Train journey

Sunday morning 10.30 a.m. I got permission from my branch head to take sick leave. 

I rushed to KR puram RS. No trains till 2 p.m.  Felt ashamed on my ignorance on matters. No computers to my aide.

Decided to wait.

Good breeze.. and in between bad smell also.

I saw above my seat, a crow has made its nest and a not so small but yet a kid crow began crawing and its mother crow put something in its mouth .  The child is happy.  The nest was in between wires .  But the nest was same either on a tree or anywhere.   Who teaches crows to build the same nest everywhere.  Once the use is over, it neglects the nest.  Then I related to house building of humans..  a craze for difference from neighbours.  (The baker model in Kerala insists of using only locally available resources and the design to last only for 20 -25 years so that the posterity can demolish when required easily.  Only human beings attach importance to sentiments to houses… I feel that as we give much importance to building houses, we spent more money and energy on it  we feel  sad to see old historical buildings being demolished..

The crow then tried to pull something from the tubes or holes. I thought it had  stored food there.  But I saw it was searching for worms..( who teaches the crow to look for these worms in such places).

Then  a man is walking with a machine to sweep the platforms.. ) a mixed scene of adopting technology and yet keep the poorly paid lady workers to swab the floors. This we can see in all industry.  We adopt technology and at the same time engage labour. 

The theory is use technology to reduce labour, improve productivity and reduce costs to compete.   But  the present model of engaging men and machine seems to good in present conditions.

Then the number of people in the platform swelled.(again felt ashamed to see how the world is aware and I am not.

As the crowd swelled, the seats became the most sought after. The broadcast says the train is delayed.

Among the crowd, I saw small girls, children and many with happy faces..I thought people who are not happy are not travelling..So traveling makes one feel happy. 

I also saw the economic gap… Poor children gazing at the richer children eating chocos and we can see from their faces, their fear to ask their parents for something like that….

I felt as if I took wrong decisions..

First I could have gone to Cantonment RS where they give current reservations or I could have gone to Koramangala or Madivala from where we could get private buses though it costs more. The advice at the counter was to go by Seshadri train and get down at Katpadi and get another train to Chennai. But after this train there is another train directly to Chennai called Brindavan express.  I was thinking of going by Brindavan express.  But I suddenly stopped and asked the peon of the seshadri express train which was about to start. He immediately asked me to get in and when the train started he asked me to ask the station master to adjust. I searched and could not find the TTE. He came with me and pointed out the TTE. As I said this, he looked into the list for a minute. Then he said the ticket charge is 650/- and you can pay anything.  I thought he is asking for the ticket amount and anything..So I gave him Rs.800/- (i.e.650/-+150}.  He laughed at me. I can see his mind..though you look old, you are new to this business.. He took 500/- and gave me back 300/-. I happily returned and took my luggage which was with the peon.   Then  at the next station, I took the luggage and ran to get into A2 which was at the front. I sat in the AC comfortably.  Then the peon came and took me out of the AC cabin.  He asked me to pay to TTE Rs.200/- or at the maximum 300/-.  I said he took 500/-  he too laughed at me  and said you are robbed.  He then asked for 100/- and I thought paying for this man is a punya . I thanked god for the comfortable journey to Katpadi.

Inside the cabin, a rich man with a big stomach playing games on his I pad, was telling another girl who was traveling in a tatkal ticket. Rs.1200/- to renigunda -  Why did you take tatkal..you could get an adjustment trip in Tirupati quota , it would cost much less.???

From Katpadi to Chennai, standing.. the price for not planning a trip…

wish list

A wish list given by me to my General Manager in 2012 for improving Inspection dept. I recently discussed with an Officer. So I thought i can put it in my blogs.

Wish you a happy new year	January 1 2012
Inspection is becoming an important subject the world over		Wish list

Sir

Wish list

The Desk Officers needs frequent updating of knowledge:

Ø They can, with prior sanction, sit in any of the sessions they need updating ;( By this they can also hear the grapevine)

Ø They can be sent for training in Audit related programmes conducted in our Learning Centre and also in outside Training centres such as SBI, RBI etc.

