Diamond Jubilee Celebrations in the Paltan

My paltan (6/8 GR) celebrated its Diamond Jubilee of raising at Dehradun from 02 to 05 November 2008. It coincided with the Battle Honour (Naghun) day which fell on 04 November. I visited the paltan after 21 years and met a lot of officers with whom I had served at various locations. It was a memorable event made possible by the present lot of officers under the able leadership of Col. Ganapathy. It felt like home-coming and all of us were transported back in time. It was fun to watch old timers behave like kids with everyone pulling each others' leg. I am glad that I decided to make the trip to Dehradun for this event with my better half. In retrospect, all I can say is that I wouldn't have missed it for anything in the world. The following pics will tell the story better :

(click on any photo to enlarge it )

Self and Maj DB with the Diamond Jubilee Trophy

Entry in the old visitors' book dated 09 July 1978 -

reporting for the first time.

My Record of Service in the paltan !
At the 'Bar'
Maj DB, Col A.K.Mehta, Col Naithani
and self in the mess

Col Chow, self and Maj DB at the 'Barakhana'

A group photo of the old gang (Khanabal)

Jaiwant, Naithani, Brig Mehta, Col Bones,

self and Maj DB

Signing the 'book' at the Quarterguard !

Chow, Anil, self, Ashwini and Jaiwant at the QG.

A group photo with the Officers & JCOs

Special Sainik Sammelan.

Col V.Ganapathy, the present 'old man' !!

(Full marks to him and his team for the excellent show !)

Lungar Gupp XXXXIX

1. Interviews for AGMs. It is understood that the much awaited interviews for promotion from Grade 'B' to 'C' may be happening soon. Nobody is willing to hazard a guess as to when they will actually take place. I think it may happen towards the end of December or even in the New Year. This is MY guess !!

2. Cab Woes ! For those of you who go to Delhi and are in need of a taxi - never, ever go for the newly introduced Call Taxi service (tele 43434343 ). I nearly missed my flight to Guwahati on 06 Nov thanks to this so called 'high tech' service. The cab never turned up and on complaining the driver had the audacity to tell me that my 'servant' had cancelled the service. Of all the lame excuses this one surely takes the cake.

3. Varying VOFs. Visiting Officers Flats at various places evoke different reactions every time one visits them. The New Delhi VOF at Sarojininagar now has AMs manning the reception round the clock. The same place was in a pathetic condition less than a year ago. The VOF at Guwahati has an attendant who is related to Houdini - always performing the disappearing act and not to be seen when required. At Kolkata everything is fine as regards the decor and facilities are concerned, however be prepared to ignore the hygiene aspect. Moreover, there is no market anywhere nearby so one is at the mercy of the culinary expertise of the staff posted thereat.

4. Update !! I just got a mail from Sumit Upreti. He seems to be doing pretty well for himself. He is the Head of Security for an MNC emerald mine at Zambia and is enjoying the challenging assignment.

5. CPP & PSP Exam. The said exams were held on 01 Nov 2008 at USI Club, Rao Tula Ram Marg, New Delhi. A good number of participants turned up for the exam. I managed to reach the venue just as the test was about to begin. Capt Khan from RBI, Kolkata was there taking the test for PSP and a surprise participant was S.S. Raman (wonder how many more certifications he is aspiring for ?). Well, here's wishing both of them all the best !!

Dont Write Me Off - Yet !!

An interesting event occured yesterday ( I am on leave from today till the 9th of Nov - enjoying my last LFC trip) while gossipping in the office. A colleague of mine asked me if I would be meeting mutual friends/acquaintances at Delhi ( I am planning to stop over for a day over there). I remarked that I would make all efforts to meet as many guys I know as possible as I dont when I will get the next opportunity to do so. Then I said that I was looking forward to the forthcoming Security Managers' Conference at Mumbai where I would get to meet all our friends from the cadre. Whereupon my friend interjected with alacrity that why should I be attending the said conference as I was about to leave the Bank. For a moment I was nonplussed at this line of thought - I still have more than a month to go ( 12 Dec 2008 to be precise) - and my friends have already written me off and are busy making their own plans. Well, so much for unity of the cadre, brotherhood, so called friendship. camaraderie etc, etc, et all.

I had to rudely remind my friend that I have not retired as yet and the option to reconsider my decision is STILL open ( I have already received feelers to that effect !)

Who needs enemies when one has such fair weather friends ??

Strive for Balance in your Life ....

An insightful extract from a speech by Bryan Dyson (CEO of Coca Cola)

"Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air. You name them - work, family, health, friends and spirit and you're keeping all of these in the air.
You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four Balls - family, health, friends and spirit - are made of glass. If you drop one of these; they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same.

You must understand that and strive for Balance in your life........."

HAPPY DIWALI !

This is to acknowledge the best wishes of all my friends who have sent me SMSs and e-mails on the auspicious occasion of Diwali. You feelings are heartily reciprocated. May the festival of lights bring happiness, prosperity and peace to you and all your loved ones. Happy Diwali !!

Lungar Gupp XXXXVIII

1. Reporting after Leave. I have reported for duty today after being away for 22 days. Most of this time was spent at Dehradun with a small trip to Delhi included. I had gone to take one of the papers I had missed for my MA (Previous) exam which was scheduled for 29 Sep 08. After that I fell sick (sic !!) and am now at Bangalore being 'fit' to resume duty.

2. Newer Climes. I have been receiving frantic calls from all my friends and colleagues as to where I am going after leaving the Bank. Well, this is to inform all you curious busybodies that I am joining the automotive division of SB Group at Oman and will be based at Muscat. I am planning to join them by mid December.

3. New Recruits. I am told that only four newly recruited Security Officers have joined the Bank as of today. While I was on leave I got a call from a lady officer who wanted to report to Bangalore office instead of New Delhi where she has been posted owing to domestic reasons. Lets hope she succeeds in her endeavour though I have serious doubts about this issue judging by past experience.

4. AGM's Posts. It is believed that out of the five posts of AGMs which have been recently sanctioned the breakup would be as : SC -1, ST-1, Gen-3. As per the grapevine interviews may be held next month.

5. Footnote. One positive fallout of my leaving the Bank is that one vacancy in the post of AGM in our cadre will accrue on 31 Dec 2008. As per the panel year 'funda' some old horses may run again in Jan/Feb 2009 . Best of luck guys !!

Nostalgia !!

I had gone to Delhi for a couple of days (02 and 03 Oct 2008) to meet some old friends and associates. On 2nd I met Mr David Cresswell at the Hotel Crowne Plaza, Gurgoan where he was busy conducting the second Security Management Stage I course for Security Professionals from Cairn India. It was a pleasure meeting him after more than six years. On the 3rd I met a lot of colleagues at RBI, New Delhi and a dear old friend from my school days. Mr Rohit Varma, who is a VP in an apparel company at New Jersey was in Delhi for a business trip. I met him after nearly 30 years and it was a nostalgia trip catching up on all that we have been through in our respective lives.

Rohit and myself at Moti Mahal Restuarant, Malcha Marg, New Delhi

Rohit Varma - as dapper as ever !

David is busy checking up his e-mails at TGI, Gurgaon.

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.