RADHAKRISHNAN –

It was my plan to limit my series about subordinate staff with three. And my quota was nearly over.  But then suddenly Radkakrishnan’s face flashed in my mind. Let me do justice to him.

I have not associated with Radhakrishnan much. I don’t know this personality. He may not be the best staff in the branch, he may not be as knowledgeable as others.  His commitment level may vary. Many may not like him too. For about 30 years I have no connection with him of any type, till we met two months back.  But I would love to highlight some qualitites of Radhakrishhan, which I value a lot.

Radhakrishnan is a good reader. The periodicals he reads are all high quality magazines of  Malayalam    He is a voracious reader of Malayalam books. The common factor among us is that we both like the classic writings of VKN, a famous Malayalam writer known for his sarcastic and screwball comedy which an ordinary person might not understand. Radhakrishnan makes sketches of people. He used to take books of VKN from me and would return them with beautifully covering them with thick white paper with the sketches of the characters of the novel, exactly the way the writer had described.

After a long gap of about 30 years , a few months back I met Radhakrishnan. Many things had happened in his life, good and bad.  Pleasantly surprised to see me  at the branch, he pulled out a reprint of VKN stories  purchased from a book stall, hours back . He told me that the book was out of print and at the first opportunity available in the bookstall, he purchased. Next time when I met him, to return the book, he gave me another brand new book titled NAMBOODIRI JOKES (widely famous in Kerala, in the line of SARDAR JOKES). Pat came a sarcastic comment from one of the colleagues that “Radhakrishnan is cranky enough to purchase books, read it and then gift to the library after reading”.  I was spell bound, when I heard it. Radhakrishnan! By far, I have never gifted any book to anybody in my life.  A rare quality, Radhakrishnan.  Salute you!

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Mr.RAdhakrishnan is a substaff of Trichur Branch of Bank of India

K  JAYAKUMAR- FEEL PROUD TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH YOU.

I had the fortune to associate with this person for about 5 years.  At present he is working as a clerk in the same branch – Kalady.  A well built, always smiling personality, a darling of all . But at times he doesn’t mince words, may be to his boss, peers and customers. He is highly skilled in handling customers to their satisfaction, keeping records and producing it promptly and his immense knowledge in documents and documentation. I have observed from sidelines that he is proud of his qualities. I have never seen him without uniform during office hours. He is so disciplined that I have never seen him coming late.

I have seen customers returning back without getting their work done, only for the reason that he is on leave.  They were satisfied only if it is got done through him. Many times I have tested his skill in documentation. I had just handed over the borrower to him with oral instructions. With astonishing speed and accuracy, he will undertake all the formalities , right from account opening to documentation. By this time, he would have also taught the borrower, all that he/she should have known about the loan.

I have not seen much people like Jayakumar, a rare blend of lot many qualities.

NEELKANTH, THE PIED PIPER OF PIMPRI BRANCH

NEELKANTH, THE PIED PIPER OF PIMPRI BRANCH

In the series of my Sub Staff Memoirs, next comes Neelkanth fondly called by one and all as Neelu.   He retired last year from the bank’s service.  If my information about him is correct, he continued few more months post his retirement, may be because the branch just can’t move on without him.   He may not be knowing much of banking or the systems and practices.  But he would touch your heart by his behaviour.  He was always viewed as a management spokesperson.    He knew the strengths  and weaknesses of each and every customer and staff including the higher executives.  He very well knew how to handle each of them.

Normally he was the spokeperson of the Branch Head.  He knew every nook and corner of the branch. All kind of customers spoke about him highly. With a husky and commanding voice he used to bind people without rope.  He was sincere to core and loved by all.  The comfort he extended to the officers was beyond words.  He loved to be branded as HIS MASTERS VOICE.

He surprised me by making his presence felt, by attending the marriage of the son of our AGM, travelling all the way from Pune to Chennai.  Probably he would have surprised many others, by attending his AGM retirement function again travelling the same route with a bouquet of flowers.  Though I have left that branch 5 years back, i get a phone call or two from his every month.  He is a friend of mine at the same time a very close friend of my son too.  He is the friend of each and every person he come across.  A rare creation of Almighty!

Neelu, you make this world beautiful. Thank you Neelu.

Mohammed is his name

M

OHAMMED IS HIS NAME

This is about three subordinate staff who have impressed me a lot.  Subordinate staff are a category in our bank who are the permanent militant members of the union, and a resource person to the Managers when in need. But all including customers consider them some one inferior in the lot (sub staff as they are called). But they are the blood vessels of the bank and record keepers. No scientific training was given to them ever, but they are expected to maintain the records intact and produce it as and when called for. Interestingly many are nonmetric, and having higher qualification will disqualify them from their posts. Many get recruited after being working them on daily wages  for years together.  During that amorphous stage, no union would be ready to support them and no any labour rules are applicable to them. Many of them are better managers, good in customer service and a great resource of knowledge and experience.  May I start my substaff series from a daily wages substaff of our Tirupur branch.

MOHAMMED as is his name. 5.5 ht, well built. Impressive personality.   Speaks Tamil, English, and Hindi fluently (in Tamil Nadu) and a non metric. His energy level is the highest. He is always pleasant. He knows most of the syntax of Finacle (CBS software of the bank).  Little bit of hardware too. He knows most of the NPA customers and valued customers.  His knowledge in banking has amazed me many times.  A good record keeper he is and a good event manager too.  I do remember, when we conducted a customer meet at a hall above the branch premises where the landlord used it  almost as a godown; within 48 hours he converted it to a beautiful meeting hall with minimum expenses, beautifully decorated.  When a Durga Puja was conducted at the Dussehra, I found Mohammed with a ‘tika’ on his forehead with vermilion and sandal mixed, decorating the pooja room, putting ‘tikas’ all over the safe room, and every where in the branch premises as we do it in our house.  When the ‘aarti’ was going on, I found Mohammed ringing the hand bell. It was he who distributed Prasad to all and sundry. When a lady officer was reciting a ‘keerthan’ on the occasion, I found another Substaff Ms. Mary ( a Christian by faith) is joining her.  Unique blend of secularism the father of nation had dreamed of.

I tend to feel a bit uncomfortable when he would be on leave.  Once I sent an SMS to the General Secretary of the Staff Union almost as follows:- “If you are not taking care of this guy, you are losing a militant member to your trade union movement and future executive to the Bank. Anybody will be prepared to accommodate such an impressive personality and ultimately he is not the one who is at loss.”

You just cannot ignore his elegant behaviour.

I bow my head for Mohammed in Reverance!