Ø They should be motivated to take up online exams like CIA, CISA etc.

Ø Each Officer should present papers related to Audit

Ø Each Officer should be given training in basics in MS Office.

Ø Each Officer should be sent along with an I.O. to get to know an on-hands training in sampling, etc at branches.

The Desk Officers need to improvement in the way they work:

Ø In order to improve the work culture, the Department can think of giving a Certificate signed by the General Manager, for improvement in various parameters in the desk – outstanding performance such as prompt closure, the quality of notes, analytical way of presentation etc.

Ø Each Officer has to feel that he has been given 150 branches and not 150 audit reports and therefore, his work starts when the auditor begins to audit a branch.  He should keep close liaison with the auditor, branch and the peer at the Controlling Office, so that the audit and closure will be smooth.

Ø Each desk officer should make a presentation along with the synopsis to the DGM, if possible along with one or two photos of the branch outside and inside. The synopsis should contain an analysis as to why the branch obtained the rating.  An improvement or reduction in marks can also be discussed.

 

ü The Department can arrange for monthly talks by Chartered Accountants, and if possible Internal Auditors in Companies, other Banks, and SBI etc.

ü The I.Os may also be requested to make a presentation once in a while to the Department and the Department can let him know of their views on the reports of the IO. In return the IOs can apprise the department know of the gaps in their expectations from the Dept.

ü One Officer may be entrusted with the work of updating the Manuals, and also in the site.

ü A Monthly Newsletter can be printed and sent to all.

its same everywhere

I rushed to Cantonment RS.  It is already 2.50 p m The Double decker train came. I booked tickets only the night before. But the tickets got confirmed by 12 noon. I got only aisle seat. The window seat was occupied by a middle aged man with a lap top.  His size occupied more than the seat he occupied. The Railways design does not meet indian standards.  I was a little worried..if I have to travel with an unrelenting co passenger trying to occupy space from the neighbour also.  

But when i knew he was from .....Bank and was in Inspection department.  He gave me some respect not because of grey hair but because he asked me which grade i was.. and in his Bank, III to IV he says is like jumping from mountain to mountain where as it is climbing in case of  I to III.

Then it was all talking.  He says his Bank is worried of internal frauds...He said that Bank has gone in for introduction of Basant Committee recommendations, wherein the queries for products will be given by the system and we have to say Deviation or No deviation and the comments.  Achievements and Non achievements, Deviations and non deviations will be taken into account and marks will be allotted by system leading to lesser manual interference and interpretations and globalisation of inspection in banks in india.  

State Bank of India has started this process much earlier and i felt that GOI has extended this to other banks for uniformity in banking system. 

He also was talking of the knowledge gap of the Branch heads/ department heads and the lack of HR management (HR is the most important asset of any institution),lack of system in finding out the skills in Officers.  This officer was in II grade. He was posted as a BM in a rural branch in TN. and his AGM called and thanked him for his was the only branch in the module that has achieved all parameters - achieving 2 cr in deposits and 9 cr in advances without losing marks in any other parameters. When he was 1.5 year old in the branch, a transfer order was issued to him posting him as Inspector - the reason the branch being a rural one, and his tenure in rural branches has been completed, the branch should be given to some other who is in need of rural assignment.  The pity is.. the new branch manager was reluctant to come and tried for modification and the branch was without permanent head for about an year and the modification did not come through.  The branch head joined and he took it as punished and showed his reactions to all and the result is..all the good work done by the young aspirant was destroyed.  Customer disatisfaction was revelant when many of them called and asked whether the earlier BM can be recalled..."

He says that he was given training and the Letter of Authority only after two months whereas he was asked to inspect branches during this period..He also lamented..one of the inspectors who came for this training was known for deficiency in knowledge during his tenure as BM..

The inspectors in that branch is not provided with lap tops. 

He also shared an open secret.. Discounts in hotel bills....He says the hotels are better informed of the eligibilities of different banks/ different grades..

