Wishing you all a HAPPY DIWALI

आपको दीपावली २००७ की अनेकों शुभ बधाई।
यह मंगल उत्सव आपके सम्पूर्ण परिवार को
सुख, समृद्धि एवं शांति प्रदान करे.
ईश्वर इस दीपावली पर आप की सभी
मनोकामनायें सम्पूर्ण करें।

CPP and PSP Exam at New Delhi

ASIS New Delhi Chapter # 207 hosted the CPP and PSP examinations on 03 November 2007 at the USI Club. The PSP exam was held for the first time in India and had only one candidate (not many people knew that this exam was also available in India) but there were 20 security professionals who took the test for CPP. The PSP exam was held thanks to the untiring efforts of the New Delhi Chapter in this regard. For more information on this certification please click on the following link which Mr David Cresswell, CPP has kindly forwarded to me :

http://internationalacademy.blogspot.com/2007/10/asis-security-management-certification.html

In addition to relevant information, one can download the US Army Field Manual 'FM - 3.19.30' Physical Security (317 pages), which is an excellent resource for PSP as well as the CPP tests.

On 02 November 2007, I conducted a review programme for the aspiring candidates from 2.00 to 6.30 PM (a real marathon session) as part of volunteer service for the chapter. The same was attended by 14 guys who took the test the following day and all felt that it was very useful (not blowing my own trumpet, honest !!). I am hopeful that the all the eight candidates who were being mentored by me will pass the test. Bhuvnesh Sahni and R.M.Bade from RBI took the test this time as S.S.Raman and Moin Zafar dropped out at the last moment owing to personal problems. Well here's wishing them all the best !!!

With awareness about ASIS certifications increasing, I am sure that the numbers will only grow. This augurs well for the industry as employers today are insisting on certified professionals in any field.

Lungar Gupp XXIX

Hi Folks,

I am still at Dehradun (on sick leave !!) but that does not stop me from posting some 'gupp' on this page.

1. I am sure by now the news of two newly promoted EDs must have sunk in. Well, I hear Mr Gandhi (RD, RBI,Hyderabad) is moving to Delhi as Mr Khan has just been promoted. People at Delhi would be happy as Mr Gandhi is a thorough gentleman and a professional to the core (can't say the same for guys at Hyderabad)

2. Heard that our friend Capt Amarnath is getting another extension at Hyderabad !!! (Still as an AGM !!)

3. Only two officers viz : Bhuvnesh Sahni from Chennai and R.M.Bade from Mumbai are taking the test for CPP on 03 Nov (Saturday). Raman and Zafar dropped out at the last moment and will be taking the test in May 2008. This time a record 20 security professionals are taking the test at New Delhi. I am conducting a half day review programme for all the aspirants on 2nd Nov as volunteer service for the ASIS New Delhi Chapter.

4. The PSP Examination is also being conducted on the 3rd Nov for the first time in India thanks to the efforts of the ASIS New Delhi Chapter. This time there is only one candidate taking the test.

That's it for now.

Interesting Mail Forwards

Guys,
Here are a couple of interesting mail forwards which I thought I must share with you all (authors unknown)

BE THANKFUL

Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire.
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?
Be thankful when you don't know something, for it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times. During those times you grow.
Be thankful for your limitations, because they give you opportunities for improvement.
Be thankful for each new challenge,
because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes.
They will teach you valuable lessons.
Be thankful when you're tired and weary, because it means you've made a difference.

It's easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are also thankful for the setbacks.
Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles, and they can become your blessings

Now for the second one (NUTS !!)

A doctor at an insane asylum decided to take his patients to a baseball game.

For weeks in advance, he coached his patients to respond to his commands.

When the day of the game arrived, everything seemed to be going well.

As the National Anthem started, the doctor yelled, "Up Nuts" and the patients complied by standing up.

After the anthem, he yelled, "Down Nuts" and they all sat back down in their seats.

After a home run was hit, the doctor yelled, "Cheer Nuts" they all broke out into applause and cheered.

When the umpire made a particularly bad call against the star of the home team, the doctor yelled, "Boo Nuts" and they all started booing and cat calling.

Thinking that things were going on very well, the doctor decided to go get a beer and a hot dog, leaving his assistant in charge.

When he returned, there was a riot in progress.

Finding his assistant, the doctor asked, "What in the world happened"?

The assistant replied, "Well, everything was going on just fine until a vendor passed by and yelled PEANUTS !!"

An ode to 'Safari Suit'

My friend Toms has penned an ode to the 'Safari' which I am reproducing here. This is in sharp contrast to my vitriolic comments about the same attire. Well, this is the brighter version of the story. Toms has become a regular poet - what say guys !!

