Lungar Gupp XXXV

1. May the Tribe Increase. The Bank has started the exercise for recruitment of 26 Security Officers (13 general and 13 reserved vacancies). Details are available on the Bank's website and will be published in next week's Employment News. Judging by past experience, it is doubtful if all the reserved category vacancies will be filled. Anyway, let us hope for the best !!

2. Welcome to the Club. Neelesh Tiwari and Ashwini Saini from Kanpur office have become ASIS members and are keen to take the test for CPP certification scheduled for 3rd May 2008. This will take the tally of Security professionals from RBI who are taking the test in May to 5. Here's wishing them all the best in their endeavours.

3. Initiation Blues. I am happy to inform all the 'not-so-well-informed' that Capt Muralidharan has been granted permission by the Bank to work for Adlabs while maintaining a lien on his job with RBI. He started work at the new organization on 28 Jan 2008 (Monday) and was quite unnerved at the end of the day by the lack of crowds at the workplace (we are used to them !). He has got his laptop and other frills from the company and is now gearing up for his jet-setting role as the position is pan-India. All the best Murali !!

4. Posting ?? Dont Even Think About it !! My friend Goyal made a fervent appeal for posting (implied) and retention of accomodation at Delhi (explicit) in view of the problems he is facing owing to his aged and infirm parents who cannot be moved physically from one place to another even within the house. Well, he was informed emphatically that posting was out of the question, while commiserating with his plight which is well known to most of us. Lucid examples of those who have pulled strings to stay put at a particular location were given to him. He was also told that Security Officers have been spoilt by the top management. However, he was granted some relief on the accomodation front on a temporary basis for which he will have to push some papers now. Tough luck man !!

CPP Study Circle

A group of enterprising security professionals have got together at Bangalore and formed a study circle for the purpose of preparing for the CPP examination. Some of them are planning to take the exam in May this year while others are planning for the November exam. They have pooled resources and ordered the complete set of the recommended study material for CPP exam. This, I feel, is an excellent idea as the cost is quite prohibitive if the material is procured individually. This group had invited me to talk to them about the CPP certification as also to give them some tips regarding exam preparation on 19 January 2008. This was also an opportunity to clarify doubts regarding exam preparation etc. I am mentoring one of the participants for the May exam and will be associated with the group in future.

I think this is a fine example which can be emulated by other prospective certification aspirants. Meeting at regular intervals or having topic specific meets are an ideal way to clear doubts and gain knowledge by mutual interaction. The group deserves 'cheers' for this initiative and here's wishing them success in all their endeavours !!

The Power of Punctuation, one "शेर" and Old Friends

The above image was sent to me by an old friend (an Upsainian) and I thought I must share it with you all. Some more examples exhibiting the power of punctuation are :

रोको मत, जाने दो ! and ...

रोको , मत जाने दो !!

Yet another one is :

"बिन्दु के हेर फेर से 'खुदा' से 'जुदा' हो गए !"

Another old friend has sent me a "शेर" which is as follows :

" चिरागों से अगर अँधेरे दूर होते तो,

चांदनी की चाहत किसे होती !

काट सकता अगर ये ज़िंदगी अकेले तो,

दोस्त नाम कि चीज़ ही क्यों होती !!"

PS : Moral of this post is : In addition to your 'p's and 'q's better watch out for punctuation also. Secondly, what would we do without old friends !! They are like wine - getting better with age. Thanks for keeping in touch guys.

Lungar Gupp XXXIV

1. The Exodus Has Begun. Maj Sumit Upreti from Delhi office has put up his resignation to the Bank to go after better a vocation in life. Here's wishing him all the best. Watch this space for more names in the future !! Being fed up of our current job description, I am not surprised at this turn of events. The exodus has just begun !!

2. Incommunicado !! At one of our 'well-known' locales the security officers are not on talking terms amongst themselves. This is not a desirable situation as disunity amongst ourselves will only erode our image and render us vulnerable to forces who will exploit this to the hilt.