( i told him of Pushparajan's story..how he was afraid when a hotel boy told him of the discounts and who all had got how much discounts, when he stayed at a hotel during his audit.  He immediately took a transfer from Inspection)

While I was in Inspection Department, i gave a note to our GM, DGM etc of my views of how the Department could be made better.. (I wrote..My wishlist).. Being the co ordinator with RBI/SBI audit and also because I was assisting DGM Inspection for ACE/ACB, I knew how other departments also were working.  I wanted to place such a wish list for other departments also ( i had earlier submitted one for Compliants department - though my wish lists did not see light.+

I felt it's the same everywhere...


(E&OE)

customer service

I am always confused by the words customer service, customer thrill..

I joined this branch in June 2013.  Nice branch. I have heard the good service by this branch whereby Mr.Sivaraman, one of the earlier branch managers and my immediate boss at Zonal Office, Calicut, had got many accolades from regional manager to MD.  

The branch had since grown from MMII to AGM and last year a new post for CM (C&I) was created for a branch where PSB deposits was to the tune of Rs.300 cr and PSB advances was Rs.75 cr out of Rs.90 cr adv.  and PSB chief manager was taking care of all charges voucher passing, staff matters, overall charge of accounts, etc.(i.e. almost all jobs of a branch manager).  The PSB advances are now sanctioned and maintained at RASMECCC.  The Bank may be taking of the future growth of the branch in C&I.  After the new posting, the branch is now growing in C&I advances.  But the question is should this traditionally deposit branch grow as deposit branch or should it grow more in other than PSB advance.  

One day a customer came to my cabin, introduced as Mr Shetty, proprietor of a pharmaceutical company which is some 20 km from the branch. He had connections from earlier days of this branch and because of distance he keeps his  banking in SBI, where he has 2-4 cr loan portfolio. I asked for a Current account and he agreed to open a CA. I then asked about his coming to the branch and he said it is for closing a gold loan.  I thought, if we release the gold even after business hours, he would be pleased and would certainly help the branch.  I went the the lady cashier, who was generally seen as jovial and good. She immediately and reflectively said "No, I can't 

.  I felt sorry for myself.

the customer was telling her.. OK, just tell it with a smile and not with a frown and agreed to come some other day..

Cashiers in SBT have not changed  ??  I have seen some change in the cashier's attitude over the years from being adamant to being customer friendly.  especially it should be so, in metros and especially in this branch known for its good service.

Later i came to know that she is travelling some 30 km by bus which means if she start by 4 pm she will reach home by 6.30 or 7 p.m.

But what confuses me was if we do things which are within the norms, timings..can it be called customer service or is it that we walk that extra mile that is to be called customer service..?

cbg straps

Some days ago the mail from PAD announced the list for training at SBI Hyderabad for July 2013. My name figured for CBG Straps. the training was scheduled from 29th July to 3rd August. I did not know what CBG Straps was.  I asked some of my friends and nobody knew. But i was happy when i saw the first column - The training was meant for Chief Operating Officers, AGMs and branch heads and though i was only a chief manager, i was selected by PAD.  I thought the branch head Mr James Joseph, AGM may have been asked and he would have suggested my name - my mandanbuddi. 

Mr.Shajeel, a young trainee officer saw this and with my approval and my card, was enthusiastic and I was able to book a plane ticket from Chennai (My wife stayed at Chennai).

On Friday the 27th, I went to AGM's cabin and informed him that I am going for this training and i wanted permission to go on Saturday. I also told him that I dont know what is CBG Straps. He suddenly called his friends in SBI and SBI training centres and also v erified Staff college schedules. He at last found out that CBG is for Corporate Banking, and Straps is Strategic Trainng Partnership ..

Immediately he began complaining of PAD.  He called Mr.Moncy, an Officer in PAD HO and asked him why CM PSB is sent for Corporate Banking and there is no back home utility.. My heart sunk.. I can use this knowledge when i talk with Corporate heads - our customers or I can bring in new Corporates, ( i never have water tight compartments)

Training is to be viewed in two perspectives - One is for back home perspective and the other is empowering the individuals.  When i was in HO as a clerk I used to go to Agri. SSI trainings etc and keep blinking when debates / discussions on subjects on which i had no practical experience.  But I was happy I could go to Guruvayur because it is only 2 hours from Ernakulam and our Training Centre was at Padma Jn, Ernakulam.   Years after, when i was posted to rural branches i remembered the jargons in Agri finance. 

