Pathetic Turnout for Security Officers' Interview !!

It seems there are no takers for the post of Assistant Manager (Security) in RBI. Interview process to fill in 26 vacancies in the cadre has begun. In the interview conducted at New Delhi last week out of the 35 participants expected only 14 turned up for the same. This is not surprising as an ex-commissioned officer would not like to join at the Grade 'A' level particularly when stagnation levels are so high. Today we have officers who have put in 25 to 30 years of combined military and RBI service and are still languishing at Grade 'A' and 'B' level.

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A Tribute to all Armed Forces Personnel

Guys !!

I got a beautiful poem in my 'Spam' folder recently. I dont remember the sender but I saved the poem which I am reproducing here. I am sure all 'faujis' will relate to it irrespective of their religious affiliations.

THE FINAL INSPECTION(A Tribute to all Armed Forces Personnel)

The Soldier stood and faced his God,

Which must always come to pass.

He hoped his shoes were shining,

Just as brightly as his brass.

'Step forward now, you Soldier,

How shall I deal with you?

Have you always turned the other cheek?

To My Church have you been true?'

The Soldier squared his shoulders and said,

'No, my Lord, I ain't.

Because those of us who carry guns,

Can't always be a saint.

I've had to work most Sundays,

And at times my talk was tough.

And sometimes I've been violent,

Because the world is awfully rough.

But, I never took a dollar,

That wasn't mine to keep...

Though I worked a lot of overtime,

When the bills got just too steep.

And I never passed a cry for help,

Though at times I shook with fear.

And sometimes, God, forgive me,

I've wept unmanly tears.

I know I don't deserve a place,

Among the people here.

They never wanted me around,

Except to calm their fears.

If you've a place for me here,

Lord,It needn't be so grand.

I never expected or had too much,

But if you don't, I'll understand.

There was a silence all around the throne,

Where the saints had often trod.

As the Soldier waited quietly,

For the judgment of his God.

'Step forward now, you Soldier,

You've borne your burdens well.

Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,

You've done your time in Hell.'

- Author Unknown

Lungar Gupp XXXXI

1. Tenterhooks and Bated Breath. Guys who had put in their representations for deferment of postings have not heard anything on this count till date and some of those whom I spoke to are resigned to fate. 'Que Sera Sera'!!

2. Goyal is Famous ! I heard it in Guwahati that my friend Goyal is quite a famous personality. His plight was highlighted to all the officers by a visiting dignitary - that he was wanting to go back to Delhi owing to the critical illnesses fo both his parents !!

3. Good News for Avasthi. Thanks to the efforts of Tapan Chaks it is hoped that Avasthi will soon be going back to Delhi. At present the hunt for a suitable 'Bakra' for Guwahati is on. My candidature (purely voluntary) has been ruthlessly shot down ! Alas !!

4. Misc Musings at Guwahati. While at Guwahati, I had the pleasure of meeting Aimol who came to the Bank to see me. He was very happy in his present assignment and was relating his interview experiences in another company which had called him up. I believe he met with some of our brother officers. We may hear of some more guys leaving us soon.

5. Breaking News. Rajiv Kumar has secured a deferment for one year and will be staying put at Chennai for the time being. Secondly, it seems that Neeraj may not be granted the lien he had applied for. He is all set to go to "Cawnpore' instaed.

Guwahati Trip (Pictures)

Head Security Guard 'Deori' felicitating me

with the traditional Assamese 'gamochha'
Tapan Chaks all decked up for 'liaison duty' !!

Deori felicitating Rajiv Kumar with the eversmiling
Tapan in the background
Rajiv Kumar trying to look busy.

Guwahati Trip

1. I reached Guwahati on 01 May at noon and the 22 km (or thereabouts !) ride up to the city convinced me that hardly anything had changed in the past 8 years since I was there. The scenery was the same. Guwahati University wore the same 'worn out' look (except for one freshly painted hostel gate !!). This notion lasted till I reached the city when it was promptly dispelled by the frantic building activity, high rise buildings dotting the landscape, flyovers at various places and increased traffic on all the roads. GS Road was virtually unrecognizable with the entire space filled up by shopping malls, multiplexes, eateries and swanky showrooms. I nearly lost my way to the RBI Officers colony !! Guwahati is really 'shining' (Incredible India !!).

2. Tapan and Avasthi had organized lunch and we started gossiping straightaway (worse than a bunch of old housewives we were !). I was shocked to see Avasthi. The guy whom I used to call 'heavyweight champion', 'मोटू' and 'भालू' (at various times depending on the mood) was a shadow of his former self. The following photos will testify that I am not exaggerating :

Avasthi is busy scanning the arrival schedule of the guests.

This is a 'forced smile' as he was too hassled to

exercise his facial muscles otherwise.

Sorting out priorities !!

3. The good news is that Avasthi will soon have the opportunity to get a thorough investigation done up regarding his health problem. More on this in the next post.

ASIS Certification Exam - 03 May 2008

On 03 May 2008 (Saturday), USI Club, Rao Tula Ram Marg, New Delhi was the venue for the conduct of tests for all three ASIS certifications viz : CPP, PSP and PCI. Thanks to consistent efforts by the ASIS New Delhi Chapter and other stalwarts of the security and investigation industry the test for PCI was held for ther first time in India and one candidate took the test. I am told that there were four candidates for PSP and thirteen for CPP. RBI was represented in strength by four officers - M.W.Khan, V.Shailendranath, Moin Zafar and Vikas Verma. The results will be known in another fortnight or so. Here's wishing everyone the best of luck !!

From 'Back to Nature' to 'Back to Base'

Hi Folks,

I am blogging after a considerable gap this time. Well, the reason was that I have had a hectic time the last 20 days or so. I left Bangalore on the 30th of last month and reached Guwahati on 01 May where my friend Tapan had generously offered me living accomodation till the 9th when I left for Dehradun. The period from 02 to 09 May was 'official' and thereafter I was on leave for a week. I left Guwahati at 7.40 PM on the 9th and after an 'adrenaline-pumping' and 'heartbeat-missing' journey by taxi and train (which I nearly missed) I made it to Dehradun by the skin of my teeth. Reaching that place on the 10th was essential as I had to sit for my MA (Previous) exam on that day. One week at Dehradun was spent in the blissful lap of 'nature' where I studied, wrote the exam till 16th and reluctantly returned to this place on Sunday the 18th May.