Lungar Gupp XXXXVII

1. The Phone Has Not Stopped Ringing...... Since yesterday I am at my wits' end responding to queries regarding my putting up my papers. Most of them have been regarding where I am going next. Well, I have some good offers in hand and am likely to zero in to one of them in the next month or so. I was pleasantly surprised to get calls from even guys whom I have never met. The other query has been 'WHY'. To this I must elaborate that I am not happy with our job content in the Bank. Since Maintenance and Protocol form part of our jobs, these aspects are used as a flogging stick, more often than not, in order to put one down and our core function which is Security Management takes a backseat. In the present security scenario prevailing all over the country where we are literally having to 'live' with terrorism, I feel we should be focussing only on Security Management !! However, as opinion is divided on this topic even within the cadre, I dont see any radical changes being brought about in this direction. So that is why I am bidding 'adieu'.

2. The Young Turks are Coming ! We are about to get one of the newly recruited Security Officers. Maj Dinesh Sharma is reporting to RBI, Bangalore on 22 Sep 2008. A mail regarding his arrival on Sunday the 21st Sep by Rajdhani Express had details about his coach and berth numbers. So we have arranged to receive him at the Railway Station lest he gets disappointed on day one in the new environs. He will also be 'dined' in at my place in the evening.

3. Welcome Kit. A welcome kit for newly recruited Security Officers has been received from the Central Office containing two annexures, one spelling out the 'Duties of Security Officers' and the other detailing some 'Do's and Dont's'. I was asked by my office to add anything I felt was necessary to the already heavy dose of literature which I declined.

4. 'Et Tu Brute' ! I am told that some more resignations are in the offing in our cadre. Some youngsters have landed good jobs in MNCs I am told. To them I say "भाग ले बेटे " before you start getting second thoughts or succumb to peer/family pressure.

Calling it a DAY !!

This may come as a bit of surprise for those who do not know me well ! I have put in my papers for voluntary retirement from the Bank's service today. It is no secret that I am not happy with our job content and I feel that I have had enough now. Since I cannot change the system - leaving it is the next best thing rather than developing stress related diseases (which, mercifully, I am free from). I have requested the Bank to relieve me from my duties on 15 December 2008. Watch this space for what I do next. For the time being there is a pile of personal adm to attend to !!

Kottayam & Kochi Trip - Some more pics !!

Click on any photo to enlarge !!

Cheers to those who cheer for us !

And ....... to those who dont.
The eco-friendly loo at the Windsor Castle.
The shower section was an open air affair.
Took some getting used to !
Living with nature !! Windsor Castle.

The GM (Security) giving me a mouthful.

Sunset over KottayamAnchoring ! This is one of the four anchors of the

dredger 'Lord Willingdon' which was brought

from Scotland in 1938. She sank in an accident

in 1979 in the Arabian Sea. This anchor is at

Fort Kochi.

Programme on Security Management for Security Officers of Banks & Financial Instutions

CAB, Pune conducted the subject training programme from 03 to 05 Sep 2008 at the 'Windsor Castle Resort', Kodimatha, Kottayam, Kerela. Most of the participants were from Commercial Banks and RBI was represented by just three officers (Moudgil, Shailendranath and Dharmendra). The setting was 'out-of-this-world' in the sylvan surroundings at Kottayam. I had the opportunity to handle a session on Security Risk Management and Security Audit at this programme on 04 Sep. This programme was very well taken by all the participants. Shashi Nair and Alok Chaturvedi were instrumental in giving shape to this event. Following are some photos taken during the training programme :

A technical 'glitch' before the start of my session !
Maj Alok Chaturvedi performing the introduction.

Introducing the presentation !!

Relaxing with Alok and Nair after the session.

Kochi Trip

On my way to Kottayam, Kerela, where I was supposed to handle a session in a training programme conducted by CAB, Pune (more about that later !), I took a couple of days off to see the sights around Kochi. This was my first ever trip to Kerela and it was an amazing experience. It is rightly called 'God's Own Country'. Two days were enough to make me fall in love with that part of the country and I am definitely going to see more of it whenever I have the opportunity. It is a state full of lush greenery, exotic flora and fauna, neat and clean environment and is inhabited by polite and helpful locals. During the three days I spent at Kochi and Kottayam I did not see a single stray dog in the streets ! Even in the countryside where the highway has houses on either side for most part of the way one could see the blend of modernity and traditional ethos. No garbage piles were seen anywhere and it was remarkable NOT to see the sight of people relieving themselves unashamedly in the open. A high literacy level coupled with economic strength, in my opinion, are contributory factors to this state of bliss.