After promotion to Officer cadre, any training was useful, as I would have the notes as reference material.  The back home utility is only a matter of attitude, for each branch is a potential for all types of loans. 

But as I had booked tickets, he allowed me to proceed. I preferred to go to Chennai by morning train as I could attend to the invitation of retirement party of Mr.Rayar CM at zo Chennai.

When I went to ZO, my AGM James Joseph came to know that i am at ZO and informed me that the training is cancelled.

Was it yesterday's call to PAD that the training was cancelled or was it that SBI had cancelled this training?

I was terribly upset.

Transfer Trauma

They announced my Transfer.

This time as Branch Manager, Palai Branch, 21 km from Kottayam.  That will be the last branch in my career in SBT.

 The first branch after promotion to Officer’s cadre was Puthiyangadi- Madayi, 25 km from Kannur.  And then began the Transfer Trauma. 

After hearing my transferto Pala, my wife is literally broke down.  She feels that it was because I did not give a transfer preference. She is talking to different persons, friends and bosses, leaders hoping against hope.  She forces me to ask – I talked to my DGM.  Some days back, Chinnasamy went and requested DGM for my retention in zonal Office (I did not ask him to do so).  He wanted me to be with him as a catalyst for growth of SIB segment.  We went to MSME Institute, participated in three Cluster meetings.  We met the Director of Tribal Welfare, Govt of Tamil Nadu.

I am weak in this area. Managing  a Transfer.. I hold my head bowed down..

The History: 

Even before my marriage, I went to Mr.S.S ( who was my boss at Credit department HO, where I joined SBT as a clerk typist) for a posting for my would-be wife in Trivandrum City in vain.  All other lady clerks were posted in the city and only she was posted in Poovar. I felt ashamed.  Being in SBT, I could not manage a proper and legitimate posting for my wife.  But after two years, she met Mr.Ananda her controller and explained her difficulties as a pregnant lady and got a transfer to city.

My promotion was in 1984.  On the day of promotion results, the leader of Officers Assn Mr M N Thampi came to our Branch (sanghumughom branch) but did not see me or request me to join the Assn.        AIBOA Office bearer Mr Jaleel, (I know him earlier) came but I demanded that if my wife is given a transfer to City branch, I will join and he never came back to me thereafter.                           

I was posted to Madayi in Kannur.   I chose to stay in Payyannur, 18 km  away from Madayi.  I still remember the day I left for Kannur – a sad day.  I understood that only three people were transferred to such a distance from Trivandrum – Mr.Kumara Pillai to Tirurangadi, Myself to Madayi and Mr.Sudhir to Kasaragod.  Thereafter, they learned the technique of managing transfers.  But I never learnt the art of managing transfers.

Before, going ahead some incidents of transfers is passing through my mind.

Once Mrs.P.Pillai, Manager in some nearby branch came to me while I was at Tripunithura branch. I told he my transfer stories. She became vociferous.  She then began to complain. This PAD is like this, they transferred my from Kollam to north India, when she was pregnant..and some other transfers in her career also…I felt sad and enquired how she managed at those places and to which she replied..”Will I go ?  My friends in Trivandrum helped me cancel these transfers…( I felt that except me everyone can manage to cancel  or manage their transfers)

In the year 1985, Rajendran was posted to Kannur Main branch from Trivandrum.  He was my friend, and so I went to visit him and he took me to his staying place ( a portion of a house).  The house owner was the father of Mr.A.R. Parameswaran ( SBT Officer). Parameswaran’s parents liked me. His mother used to give me good Dosa and I even now cherish those days when I visited their house.  Parameswaran’s father had a guilt.  His son was very close to Mr.Nanda kumar then DGM and Mr.Nandakumar gave instructions to PAD that this Parameswaran, a native of Kannur, be posted to Kannur. Then I landed in Madayi.. (Then Parameswaran AR, was very powerful in SBT.  His uncle was Retd. General Manager and Director of SBT. His sister Balambal was for a very long time PA to Nedungadi. So Parameswaran’s father took pity on me and introduced me to Sri N S Srinivasan, Director SBT and retd GM, when he visited his house.  He went and told  Sri S.Srinivasan, GM. It was almost two years then.

