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 !!

Interesting Sights of Bangalore

I am sure you will not find the following

photos in any guide book !!

The gigantic Louis Vuitton briefcase greets passengers at the Bengaluru International Airport. This has been called a 'marvel' by some and an 'eyesore' by some others depending on the point of view.

You must have heard of 'Public-Private Partnership' but

have you ever witnessed 'Public-Public Partnership' ??

'Rest in Peace' - Vehicle graveyard near a Police Station !
हिन्दी इस्तेमाल नही करनी है और अंग्रेज़ी आती नही !
Yet another example of English language being murdered !
Doggies at crossroads ! I am sure Bangalore must be

having the largest number of stray dogs in India.

Security Training News

Guys,

Be prepared to be spoilt for choices as far as training programmes related to Security Management are concerned. Following are some of which I know about :

1. First Security Management Stage I course conducted by ARC Training International Academy for Security Management, UK - 25 Aug to 05 Sep 2008 at Gurgaon.

2. 2nd Security Today Knowledge Summit - 27 to 29 Aug 2008 at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.

3. Programme for CSOs of Banks by CAB, Pune - First week of Sep 2008 at Kottayam, Kerela.

4. Second Security Management Stage I course by ARC Training - 22 Sep to 03 Oct 2008 at Gurgaon.

5. Disaster Management course for RBI Security Officers at DMI, Bhopal tentatively scheduled for Oct 2008.

6. IISSM 2008 - International Seminar - 12 to 14 Nov 2008 at Hotel Cidade de Goa.

Start managing your bosses so that you get to attend at least one of these courses !!

Terror Trail

On Friday last I got a call from one of my colleagues from the fraternity who wanted information on what explosive material was used in the various bomb blasts that have taken place in the country in the recent past. Well, we do get to read about the type of device used in news reports in the aftermath of such events, but I could not readily give him any useful input. Later on I remembered that the information was available in the 11th August issue of 'India Today' which I am reproducing here.

1. Mumbai – 25 Aug 2003. Two blasts occurred at Zaveri Bazar and Gateway of India. The death toll was 46 and the device used RDX packed in two taxis.

2. Delhi - 29 Oct 2005. Three serial blasts rocked the capital before Diwali at Sarojininagar and a DTC bus. Death toll : 62 and the device used – IEDs in satchels.

3. Varanasi – 07 Mar 2006. Three explosions including one at a famous temple and one at the Railway Station. The death toll was 21 and the device used was IEDs in pressure cookers.

4. Mumbai – 11 July 2006. A series of seven bomb blasts struck six local trains at the peak evening rush hour, The death toll was 209 and the device used was IEDs in pressure cookers.

5. Malegaon – 08 Sep 2006. Two bomb blasts ripped through the town in Nashik district in Maharashtra. The death toll was 40 and device used was IEDs on bicycles.

6. Panipat – 19 Feb 2007. Two IEDs went off on the New Delhi-Wagah Samjahuata Express. The death toll was 66 and the device used was firebombs triggered by timer.

8. Hyderabad – 18 May 2007. Twin blasts at the Mecca Masjid, The death toll was 12 and the device used was a pipe bomb triggered a cell phone.

9. Hyderabad – 25 Aug 2007. Twin bomb blasts at Lumbini park and a popular snack stall. The death toll was 42 and the device used IEDs with timers.

10. Jaipur – 13 May 2008. Nine blasts in a market place. The death toll was 63 and the device used IEDs on bicycles.

12. Bangalore – 25 July 2008. Six low intensity blasts at various places rocked the city. There was one casualty and the device used IEDs.

13. Ahmedabad – 26 July 2008. 22 Blasts at 17 places within the city. The death toll was 53 and the device used –Improvised directional anti-personnel mines and car bombs.

Terrorists have now started using copies of the Claymore anti- personnel mines used by the Army. These copies were even shaped like the real thing packed with a cocktail of explosive materials like Ammonium Nitrate, Gelatin sticks, crude oil and urea and having tightly packed pellets to achieve maximum damage.

PS : The said issue of 'India Today' has a very good cover story as well as other thought provoking articles as to what should be done to contain this menace !!

Remembering Solzhenitsyn

Nobel laureate Alexander Solzhenitsyn who breathed his last on 03 August 2008 was one of the greatest Russian writers of the 20th century. He was born on 11 December 1918 and died of cardiac arrest aged 89. His books chronicled the horrors of the Russian prison camps – the gulags. He was the first to speak aloud about the inhuman Stalinist regime. He served in the Soviet army as an Artillery officer during the world war and spent eight years in the prison camps shortly after 1945. He was awarded the Nobel prize for Literature in 1970. His first novel ‘One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich’ was published in 1962 and was based on his own experiences. Though he was better known for books like ‘The Gulag Archipelago’ and ‘The Cancer Ward’ this short novel is also a little known classic and was the only novel to be published in Russia.

I had written a ‘Book Review’ on “One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich” when my battalion was stationed at Fort William, Calcutta in 1980, which I am reproducing here:

“One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich” is an absorbing portrayal of human depravation perpetrated in Russian concentration camps under the regime of Joseph Stalin. The writer who was an inmate of such prison camps, found and preserved enough authentic material to reveal human suffering and subjugation under a certain political order of the post war era. “One Day…” thus found its way at a proper time as a dramatic and absorbing literary epic forcefully recording the ever changing political acrobatics and its stigma on human behaviour in labour camps.

The book throws light to reveal prison life in its totality, that is, the mode and conduct of its inmates as well as that of their masters husbanding the prison affairs under a despotic rule. It meticulously depicts various backgrounds of the inmates and the staff coming from different strata of both political and social bearings, the type and measure of food and accommodation they receive, the unending volume of labour they have to put in under strict terror-ridden surveillance of a lot of unfeeling robots trained to persecute the inmates to extreme limits.

The book gives a graphic account as to how human potential is gradually decimated and ultimately destroyed in the labour camps. How the prisoners’ faith in God if any, faith in human values, faith in religion and even faith in their own selves is shaken off and their existence reduced to mere nothingness. The governance, the food, living conditions, working conditions and other aspects of life in the prison camps are so minutely depicted by the author in their enormity that the reader does not fail to get a fascinating understanding as to how human life comes to a stage of void and waste that so many like Ivan in these camps have no feelings, emotions, sensations, desires and anxieties whatsoever other than a desire to survive with animal instinct until life is suddenly extinguished.

Ivan’s belief that “The stars keep on falling down, so you have got to have new ones in their place” when he tells the ‘Captain’, his prison mate, about his faith in God (page 119) is a precise epigram of the described prison camps as well as an epitaph of those who have gone into oblivion through the sufferings in such camps. In a nutshell, the book is intellectually educative and may take a long time to become obsolete, if at all.

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No Background Verification ? Employ at your own RISK !!

Background verification is not taken seriously by many employers in India. It is only MNCs and more recently the software industry that do have such checks in place. At other places, I am sure they haven't even heard about the term - and it is in such companies that con artists make hay ! The attached story is about one such gentleman who was successful in pulling wool over his employers' eyes TWICE.