soundara rajan retires

31st December 2012 Soundara rajan was promoted as Chief Manager last month. His table was next to me.   He talks to me lot of things. He looked after Agri and DPD. He joined SBT as Agri Officer in 1978 at our Shencottah branch. He worked at our Marayur branch, Agri dept HO, Nagercoil zonal office. 3 times branch manager in Shencottah branch. He worked sincerely in these branches and  somehow managed to get postings near to Tirunelveli most times.

Ponmudi, clerk in Office Manager's dept ogani ses all events in zonal office - birthdays, sendoff, etc.  He chose me to help him for this send off because, he knew i was close to him not only in the seating.  He knows well that it is equation that manages. I do not know who taught this to him. But it works well. So I went with him. He also has understood that i can  manage the funds for the gap between the  red tapes. First we went to Kerala Jewe llers and told that he has come from SBT (here in chennai, people still  continue to identify SBT to Kerala- i feel that there is a low self esteem due to this  and this in turn affects business, but they still adjust because it is associate of STATE BANKOF INDIA). SBH is slightly more accepted as Chennaipatnam was part of Vijayanagar, Chola empires consisting of Andhra also. ). We purchased a beautiful silver lamp -one for Soundara rajan and another small one for Sridhar, employees union leader retiring from Chennnai main  branch. Then we went to ATM and I withdrew Rs.12000/- (earlier i withdrew Rs.3500 from ATM at Guna complex. We purchased some fruits, Chandana garlands. But Pukalendi, Chief Manager Personnel called and asked us  to buy gold coins with Rs.10000/- from bank side. So we again went to Kerala Jewellers and exchanged the silver lamp with gold coins. I asked Ponmudi why there was no coordination. He said it may be due to change of guards in the recent Association election. But, this Pukelendi  always wants everything to be a secret. Recently my selection  to a training programme was told to me by PAD, HO, but he prevented meenakshi, his clerk from telling this to me till it came from HO in writing. but even this lack of coordination is seen among other depts in Zonal Office.  Arrangements  were over by 2 pm and we had our food packets arranged by soundara rajan.

I was asked to conduct the meeting. But suddenly it was shifted to MrElangoven, chief manager, mount road br. He has been leader of Assn for many years. (leaders are always leaders) Two clerical staff from Shencottah branch attended the function.  They had only good memories to tell (may be they had been close to soundarajan sir when he was in Shencotah branch. This branch was earlier Travancore Forward Bank and so this is the oldest branch of SBT in Tamilnadu (in our books it was opened in 1946 next to our Madras Main Br). Our Top Management in those days wanted not to step outside Keralam and one of them  
then told that our CD ratio should be improved in Kerala - meaning the deposits are from kerala and hence credit flow should be more in kerala, whereas in Chennai, it is more than 100 - meaning we are lending our kerala funds in Tamil Nadu.  In those days there was as they say no bankable projects.  But why we did restrained ourself from opening more branches in Tamil nadu was a question, especially when we liked to venture to Delhi, and many north indian cities.  But now all banks are vying each other to open rural branches in Tamil nadu. ( first reason  RBI wants financial inclusion - next the new policy of withholding benefits including promotions for not having rural assignments). We now follow.  Last one year we opened more than 30 branches and now Union and Officers Assn have cautioned management for this opening spree without proper manpower and infrastructure. (Other banks open rural branches with one officer and one cashier).
This Shencottah  br is a loss making branch.  I don't know for what reasons - but is not a favourable br for officers from Kerala but is the nearest from punalur and near to the Kuttalam, the favourite waterfalls.
We can go to Achenkovil only through Shencottah. I have walked from Achenkovil to Shencottah.
But soundara rajan converted this to a profit making branch by bills under IUBD.
In those days i heard people saying that Marayur was be  place well known for "malampani"(a kind of fever which can also become deadly at times but once contracted it is a nuisance).  But for soundara rajan, he was very happy. Less work  near to Tirunelveli - he can go in his Bullet (people will stand to look him for his height and weight and the Enfield. there are sandal wood forests of the Government. but your house can smell sandal with a small piece smuggled out. The hill climate was extremely good especially when he was with his family.
He had by this time set out a farm in Shencottah and his agri background came to his help and satisfaction.
His postings in Nagercoil, and Head office was not far away or his frequency of visits to Tirunelveli and Shencottah and his well knit communication network with these centres and his friends ( i used to say, he was able to build a house by sitting at Chennai) did not find him posted at complaining distances ( I was first posted to Madayi Kanoor from Trivandrum.   Then from Parasala to Kozhikode - I stopped complaining on seeing friends in Syndicate and Canara Banks)
He was always contended except that he was not able to make through to Chief Manager promotion and that too he was given inspite of his  left over service being hardly 1 month(thanks to MD's insistence they say).
But because he was dealing in DPD, i used to tell in my mind that things should go well till he retires.  First because he tells everybody that he is happy.  Second because he was dealing with DPD a negative area.

