Day -120

My Employers -3

RBI job came in a most unexpected manner in 1974. I still recall the interview in then main building of the Bank. I was called into a big room where some 3 persons were sitting. I was offered a chair before which a Teapoy was kept. Such an interview ambience for a clerical job is nerve wrecking, as the age was too tender to have the fearlessness needed for such type of an interface.

Be that the case, the interview was tough. For a question, I blurted out an answer which was corrected by one of the panel members. After the interview, I had no hope. Yet I got the appointment in the Central Bank of  the country. A great achievement for a lad of that age.

Here I fondly recall my then Staff officer- Mrs. Kothari madam. She was a gem of a person. Like a mother figure, she treated people of our age. The experience of working there for 2 years was extremely pleasant and happy. The work pressure was practically nil. I was pursuing my M Com course and also CAIIB. Both I completed  while in RBI.

Kothari madam gave the invaluable lesson on how one should deals with the staff. Pleasant, courteous and helpful to all. I cannot say the same thing with many others of that time. That is not the focus here, however.

One of the seniors was Mr. Francis… he was extremely soft  spoken and pleasant to deal with. Being very young and raw, their extremely courteous treatment helped me to see and understand how people should be and can be handled.

I came in contact with many seniors in RBI and some of them attained great roles later on. 

• One person I am citing here  is late R H Patil.  He was sitting on the same floor in a cabin nearby. He was instrumental in setting up of NSE. A great soul indeed. Extremely soft spoken and pleasant in his dealings, his memory still lingers in me with great fondness and love.
•  Another was Dr A Vasudevan. He went on to become ED of RBI, who had given me a conduct certificate when I left for UBI in 1976.
• I was lucky to have got a posting in the prestigious Economic Department of the Bank that too in the Banking Department. 
• Ms( Dr,) Thiagarajan was our Director.  She was an extremely nice person. The department nearby on the third floor was the Department of Monetary Economics, which was headed by Dr. N A Mujumdar. Subsequently he became Economic Adviser too.
• Dr Mujumdar was in the interview panel which  selected  me in IIBF later. I came in close contact with him after joining IIBF . He gave a very positive foreword for my book- Winning the Game of Life and encouraged me in my academic efforts till his very last days. May his kind soul rest in eternal peace.

RBI days were indeed pleasant. I remember a prolonged strike there by some class IV employees, when we used to go to office, sign the muster and leave for home. This lasted for a week or so. That was the era then.

Working in the Fort area was a pleasant experience. The Port behind, the Central Library across,  Horniman circle and Akbarally’s/ Apna Bazar nearby are all reminders of the good old time.

Most significant aspect in my life is that I noticed a large number of seniors with Ph.D. degree to their credit. This created a deep desire in my mind and when I passed M Com, the first thing I did was to register for Ph.D.. The inspiration for that came from the seniors of RBI.

Some memories-

1. I recall the sudden sad demise of an Economic Adviser, Mr. A Raman at a  comparatively young age and the condolence meeting held on the third floor. That was a touching experience at that age.

2. Meeting Dr. T K Velayudham, a Director of Economic Department with my research idea and his encouraging comments and suggestions.

3. Most significant was meeting another Director, Dr. S L Shetty, from Economic  Department to seek some guidance on the PhD. Project. He politely told that the study may be even a prolonged one and there will be many hurdles, but never give up but be focused. His words became prophetic in my case. My thesis submission was unduly delayed, but I held on, thanks to his motivating and cautioning words at the outset. Looking back, RBI days were full for learning and preparation for the future career.

At times, I have regretted my leaving RBI, but then the perspectives were different to a young mind at that time and promotion avenues were quite dim in those days, unlike the later and current days.

After leaving RBI in 1976 I had innumerable occasions to visit RBI offices in Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai etc. and interact with a large number of officials at different levels. In  those long years I never felt that I am not part of RBI - at least in my mind. Two years of working has created that deep bonding within me-more over it is the Central Monetary Authority of the country.  

Be happy. Be safe.

ॐ

6 45AM