Ode to Safari Suit
(Maj.P.E.Thomas Panicker)

The day has come at last
A trusted associate of long past
Has been forced to retirement
After decades of dedicated employment

Served as a reliable adornment
Was Security Officers' companion well meant
Alas! Of late shunned and scorned
The end came sooner than imagined

Matchless you were, dear Safari
You gave us importance and dignity
Times have now changed and you're old
But your memories we'll cherish as gold

Adieu Safari, adieu and thanks
Good wishes from all our ranks
Your service we'll always treasure
May you embellish the best, we desire

Lungar Gupp XXVIII

Hello Guys !!

1. Good Bye Safari Suits. On 3rd Oct I was told that the circular regarding our new uniform has been released (dated 28 Sep 2007, but I doubt if it has been received by all offices till date). This was the best news of the season so far. We are now entitled two sets of winter and four sets of summer suits (3 sets for AMs). Different rates have been prescribed for heavy/light winter centres and are reasonable. DGMs and above will be receiving enhanced rates for the cloth. Rates of shoes, socks and ties have also been hiked. The revised limits are applicable whenever the next supply is due. Now isn't that GOOD NEWS ???

2. May the Tribe Increase. The Security Adviser was here some time back to carry out a review of the Security arrangements. He told us that there is a shortage of 26 officers in Grade 'A' in our cadre and the Bank is shortly going in for new recruitments to fill up the shortfall.

3. CPP Exam. The next CPP exam is scheduled for 03 Nov 2007 at New Delhi. Four security officers from RBI are taking the test this time viz : S.S.Raman, Moin Zafar, R.M.Bade and Bhuvnesh Sahni. Here's wishing them all the best. I am hoping to see them all at New Delhi (in private capacity) at the venue of the test. I am sure there will be a record turnout for the exam this time. I am mentoring 12 officers for the said exam and I know of others who will be taking the test. At this rate the day is not far when RBI will have its own 'ASIS Chapter'. My friend M.W.Khan ditched at the last moment which was a big letdown. He will now try his luck in May 2008.

4. Farewell Bitchings. A lot of loose talk was generated in the aftermath of a farewell party at Mumbai recently. Most of it centred around attendance as some of our colleagues did not want to attend/did not attend at all. I feel we should be magnanimous enough to bury our differences when somebody is bidding adeiu to the organization. By not attending the party all sorts of wrong signals are sent to all and sundry leading to more conjecture. Not done guys !!

Management Lessons From "Chak De India"

This has reference to my earlier post titled "Bonding RBI Style". The management lessons learnt from the movie (my version) submitted to the Bank are as follows :

Introduction

‘Chak De India’ is a movie loosely based on the real life story of former hockey goalkeeper and coach Mir Ranjan Negi who had to face allegations of match fixing after India’s humiliating 1 – 7 defeat to Pakistan in the 1982 Asian Games hockey final. Sixteen years later Negi’s honour was restored when he guided India to the Asian Games gold in 1998 at Bangkok. Later he won accolades for guiding the national women’s hockey team to win the 2002 Commonwealth Games gold at Manchester. Some important management lessons can be learnt from this film which are described in the succeeding paragraphs.

Team Spirit

Team spirit is essential for the achievement of organizational goals in the present day fiercely competitive world where geographical boundaries have no meaning. Even negative instances can be utilized as building blocks for fostering team spirit as shown in the film when the girls beat up the boys who were indulging in eve teasing. The ‘will’ to excel is more important than strength for any team to be successful in their endeavours.

Goal Setting

The organizational goal is more important than personal goals. As depicted in the film the national interest comes first, the team next and the individual last. This has to be the credo each and every time. The importance of goal setting cannot be overemphasized. If the cause is big enough, support is bound to follow.

People Management

The following important lessons in people management can be learnt from the film :

(a) Conflicts can be resolved by understanding their cause.
(b) Act quickly when personal problems turn into performance problems.
(c) Make sure people know you and your expectations when you are new to an organization.
(d) Maintain personal ethics.
(e) Identifying and mentoring future leaders.
(f) Do not ignore morale problems. Try to turn them around.

Change Management

Change is inevitable but hard to achieve. Every organization needs to change with time but there is always resistance to change. Peoples reaction to change is unpredictable and often irrational. As a manager one needs to create a compelling vision in order to encourage people to change. The vision should be inspiring and dynamic. The essentials of change management are building a team, picking people with relevant skills, strong sense of motivation and purpose and good communication.