But at last that happened - One loan at Shencottah branch became NPA and the Officer, who went for enquiry found out that though the land mortgaged to us now fetches more than the loan, the shed for the birds was built on a piece of land adjoining this and was not on the property mortgaged. This was found out only recently.

Imaging our set up.  A regional manager, (either because he was afraid of his future prospects and to play safe and to find out scapegoats or because he believes of rumour from mongers around him) can ask for explanation. He sends an Officer to enquire ( This should be a person not reporting to him in any way). but mostly this officer goes and understands what this Regional Managerr has in mind. He tries to find out factual errors as many as possible ( some also goes to dig other documents also). some uptodate encumberance, insurance, a sign here and there missing and the DD handed over to the customer etc etc. But both will spread by word of mouth that there can be something unearthed (one to cement his arguments for his action and the other to please his elder ones. The Association very often enters only after all these and by this time there is either a case to handle or a case of enough damage done.
The harassment (shani) has already set in. The same letter of explanation is now a Charge sheet and reply will be just a value addition by so called experts/friends and just english.
The next course is usual denial and non acceptance of all proofs and replies. It slips on to arguments and counters as in the courts (the difference is the known faces and known premises)
The final judgement is said to be a mix of the hearsays, the proofs and the ability to read in between. But the hearsay always weighs more.
And a few years in your life is gone.
We look above - thank God its all over; curse many for what you feel have been for t he present judgement against you. Finally except some, the appeal channel is not ventured for disbelief in the system (will you get justice from Nazreth)

Soundara rajan was calculating and was discussing with everyone, so that he should get all his entitlements, Gratuity, PF, leave encashment ( he used to take leave on every wednesdays and saturdays so that he can encash maximum and utilise all leave).

He account saw credits of many items.  But Bank allowed him to retire under 19(2) i.e. the major retirement entitlement such as gratuity etc is kept pending.

I remember Nedungadi Sir (GM retired) got all payments at 5 pm on the day of his retirement.  but Geevarghese (AGM) was served with a notice (pasted on the wall of his house as he did not accept the same)

Let god behold our finger and we shall follow - Only HE can see beyond MAYA and Karma.

Let Soundara rajan get his benefits soon

kumbakonam contd

Swamy malai. One of the arupadai veedu. Father learns from the child. Many steps.
On the way, we stumbled upon a big temple with no crowds etc. We got down and went inside the gopuram.  A dried up pushkarani welcomed us. Then we went inside and saw that the swetha vinayagar temple is closed. No one was seen nearby.  We wandered around the temple, when one old man came and told that the priest has gone to ambal temple and would come soon. So we went ahead to see another gopuram inside.  We saw that it is Siva Temple. We prayed there and saw the priest. He asked us to pray at ambal temple and come to vinayagar sannidhi. Through another gopuram, we went to Ambal temple.  You will be astonished to see the beautiful murals on the walls. The temple had very high walls.  I felt that the temple compound was protected with very high walls because during ancient times, there could have been frequent attacks by other kings.  At vinayagar temple, the priest a young man chanted archana mantras loudly.  When we were returning, we saw some indian tourists are going inside the temple.

Pancha Varneswarar Temple.
The pushkarani was dried.  We went up the steps.  We told the priest that we came here recommended by Mathaji of Aditi ashram.  The priest asked us to wait till abhisekham is over.

The story goes like this.  The king in his earlier birth was a spider, who weaved the web to protect the siva lingam and an elephant - a siva bhakta, poured water on the siva lingam destroying the web. The spider got angry and got into the elephant's trunk. The Lord protected the animals, because both were bhakthas. The next generation, the spider became a descendant of the Chola kingdom. He built some templeslike this. He was averse to elephants, he built the temple wth lot of steps so that the elephant will not be able to come into the temples.