Within a few days, my branch received an order of my posting as, Acctt, Chathanoor branch.  I was happy, though the branch was near to Kollam than Trivandrum.

During those days, there were some bad days in my Madayi branch. Some unholy relationship between our lady HC and the BM. I was unable to sleep. Stories of frauds done in some branches in cash and gold came to my mind and during my frequent  deputations and leave, I had to take charge of gold and cash from this person. I too immature to handle such situations combined with the imagined frauds and old stories worsened the situation and one day I invited the BM’s wife and told the story and asked her to intervene and help herself and her family.  She very maturely, told me that earlier also he had such relationships and had come out of those situations…

I became a bad boy.. The four staff members divided into two groups – one for me and another against me.  But the BM was mature enough and he never was angry with me.  The transfer came as a good news for me.  I was giving a small party to the branch for my relief.. but at about 4 pm, a telephone came asking for me..and my branch manager was about to give the phone to me when the caller identified himself as AO ZO Calicut. At this small place called madayi, the telephone was good only for local calls. For even calls to Payyannur and Kannur, we will have to wait for hours, and better not to say of calls booked for Trivandrum and Calicut.. The AO asked my name only to confirm that I am not yet relieved. He immediately instructed BM to stop the relief as my order of transfer was kept in abeyance..(better word for cancelled).  I did not know the reason.. I was devastated..I went to Trivandrum to know of my transfer.  The Regional Office does not know of my transfer being deferred.  They changed  it two times to different branches.. The play is played at Kozhikode, because of many factors..

I was in a different association; The other major association wanted two other officers to be included in the transfer list. The leader ( who later rose upto the Director’s post) purposefully kept my transfer order under the desk and finally got it deferred.

I lost six kilos in my weight (not an exaggeration or imagination). Finally I got a transfer order to Papanamcode branch after about four or five months.

At this branch, I was Officer in charge of Extn counter.  As the OIC post is only for six months ( because some fraud happened in Changanacherry extn counter)… and I was already for more than six months, I was in the transfer list. My BM told me that he will try for my posting as Field Officer at Papanamcode branch if I joined the major Officers Assn. and I immediately agreed because .. I did not join that assn out of any particular affinity to any party or so…and I wanted to be the FO of this branch so that I can go up in my career..(Poor boy!!).  and I got the posting..After two years, I was again in the transfer list because of completion of three years.  But my friend became the new BM and he wanted me to continue for one more year ( which later grew into an allegation that it was I who managed the posting and had a four year stint..).  The  BM wrote to RO for my retention in a beautifully worded letter. A copy was endorsed to Assn. He personally took me to the leader of the Assn and requested to retain me.

The next year, I felt that I should work in a branch where I had lesser amount of work as in Pappanamcode branch, I had to look after Advance, and also the Foreign exchange of RRL and I was unable to look after my family.

When the postings came, I was posted to Parassala branch as Acctt. My earning accolades as FO at the difficult Pappancode branch was of no help. At Parassala branch, no book was balanced for more than 2 years. It was also a chest branch. Nobody was ready to go there. I did not have any God father in the Assn. So, when my RM posted my for Vakkom branch, Assn. objected and my posting was in Parassala branch. Again I went to RM who again changed to some other branch near Vakkom but after discussion with Assn it was again Parassala.  I called a known Assn leader who was behind it and asked him for which he told a lie that I was picked by zonal manager.(later on when I went to this Zonal Manager he did not know me or my posting and the lie was confirmed. But I had to go to Parassala and my career and health was spoiled..