Leadership

This is an important facet of management. It is one of the many assets a successful manager must possess. The leader does not have to be a ‘nice guy’ to ensure that his team delivers the goods. If the leader is committed to the cause he can even make underdogs rise to the occasion. The leader has to be disciplined and strict with his team besides being compassionate when the occasion demands.

Strategy

Recognise individual strengths and weaknesses and assign tasks accordingly for the fulfillment of organizational goals. Formulate a plan for achieving the goal and then exhort the team to deliver the goods.

Overcoming Prejudices and Biases

Religious, regional and gender biases have to be overcome and set aside if we are to succeed as team, organization or country. These prejudices are deep rooted in our society and they have to be shunned for the success of common goals. Constant awareness and education is required to eradicate this social evil.

Overcoming Personal odds

One’s biggest failure may turn out to be the ladder to success if personal odds are overcome and energy channelised in the correct direction rather than wallowing in self pity and low self esteem.

Conclusion

The film is offbeat and is realistically made. Every viewer will relate to it despite the absence of song and dance sequences, villains, fights and car chases. Everybody will find some meaning in this film which has humour, nationalism, defeat and victory finely woven into the fast paced narrative. In the end the following lines from ‘Jamaican Fragment’ by A.L.Hendricks come to mind :

“ You may have come across incidents where a person is not judged objectively, but by virtue of his or her gender, colour, caste, race or even his or her food habits. Does it not amount to prejudicial or stereotyped thinking ?”

Greener Pastures !!

Guys,

I got the following mail in my inbox as I am registered with 'Monster'. The same was forwarded to me by a friend too. ICICI Prudential are offering a CTC of Rs 8 - 12 lacs to ex-service officers after due training (at their cost). The project has also been endorsed by the Directorate General Resettlement (DGR) presently headed by Maj Gen Harwant Krishan, a Gorkha officer, whose younger brother Jaiwant was in my paltan. Worth a peek ... so here it is :

Dear Capt Nandan,

Greetings from TMI first!!!! ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Company Limited is now offering Middle Management Positions across India in multiple functions for Officers from the Indian Armed Forces (under the age of 50 years). For more details, please refer to http://www.tmifirst.com/armedforces/index.htm. Interested officers may register their candidature for the same. Short listed officers would be invited to an Orientation Programme. Warm regards,

Swaminath Adabala

Senior Manager

TMI first

All the best !!!

Lungar Gupp XXVII

1. The other day one of the general side officers who is known to me accosted me and enquired in a 'hush-hush' tone whether I had heard about a Security Officer leaving his car behind at the old duty station and claiming conveyance allowance at the new duty station ? I told him that he was more than two years out-of-date !! This is just an example of how we are constantly under the scanner in the Bank. It is unthinkable (even for bankers !!) that an ex-service officer could be involved in such a misdemeanour. Though the matter is 'stale news' for us now - it is still going around. Such stories doing the rounds cause immense erosion to our image and credibility. So guys let us resolve not to get carried away and to 'do the right thing- always and everytime'.

2. It seems that all the 'lobbying and backstage parleying' for occupying the DGM's chair that was recently vacated at Mumbai has come to 'naught' !! My friend Toms is ably running the show at Mumbai office at present.

3. It is understood that DAPM has written to RBSB to conduct promotion interviews for two posts of AGM and nine posts in Grade 'B' in our cadre. This has happened in the 'normal' course and consequential vacancies have been taken into account. The matter regarding upgradation of five posts in Grade 'C' is still pending. It will be a lucky stroke for aspirants in Grade 'A' if the interviews are held before the upgradation takes place. Watch out this space for further developments in this respect. In the meantime - start brushing up your 'knowledge' guys !!

4. The case regarding scrapping of 'Safari Suits' for us is engaging the attention of the top management and we may hear the 'good news' any day now. I just cant wait to trash my seven sets of 'bullshit' attire.

Wall of Fame at RBI, Bangalore !!

Hi Folks,

A 'Wall of Fame' has been established in our office to showcase singular achievements of the employees and their families. An illustrious team of youngsters from our office were the first to be featured on this 'wall' (it is a notice board at present but a suitably impressive 'wall' is on the way courtesy our Estate Dept) for their efforts to bring about financial literacy at grassroots level in the state by scripting and designing stories in 'comic book' style.

Well, at present, yours truly is adorning this 'wall of fame' !! The achievement being Board Certified in Security Management (CPP). Check out the following write up and photograph (double click to enlarge) :

The wall of fame has certainly made me 'famous' in the office. At least folks got an excuse to talk me despite my stern visage which is generally a put-off to many who meet me for the first time. I am on the lookout for a suitable opportunity to thank the management for this excellent idea.