I believe that there were frequent threats from neighbouring kingdoms and hence high walls and the temples were built still higher with lot of steps.
This temple is where Lord Siva and consort gave darshan in Kalyanakolam and people come here for delay in marriages and they vouch that within one year of doing pooja here, marriage is sure to take place. The siva linga turns five colours in a day. Morning upto 8.24 lotus red, then red, then golden, then green and in the evening as we think.
Oothukad :  My friend told that we must visit this temple.  But when we went there, we could see the temple is being renovated.  The gate was open and no one was inside.  We could not go around.  But the grill gate inside was closed, through which we could get a glimpse.  Padmaja was singing a song by Oothukad and suddenly, the watchman came and told that the priest is staying nearby and is coming.  The priest came, opened the doors.  Padmaja again sang a song. By that time some four or five people also came. The story is that the vigraha was divine. The leg was on the Kalika but did not touch as there was a very small gap. The vigraha could not be made by any man because it does not rest or touch the podium. The leg has also marks of bruises.  The great poet was Narada himself.
The priest said that he had been to Chennai for donations for Tirupani and Gokulashtami in September and came back only yesterday. There are no brahmins now in this gramam.  All have gone to Chennai after selling their ancesteral property. The property of the poet is now demarked though no house exist.
( the songs are world famous and sung by all musicians - but this temple is not taken care of )
Then we went to a nearby temple where Dasarathar prayed to Bhairavar and Muruga gave darshan as Rama with dhanush.
The darshan at Tirunageswar and Uppiliyappan temples were good and we proceeded to Alangudi Guru temple. (on the way we saw the name boards -Semangudi and we remembered our great musician and principal of Swati Tirunal Music College, Trivandrum)
At about 8 pm we went to see Govindapuram. A huge temple of Vittalla built recently.  A security stopped our vehicle at the gate and asked to park the vehicle outside. We went up the steps very neat and there two security people told us that we cannot go further inside, though a pravachan was going on there. We were allowed to sit in the hall.  We listened to the pravachan though it was not so audible. We waited till 9 pm only to be told that we cannot go inside near the sanctum. We prayed from distance and returned not so happy. We were unable to visit the Gosala also.
The next day we began our return journey. We went to Suriyanar Temple.  On the way Padmaja was angry with the driver for taking a wrong way.  Though the driver slowed down to ask, she instructed him to go straight and that was a wrong way (just a few yards).  I retorted that she misguided and so i did not wait for her in the temple and came back to the car which was not allowed near the temple though fees were taken to park on the road.  But after some time she came back only to know that her chappals were kept near the temple. So we again went back and this time we took the full set of archana basket. Ten coconuts and flowers for navagrahas. I was asked to wait at Sani temple inside and Padmaja lighted ghee lamps for all the dieties. Then one coconut was broken and archana was performed by the priest at each deity of navagraha.
Its all gods way of planning.
In Kerala there is a temple called Keraladityapuram, near Malliyoor in Kottayam district and there it is only for Sun God. We visited there when I had Sun dasa.
From there we proceeded to Vaitheeswaran Temple.  Though there were places in between, we kept it aside for next visit because of shortage of time.
At vaitheeswaran Kovil, the mood was undone by a quarrel for the parking fees.  We were just gdtting down and we were asked to pay 25 rupees. The car is being parked on the road and i was told that fees were collected from devotees for coming in a car, whether they park it or not.
We got good darshan of Lord  and Ambal and also Muruga.  The temple was crowded.  A marriage was going on inside the temple premises and eating was also going on.
We did not wait long. We started to Chidambaram (Our driver told that in Sirkazhi there was no temple and it was famous only because of the  great singer Sirkazhi govindarajan - I like his sinnam siru pen pole). We entered Chidambaram temple only to be announced that it is closed and will reopen at 4.30 pm. ( we missed by five minutes as we were talking to a priest on a phone given by Ramakrishnan. Ramakrishnan's father was from Chidambaram and his father's name itself was Chidambara Iyer).  Then the priest took us home and gave a sumptous meals and also gave their side room for resting.  Padmaja sang sabapatiku samanam veru daivam ... My camera captured a 60 year old photo of the deekshitar when he was a child alongwith his father. In the evening, the youngest son took us to the temple and the darshan was superb. Lord Nataraja is still fresh before my eyes. Chidambaram temple is unique.  It is aakasa tatwa. The golden roof had 21600 plates with 72000 golden nails denoting that a human being breathes 21600 times in the blood passes through 72000 nadis. The nine kumbhas are nava dwaras in a body and five steps of silver denotes pancha indriyam.
Then straight back through Puducerry and East Coast Road.
We thanked all Gods.