After one year as Acctt and two years as FO, I got a promotion as Dy. Mgr.  The happiness of promotion nor the happiness for good NPA retrieval or tallying of accounts came for help in my posting when I was transferred to Kozhikode Palayam branch and SIB in charge.  The Office bearer who assured me of posting in Kottayam zone (there was a rule that one should be posted to a zone where one has not worked earlier) did not fructify (This leader was active only for his postings.  Once he got his promotions on time he was not seen in the limelight.)

I thought that this time I would take a house on rent and live a happy life.  I took a house also. But unfortunately for me, my mother passed away and my entire family was devastated and disturbed by the sudden death of my mother.

I requested for a transfer to somewhere near Alapuzha so that I could go home twice in a week. I met the top leader of Assn alongwith one of his friend and ‘glass mate’.  I was asked to represent along with a Medical certificate and was assured of a transfer to Trivandrum ( I did not have any hope). I enclosed the Medical certificate from a leading doctor – I was treated by him for my disc prolapse.

Yes! I got a transfer from Palayam branch to Kozhikode zonal office.  Immediately on my transfer to Region II, ZO, KKD, a new Region was formed and DGM issued an order to transfer one Officer and a clerk from each region. The Regions were very happy as they could now get rid of their unwanted clerk/Officer.  I was also transferred to the newly formed Region.

After two years, it happened that I had to be hospitalized for a missing heart beat.  I got a transfer to HO (through Laila – she knows lot of people) When I missed a promotion, the reason was I got a transfer from controlling office to controlling office..

On completion of 3 years, I got a transfer to Palode branch ( through an association leader), though I was earlier tipped for Dhanuvachapuram branch.

The new MD saw through list of rejected appeals for promotion and was sad, many who got selected in the appeal had fared bad and many who were out of the list had fared well. So, the list was scrapped and about 20 were shortlisted for a special interview with the Reviewing authority and out of them 8 got promoted.  I happened to be lucky this time. Again a transfer within a year.

I was posted as Manager (P&SB) at our Tripunithura branch.  Cheers all over. But when I went to join, I was shifted to an unwanted post in the same branch  - Manager (C&I). C&I at the branch was only one account – KEL a sick unit. The person who occupied my post was a Neta and I have no voice against him or another choice. (But later it proved that there was much growth in the SIB segment which was attached to C&I and one big C&I account could lift the otherwise stagnant branch to great heights..The branch could achieve 95 cr business from 40 cr ,when we left.

After the three year period, I was transferred to Cherthala branch as Manager (P&SB). A difficult branch because of the attitude of Chief Managers, because of 60 lakhs NPA in Sahaya Varsha given earlier (who got their promotion), because of the implementing CORE Banking..because I met with two accidents etc etc..

After one year I requested for a transfer to Trivandrum to join family.(They said it is Bank's Policy I was only one year in that br) The second year also I requested and begged to all. My AGM/DGM agreed and one day DGM called me and asked me to be ready for a transfer to Ambalapuzha branch as BM ( a sudden vacancy). But Assn put a spike and posted another person. In a second amendment, I was posted as BM, Ramankary branch. (As such my request for transfer to Trivandrum was not considered).

My first year saw very good growth. Second year was going on well till suddenly,  my AO found out that the borrowers I gave Traders special, had borrowed from some other branches as well. Combined with the infighting in the Traders assn. I was made scape goat and my new RM got suspicious of me.  All my hardwork went waste.. I was painted black.. Harassments, not giving promotions  etc etc..

But I somehow got a transfer to HO.  I could not be posted to any branch. The first day, Mr.Damodaran, GM (Vigilance and Inspection) told me that he had a different view on me..perhaps he was mentioning on the Controller’s view point). The very same DGM who reduced 51 marks and downgraded my branch audit rating began to feel that it was a wrong decision. The branch did not figure in the closely monitoring list.

At inspection dept HO, I got accolades for my handling the RBI, SBI audits, handling meetings etc..(though I did not get through the interviews. )

After three years, my neighbor applied for continuation and I requested for a transfer to Chennai (to be with my wife who got a transfer to Chennai).  The dept did not favour of my neighbours posting to my desk. So I was asked to request for continuation for one more year and which was considered. (somebody quoted this for my transfer in SMIV)

The next year  I got a favourable posting in Chennai zo (due to the interference of a DGM )

I appeared for SM IV for which I dreamt for many years. I got it at my 58^th year of age.  My DGM told me that I will get somewhere near ( I did not give a request for retention as I did not like it and I also thought that I will be filled in any of the 4 or 5 retirement vacancies in zo. ( the present retirees got such a posting ).

