My Employers-4
Union Bank of India was my next job destination. Here I worked for nearly 14 years. My start in UBI happened in a rather strange way. The day I went to join in December 1976, the watchman at the gate told me that nothing will happen on that day as the then Chairman of the Bank Mr. O K Gopalan suddenly died due to heart failure or so. I had to return on the next day for joining.
Many good things happened there in my career and life.
- First, became a Probationary Officer, which was a prestigious accomplishment during that period.
- The second was the opportunity to work in the Head Office of the Bank. That was really wonderful. One comes in direct or indirect contact with the top management personnel of the Bank.
- By that time, I was seriously into my Ph. D. research study too.
Here I would like to recall the pleasant and highly useful
association with my then Head of the Department- Late M U Kini sir. He was
indeed a tough and demanding executive, but working under him, at that young
age, taught me many things that came in good stead later in my life. Further he
was instrumental in getting me postings in the Forex Department of the Bank and also as a Faculty at the Staff College at a very young age… both these
shaped/changed my future life immensely, hence I am ever indebted him.
- Being a CAIIB before joining the Bank, I wanted to work in the Forex Department and that dream also came true. Here, I wish to recall Late K R Vombatkare Sir, for all his help, kindness and guidance to newcomers like me. He was not my direct in charge, nevertheless, he was always there to guide and help even unasked. He would come and caution us when things are going wrong. His involvement with the work was so total as he used to keep an eye on all the activities in the big forex department, whether he was directly responsible or not. Great soul indeed. May his soul rest in peace!
- Then I wish to recall Late G Narayanan Sir, the then in charge of Staff Training Centre, Alwaye, Kerala. My association in office with him lasted 2 years only, which was at the very fag end of his career.
- He was truly a father figure to me. He introduced me to Sanskrit slokas, Malayalam literature and Upanishad teachings. Apart from the routine banking topics, he spent time in explaining many spiritual teachings/subhashitas to me. Association with him and due to his promptings, I got well grounded in spiritualism. Alwaye town being near to Kalady, the birth place of Adi Shankaracharya also helped in the spiritual pursuits. My association with him continued for long after his retirement from the Bank.
- During my Always tenure, I got the Ph.D. degree that prompted me to look for an academic opening. In UBI that not possible then, which led me to look for suitable pastures.
But all in all, UBI innings, shaped me well to shoulder the subsequent roles more or less effortlessly and confidently. For this I owe deep gratitude to the Bank, many of the seniors and colleagues of the Bank- the number is too large to cover in a blog of this size. Nevertheless, a big Bouquet of Thanks from the bottom of my heart to all of them. I will always cherish my UBI days- that made me what I am today.
After leaving the Bank in 1990 I had countless occasions to visit the Bank’s HO, zonal offices/ROs, staff college, STCs and branches especially during my IIBF innings.
Many of my friends and colleagues became
GMs of the Bank and some of them even CMDs of other PSBs.
Due to those constant interactions and highly
pleasant dealings, I always felt - even now -that I am part of the extended UBI family.
Shukriya UBI and Shukriya UBItes for your kind treatment to an
old colleague- always.
Be happy. Be safe.
ॐ
6 AM
Yes Dr. Bala. The benefit of your experience in forex spilled over to me when you taught me rudiments of the subject while I was your co-faculty in bangalore. How it helped me in my career throughout, only i know. I scored very high marks in forex paper in CAIIB; honed my knowledge in Bhadohi branch later and established bank's overseas branch in NewDelhi. Apart from that our association continue till today (though my response to you blogs is sporadic if not nil). The personalities me tienes by you - Shri M U Kini Shri K Narayanan and Shri K R Vombetkare- had profound influence on me too. Read with interest your ubi recollections. Wish you great writing and Godspeed!
ReplyDeleteS. Raman
Happy go through the blog. I went back in to our days at Staff College. Just like you I came into UBI staff college by accident and by invitation. I also slipped out to Academics again.Glad to go through your blogs. May God Bless you, Bala.
ReplyDeleteNice to read your innings in Union Bank. I was not knowing fully some points like your getting PhD. Now they are cleared.As an Unionite or ex staffer of UBI, I read with gusto your account. I will always remember with gratitude my association with you in the Bank since early 1980s, if my recollection is correct, to this date. The name of late M.U.Kini evokes good memories. Despite some faults, he has readily helped several members of the Bank. I recall while I was in the EiD and he was DGM in Priority Sector Dept., I had gone to him to get urgently some data. While giving the same, he told me that I was always welcome to meet him and that I should meet him often. I wonder if any top executive would say such athimg to a junior Scale 2 officer like me. It only shows his greatness.
ReplyDeleteRaghuraman
Excellent 👍🏻
ReplyDeleteI thought you obtained PhD at Bombay itself.
Recollect with gratitude your assistance/guidance in my college studies, which I was pursuing then. (at Mumbai soon after joining bank) Also could attend your classes at Alwaye. And always a guide to a seeker (in spirituality) like me.
Proud to be still in regular contact with you.
May God bless you 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