kumbakonam trip photos

Kumbakonam

I was unsure of the travel plans. I feel that God plans.
Padmaja arranged a driver through our servant's son. Padmaja cooked for carry.  The driver came and we are on our way to the great Tiruannamalai temple, where great saint Ramana Maharshi was there. Going by asking and asking the routes. On the way, Padmaja telephoned one of her friends. A Doctor working at Tiruannamalai. She immediately arranges our stay at Adhiti Ashram. A great stay with food.  Did Girivalam by car. In the evening prayed at Annamalai Siva Temple. A great temple with lot of prakarams and sub temples.  I had read of Ramana Maharshi.  But we will weep when we go to Padala Lingam. Ramana had slept here inside a cave like place in the temple where he allowed himself to be bitten by rodents and insects and had it not been the swami who brought this great saint to the public, we would never have come to know of this great saint.  I read in some book that there are a lot of seers souls even now is staying in this hold hill.
I was sorry to see that a new and big ashram called Yogi ram saratkumar ashram has come in this holy city exactly replicating the famous Ramanashram.

Adhiti Ashram swamiji was working in Bank of Maharashtra and was staying in Ramana ashram.  He wanted to help some of the old sadhus who did not want to become a burden to Ramanashram. A great thing happened. Once, he was forced to go to Mumbai to visit a friend, where the owner of the house, a lady gave a book to swamiji.  The book was written in Kannada by her father and being an alien language, she never read it.  So she asked swamiji, about the contents. Then swamiji told that it was written by one RKD regarding a sculpture of Ramana Maharishi.  In that book, he had written how he was able to get permission fom Ramana maharishi to draw his profile.  Maharishi had to pose for 2 hours and the profile was drawn and later a small sculpture was made.  But it was not known to the outer world, nobody knew of it.  Then the lady took swamiji to an old dusty room where her father's works were kept. And lo! the statue is there and it was gifted to swamiji, who carried it on return journey.  When he did not know what to do with the statue, a couple wanted to gift some land to swamiji, who didn't want to be dragged into worldly treasures.  However, he accepted the land and with a gift from another friend, the Aditi ashram was born with the intention of giving medical help to old sadhus which is going on and now lot of doctors, medical shops give free help to these sadhus. 
We also visited the Gosala and Padasala attached to this ashram, situated some six kms away.
With the advices from Mataji of this ashram we began our journey to Kumbakonam

Anna N Subramanian part 1

This is not a blog.  A small child of 9th has written about her great grandfather. It brings out the life of Chennai which is not seen now.

Who is this Anna N Subramanian ?

Naganarasimhan Subramanian born on 20.9.1895 in Tiruchengodu, Salem District.

Eldest of six sons and three daughters born to Sri Naganarasimhan, Elementary School Teacher later became village Karnam and mother Smt Arundathi Naganarasimhan, the only daughter of Krishna Sastry (classmate of Sri Narasimha Bharati Swamigal  at Sringeri Guru Kulam.

Elementary education in  Tiruchengodu and Bhavani

High School education by boarding at National High School in Trichnopoly.  At school alongwith  regular curriculum, he had religious training and vedic study. 

Gold medalist and school first in SSLC.

He passed the Indian Matriculation Examination (which was required after highschool and for going to college)

The financial problems could be guessed in the above situation - but for the scholarship.

When hopes of going to college diminished, a well wisher suggested Ramakrishna Mission Students Home in Mylapore and provided money for the journey from Salem.

He immediately got admission and was lucky to come under the care of the founder secretary  Sri C Ramaswamy Iyengar and Maharishi S. Vasudevachari, the warden treasurer. maharishi was also the Vice Principal and Professor of Physics at the Wesley College, a well known college in India.(1914)

Through Ramakrishna Mission, ANNA joined the Wesley College with free boarding and lodging and took an intermediate course. secured first rank in first class. So he was accepted by the Prestigious Presidency College, Chennai and he got a degree in Mathematics. 

Then he became the Assistant and Demanstrator in Physics at the Wesley college.

Uduppi, Goa Trip Slideshow | TripAdvisor™

Uduppi, Goa Trip Slideshow | TripAdvisor™: TripAdvisor™ TripWow ★ Uduppi, Goa Trip Slideshow Slideshow ★ to Mangalore and Goa. Stunning free travel slideshows on TripAdvisor