3. Training Time. Good tidings for Maj Devinder Sharma, Capt Swing, Capt M.W.Khan and Capt Sudershan Kumar who have been earmarked for foreign training in 2008. All of them will be proceeding to the International Academy for Security Management, Reading, UK to pursue 'Security Surveying and Design' courses. The former two will be proceeding to UK in April and the latter two in September. The Bank is now regularly deputing four officers every year for froeign training and I believe the detailment is being done as per seniority. This is a good trend and if officers are detailed seniority wise there will be no 'heartburn' in case somebody jumps the queue.

4. Cooling His Heels (And not Liking it !). Capt B. Muralidharan is yet to get a response from the Bank to his request for working with 'Adlabs' and maintaining a lien on the Bank. His jitters are understandable, but that is the way we work hereabouts !! Tough luck, man.

Promotion Interviews

At long last there is news that the Grade 'A' to 'B' promotion interviews in our cadre are in the offing. It is understood that interviews for 5 posts of Managers may be held by end of this month or early next month (before the exercise for annual transfers begins !!). I am sure Maj Avasthi at Guwahati will be reading this post with pleasure. For all we know, one of the newly promoted Managers may be relieving him. Having completed his tenure at Guwahati he is eagerly awaiting some 'बकरा' over there. I had volunteered for the job but it turned out to be a non-starter. Anyway here's wishing all the guys who are in the race the best of luck and better luck for postings thereafter.

PS. Type 'Tips for Interviews' on the search bar at the top of the blog page to read the posts related to interviews which may serve you in good stead!!

A New Look to the Blog in the New Year

Acting upon a suggestion from a frequent visitor to my blog I have tried to give a 'new look' to my blog. This is in sync with all the new things we aspire for in the New Year (new resolutions, new targets, new deadlines etc, etc). Some new page elements have been added (and some deleted !!).

PS. I hope this will satisfy the guy who suggested the changes in the first place.

हिन्दी में ब्लोग्गिंग !!

नये साल में हिन्दी में ब्लोग्गिंग करने कि कोशिश कर रहा हूँ !! कैसी रही ? हिन्दी लिखने में मूझे बिल्कुल भी परेशानी नही होती ! चिंता मत करो यारो, में मज़ाक कर रहा हूँ !


Blogging in Hindi is very easy with "Hindi Translitteration" courtesy 'blogger'. Now I dont have to use 'Roman Hindi' to give 'gaali' and use 'swear words'.

Happy New Year - 2008

Hi Folks,

Here's wishing you and your families a very happy and prosperous 2008 !!

6th Security Managers' Conference - 17 Dec 2007

A welcome sign at this year’s conference was that no ‘Gyan’ was dished out by all and sundry as used to be the case in such meetings earlier on. Most of us used to find it very tough to digest the heavy doses of irrelevant tough talk which served no useful purpose (except to raise our hackles !!). Following are some one-liners which will summarize this year's meeting.