Kochi is the biggest city of Kerela and is the state's commercial capital. It consists of the mainland Ernakulam and the islands of Mattancherry, Fort Kochi, Willingdon, Vypeen and Bolghatty. From ancient times this place has been an important hub for seafarers. Chinese, Arab, Dutch, Portugese and British seafarers followed the sea route to Kochi and left their imprints on the town. Various historical monuments enrich the heritage of Kochi. It is also called the 'Queen of the Arabian Sea' and is still the hub of trade in spices, oil, coffee and other cash crops.

Following are some photos which I clicked during the trip. Enjoy !!

The 'main land' skyline. A view from one of the islands.

A view of one of the islands from Ernakulam - the main land.

One tip of the man made Willingdon island which

is situated between the main land and Mattancherry.

The HQ Southern Naval Command is located here in

addition to other important government offices.

Fort Kochi beach.

Chinese Fishing Net at Fort Kochi. Such nets dot the

sea front and are a semi-mechanical means of

catching fish. This method is said to be brought to

India from China by traders of Kublai Khan's court.

They are used at high tide.

The Bolghatty Palace built by the Dutch in 1744 AD

is situated on the narrow Bolghatty island. Later

it was the seat of the British resident and is now a

hotel run by KTDC.

The clock outside theJewish Synagogue circa 1760 AD.

The Jewish Synagogue in Mattancherry island was

built in 1568 AD. It contains the great scrolls of the

Old Testament, the copper plates in which grants of

privilege made by the Cochin rulers were recorded,

hand painted Chinese tiles and Belgian chandeliers. 'Sarah's Hand Embroidery' - a must visit for

exquisitely embroidered clothes and accessories.

And this is 'Aunty' Sarah - still busy with

her embroidery.

Jew Street near the Synagogue in Mattancherry.

It is full of shops selling artefacts and antiques.

The Dutch Cemetary near Fort Kochi. It is

maintained by the Church of South India (CSI).

Directions ?? It is best to go around the islands

on foot and enjoy the peaceful laidback feel.

The old world charm is evident in the foreign

influenced architecture of the buildings.

A war memorial dedicated to those who died in

the World War I outside St Francis Church.

This is where Vasco da Gama was initially buried.

'Fort Kochi' is now the residence of the Collector.

Many such tablets dedicated to ancient Dutch

soldiers and travellers are preserved at the

St Francis Church.

The famous voyager Vasco da Gama was initially

buried at the St Francis Church but his mortal

remains were taken to Lisbon, Portugal,

14 years later by his son.

The interiors of the famous St Francis Church.

This Protestant church was built by the Portugese

in 1510 AD and is said to be the oldest church

built by Europeans in India.

Local fishermen trying their luck in the backwaters !

The'anchor' near the beach at Fort Kochi

A ship (dredger) near the mouth of the Arabian Sea
Ferry service between the main land (Ernakulam)

and the islands which from part of Kochi. The

islands are connected to the mainland/other islands

by bridges also. This is a convenient and cheap mode

of transport. A trip from the mainland to Mattancherry

costs Rs 3.00 and lasts 15 minutes.

The Kochi Port Trust Office on Willingdon Island

(a man made island created from the material

dredged while deepening Kochi port).

Lungar Gupp XXXXVI

1. 'What a Relief' ! - for Avasthi. At long last Avasthi is being relieved from Guwahati on Friday. Earlier they were waiting for a reliever (one of the newcomers) despite the fact that he was getting his treatment done at AIIMS. He had been promised that he would be sent back to Delhi way back in May. It has taken nearly four agonising months for the transfer to come through. Avasthi plans to try Ayurvedic treatment and thus will be porceeding to Kochi by the middle of this month. Here's wishing him a speedy recovery !!

2. Second Tour of Foreign Training. Capt Sharad Sharma is all set to go to US for a training assignment. This will set a precedent for others to follow - earlier HRDD were firm on their stand that Security Officers would be sent abroad only once.

3. New Recruits. It is understood that joining letters have been sent to the newly selected lot of Security Officers. Let us see how many and when these folks join the Bank. One of them is supposed to be joining my team at Bangalore !

4. Training at Kottayam. CAB, Pune is conducting a training programme for Security Officers (not CSOs as mentioned in an earlier post) from Commercial Banks at the Windsor Castle, Kottayam from 03 to 05 Sep 2008. I am supposed to be handling a couple of sessions on 'Security Audit' on 3rd Sep. I have taken a couple of days off so as to see Kochi and the surrounding areas. Am looking forward to the trip as I have never been to Kerala - God's own country - earlier ! More on this trip later !!