out the names of defaulters and it is another way of punishment.
Those days were days prior to globalisation and the customer was NOT the King. We can never argue with or shout at or be angry with any person in the Banks or Govt offices. The public are treated as servants though they are actually called Public servants. The banks were in sellers market. In banks the branch manager is to be seen only by big customers and DD customers have to be satisfied with Head Cashiers.
Our krishnan mama started the DD exercise every month by the 25th. That is the day to see the Head Cashier and say Hai.. The Head Cashier is more than a God..With the union support, he is even more than a branch manager.His wrath means the end of relationship with that Branch. So one has to be very careful in words and deeds or even in mannerisms..so that it should not hurt him..
This Hai of Head Cashier means that "You are acknowledged" and it also means that he will accept the money. One or the other day again Krishnan mama would go to say "Hai" and during one such Hai, the HC notes down Krishnan Mama's name and gives the date for remittance..3rd, 4th etc.. The salary will be received in Cash only on the 1st or 2nd. (Unlike in these days where it is only credited into the accounts which should be withdrawn by ATM cards and issuing cheques only for making credit card payments) and in between Sundays may be another tension because delay in taking DD means delay in sending DDs.
On getting the salary, Krishnan mama would rush to the Bank. One could not rush to the Head Cashier. He is the most busy man.. He shouts to customers..in between he closes the counter and rushes to the branch manager's cabin..to settle scores..while the customer has to wait. ( a customer in hindi once told me.."Jo Kasht se martha hai wo Kashtomer kahata hai.) So our Krishnan mama would enter the branch and would stand on a corner waiting for the Head Cashier to see him and acknowledge. The Head Cashier during one such rounds outside his cabin acknowledges and a deep breath goes in as a relief.. Then the HC calls by waiving of hand and with all respects like a man before the God in the temple, the cash is given alongwith the DD application slip ( the DD application is a piece of colourful slip which asks for a lot of details and as this is a ususal monthly item, it is filled at home and kept ready for 2 or three months ahead ) and after the Head cashier received the Cash.. that day is over..You should not stand there..In between he will say ..Come in the evening or sometimes, come tomorrow.." The next day the DD is on your hands and the next worry takes over Krishnan mama.. The Post office..

The Post Master and the people at the post office are more friendly but they are never the fast you wanted..
The DD is put in a cover and the address of Master N is written neatly and made doubly sure that there is no mistake and with a prayer..(as we have read in papers ..Post Card received after 50 years..")The DD is sent as "Registered Post" because delivery to the addressee is ensured.

And at last not knowing of all these hurdles, pains, tension, Master N happily receives the DD.. The father waits for the Post Card from N as acknowledgement..and the next 25th the same story again.

(The new generation should visualise how the elder generation suffered and now with internet banking, ATMs Credit cards, etc and with banks competing each other, banking a few decades before can only be an old story.)