1. Sermonising should be avoided.
2. There is no 100% safe security system.
3. Innovate on a daily basis, refine and improve.
4. Bring to the notice of the Bank any ‘chinks’ in the armour.
5. There are no hierarchies as far as security is concerned.
6. Delve into the ‘psyche’ of the terrorists to know their designs.
7. Rehearse for natural calamities – mock drills.
8. Stop ‘taggers-along’, ‘tailgaters’ and ‘piggy-backers’.
9. Security systems are only as good as the people using them.
10. Start ‘owning’ the security gadgets.
11. Security culture should be inculcated.
12. Visitor profiling to be done at random.
13. Keep information resources secure (beware of pen drives !).
14. Security is the face of the organization.
15. Integrity is paramount.
16. Security Managers should ‘manage’.
17. Don’t ask for deferments/cancellations of postings.
18. Let local practices prevail – these are time tested.
19. Durwans should report to the Treasurer.
20. CCTV operations round the clock only upto June 2008.
21. Training of personnel manning various gadgets.
22. Security risk management is challenging, daunting and uphill task.
23. Security cannot be managed merely by prescribing rules and regulations.
24. Expect the unexpected every day.
25. Breath security, drink security and live security.
26. Suspect everything and everyone.
27. Security breaches occur in a state of complacency.
28. Security has to be demonstrably credible and deterrent.
29. No compromise at all in security matters.
30. Need for more alternatives.
31. Effective monitoring through the console room.
32. Look and you will find it (breaches !!).
33. Inspire as leaders – be role models.
34. Simulate hostage situation or a calamity and rehearse drills.
35. Don’t ask for resources – make the best of what you have.
36. Don’t ask for promotions – if you don’t like it – chuck it!
37. The Reserve Bank did not come to you – YOU came to it.
38. Remember the ‘history lessons’ which seniors will freely give you.
39. Report incidents to CSC promptly.
40. Don’t be a ‘James Bond’ and allow weapons into the premises.
41. Don’t raise local issues in such an august meeting.
42. Don’t cry for laptops in this forum – talk to your RD.
43. You WILL serve under multiple bosses - period.
44. You WILL do whatever dirty work is assigned to you.
45. Security Instructions Manual will be issued to all Security Officers.
46. We had our first promotion after 13 years - you are crying after 5 ?
47. Forget about defining the 'job role' or 'job content'.
48. Dont look at CSC to sort out your problems.
49. Copy the ‘Preface’ to the Security Instructions Manual and read it EVERYDAY !!
50. YOU ARE ALL “ARJUNS” ( Hurrah !!)

PS. If some of the above mentioned ‘one-liners’ seem to be contrary to accepted norms or laid down rules and regulations, contradictory, against all tenets of Security Management or even downright crazy – remember - the bosses are always right !!
So don’t you dare question the veracity of these ‘mind boggling’ 50 pearls of wisdom. Just DO IT.

Lungar Gupp XXXIII

1. The Hunt for Greener Pastures is over (at least for this bloke !!)

Capt B. Muralidharan, AGM (P&S), RBI, Mumbai has been offered the job of Chief Security Officer at ADLABS (India's largest entertainment conglomerate) with an annual CTC of Rs 20,00,018/- (yeah, that's right, Rupees Twenty Lakh and Eighteen only). It is a pan India position with HQ at Mumbai. Murali cannot believe his good fortune at this windfall and is still in a state of shock. He was telling me that he will believe it when he gets the first pay cheque !! In a lighter vein I told him that he should not join the outfit unless they increase his CTC by another two bucks - how can they give him just Rs 18/- (plus twenty lakh) ?? He is planning to apply to the Bank for a lien. Here's wishing him good luck and all the best in his new assignment.

2. Fourth Time Unlucky. I am not talking about the recently concluded promotion interviews. This refers to Capt Balvinder Singh's pocket being picked in a local train at Mumbai on 16 Dec 2006. On a serious note, it was sad to learn that his wallet contained Rs 20,000/- (a considerable amount even in these inflationary times !!) alongwith the usual cards etc. Besides the monetary loss the inconvenience caused can only be imagined. While we were commiserating with him, Balli told us that this was the fourth time his pocket had been picked in Mumbai. Balli should follow Devinder's example who, I am told, does not carry a wallet on his person and distributes small amounts of currency in various pockets (how frustrating for a pickpocket !!) whenever he travels by the local train.

3. Entertainment Galore. At the dinner hosted by the ED for all of us on 16th December, Shakeel, as usual, enthralled the audience with his jokes and mimicry and had everyone in splits. Besides the known singers/entertainers in our cadre, some other worthies also tried their hand which was commendable. The most surprising item for me was a Nepali Ghazal rendered by Yashpal Charan, an item originally sung by the great Ghulam Ali. Way to go man!!