I was posted to Palai as BM. My wife got posting to Coimbatore. Later on amendment I was posted to Bangalore and my wife to Mt.Road br.

My requests for somewhere in Chennai was not considered.

I blamed my gods….

Transfer stories I have heard…

NVS..He managed to get into transfer list for the third time with the help of his friends and his father’s friends without knowledge of Mr.N..the powerful. The order was received at the branch..they have packed their things with the fervent hope that Mr.N won’t play the same joke this time..But this time also the same old story. The last minute cancellation..Mr.N did not like NVS’s father..So NVS took a decision.. His wife resigned.. But thereafter, he learnt the art of transfer management..

It was in ‘70s.  One of my relative in SBT wanted a transfer from Mavelikkara to Pathirapally as her husband was working there. After trying a lot in vain, she asked me, being in HO, to look into this.  I went and talked to the clerk who was looking after this. He told me that the note was ready and said that it will move only if there is a nod from the union. I told this to her.  She then told an old story.  She did not pay the amount demanded by AIBEA for building fund and her name was in the list of defaulters.  Now it was cleared by paying the amount. She got the transfer.

Some manage to get transfers to distant places. One Mrs Elizebath was promoted and transferred to a branch near Mavelikkara. I felt sorry and told her that it will be difficult for her. But she was laughing at me. She was going to her husband’s house at Mavelikkara. Some get transfers to Madras or Bangalore..and I found that it was for their children’s education.  Now many get manage transfers to Chennai and Bangalore and I find that they had their children employed in IT sector..

I wanted to tell PAD that poem by Jon donne slightly altered..

Death be not proud, for thou live in illness…

PAD be not proud for thou live in Postings..

When I don’t get my transfers /promotions properly, I began to think differently.  Why this happens.. (My wife still feels that I don’t have the communication skill – the power of asking ) But I beg to differ..

I analysed various transfers.. While on the train I used to talk to people next seated and could gather that transfers happen to State govt employees also..Some village officers had posting to interior villages..But they manage by taking leave, or a transfer within a year or even by working arrangements.. Some persons I talked to were not able to take their family because they had land and cows etc or even aged parents to look after.. For some, the transfer was due to change in Government..He is an LDF man when the Congress govt came to power. For some ego clashes with bosses..

So why cant all the people could not manage transfers.. I slowly shifted to Astrology..I found out that the changes in stellar confluences is affected..When I am eligible for a transfer to Trivandrum as per rules, the astrologer told that I will not get the favoured transfer and I got Ramankary instead of either ambalapuzha or Trivandrum.

Now after this transfer was announced, I happened to read this year’s general predictions for Meena Rasi.. it read that in April, there will be a transfer for some.

Then the predictions for Guru Peyarchi.. predicted that there will be transfer for some in Meena Rasi..

Again the transfer will be indicated if one had bed room in Vayu Kona as per Vastu..

Sometimes it happens that even if some one wants to help you, but there would be ‘thadasams’(hindrances).  On my getting MMII, I was transferred to Kozhikode Palayam branch and the next year to Zonal Office where I met Mr.Sainath, Personnel Officer. He said that he had wanted to post me in some Palakkad branch but I represented through my earlier manager to be posted in some city rather than in places like Madayi which happened earlier. So I was posted to Calicut Palayam,  whereas had I been posted to somewhere near Palakkad, I could visit my sister who lived in a village in Palakkad district.

Inspite of the difficulty, I thought it is my attitude that made my life difficult. I would rent a good house on  lease and have a TV and gas connection and would cook or at least learn to cook.  I took an old house on rent But my mother suddenly passed away and left me shattered.. The cleaning of this old house was extremely difficult and my wife refused to stay even a day when she visited me once. I found difficulty in getting a proper person to clean the house.  Added to the woes, the entire highway traffic was diverted through the narrow road in front of my house and the house was full of black dust.

When I was in Tripunithura, my wife got promotion (as it was rather easy to get postings if both were Officers). I later came to know that even without my request to her,  Mrs Mayadevi, our Controller posted my wife to the nearest branch (the infamous thiruvankulam branch), where it turned out that the Head Cashier was doing fraud in Agri Gold loan for the past 5 years. Above all, the Branch Manager did not give proper assistance for the Accountant to verify the agri gold loans and in between there was confusion as he had requested to be a Field Officer. He began taking leave very often and it turned out that on the day of detecting the huge fraud, the number of days my wife temporarily occupied the Accountant’s seat was more by a few days than the permanent accountant ( who had verified Gold Loan and wanted time and assistance for verifying agl.). The Case was referred to CBI and we were unnecessarily involved in the fraud case, though the solace was that HO people at Vigilance openly supported us and stood against the Cashier. (though my wife was not the accountant, she had to forego the increments.. Our appeal was rejected on the ground that we were harping on the weak links of the management)

I am afraid to ask for a transfer for I don’t know whether it is for good or bad.

I tried to enjoy my postings. I try to see the difficult postings of other people  and I try to visit the temples around..

While I was posted to Madayi..I stayed at a lodge in Payyannur on monthly rent. I had two persons as my neighbours.  One person was an Officer and the other a clerk in Syndicate Bank. They came from Mumbai. The Officer was from Tirunelveli and he was posted because of his promotion. But the clerk was posted because they told that there was no vacancy in Palakkad where he hails from.

There was another neighbor who resigned as a A grade Officer in Delhi Sectt just because he became crazy to write books and thereby became penniless and was slowly building up.

We all visited Gokarnam, Mookambika , Dharmasthala etc.  Another friend took me to his house to see “Theyyam”.

I have also visited the Anatapuram temple ( the origin of the tale of Sri Padmanabhaswamy) and the famous Madhur temple and the nagaraj temple of Manjeswar.

At my posting at Ramankary, I was able to associate myself with the Moncompu temple.  I also visited many temples and Utsavs in Kuttanad. I was able to visit the Edathua Church. I also was able to visit the Moncompu temple near Pala which is supposed to be the origin of the Moncompu temple at Kuttanad ( which even many in Kuttanad have not visited)

If you don’t get a favorable transfer, you can  be happy with the theory of pre determinism…

Or  you can lose your enjoyable moments by wanting to revenge that man in PAD or so and so…

But in the end, it is all against you. Nobody appreciates you for your rural postings..

One question in my interview was “ Why was all your postings in rural”..? any answer..?

Again postings have become a symbol of your sociability (internal PR)  in the Bank..your nearness to power.. Nearness to power inside the Association..

The first question by the Branch Manager when I went to join Madayi branch

Q..”Where do you come from?” 

A. Trivandrum

Q. So you did not go to see anyone?

A (surprised and belittled) Why sir ..

BM: because nobody comes this end from Trivandrum.. Maximum they will come up to Trissur..

Many comments is that I have got a very good posting..Better than the hot climate of Chennai..Right..

I had sometimes thought of Voluntary Retirement because of the fear of Transfer. It is a Transfer Trauma.

I was supposed to have strong hold in Top Management when I got a transfer as Manager (Planning) at ZO Chennai, which collapsed when in the first I figured in Transfer List and even badly seen because I was posted to Palai branch far away from Chennai ( when everybody thought and which was earlier being done, that I will be shifted to one of the many retirement vacancies in ZO itself and also because I had only less than 2 years for retirement.)

As earlier said I would like to believe in “Guru Peyarchi” rather than wail that I had not approached somebody.

Again my mind confuses, whether to live in a house lonely (neighbours call you a bachelor even at this age) or in a lodge or in a shared house…( I am afraid of my health as cholesterol has gone beyond 250 and sugar tends to break the barrier)

The last Transfer Trauma..

(I do not have the patience to go through this once again and hence mistakes may have crept in..Anyhow it was random thoughts on transfer)