7.  At Sangareddy Branch, VRS and thereafter

7.1 Back from SBI, Corporate Office, Mumbai upon my reporting, the Hyderabad Circle Management posted me as Chief Manager of SBI Sangareddy Branch, Medak Dist., Telangana.  It is located at about 65 KMs from Hyderabad and was a Semi-urban Centre / District Head Quarters located on the Bombay Highway.  For all the staff from Hyderabad and Secunderabad Cities, it was a prize posting and much sought after for completing rural assignment. But to me, after having already served in three rural branches in the Naxalite-prone Warangal district Warangal - Wikipedia (Parkal, Jangaon and Wardhannapet ADBs) earlier under very trying conditions, it was very disappointing.  

7.1 I was looking for a change and good break in my assignments. The branch had a huge premises, with adequate staff, an Agri Banking Division with Field Staff and two Jeeps and large number of villages being covered.  There were other bank branches too. It was a new challenge to me.  I had easy access to Dist Collector, Dist Judge and Superintendent of Police of Medak Dist for all types of liaisons. 

7.2 Somehow, I feel I have had a peculiar connection with some regional or national events of unrest during my educational and employment times.  Communal disturbance in university colleges in 1967 affected my PUC, The Telangana Agitation of 1969 hit my B.Sc. degree college studies, Bangla Desh war in 1970-71 got me into Banking service, 1975 Emergency helped me complete my B.Com examination with flying colours, 1984 assassination of Indira Gandhi, then PM pushed me to SBI CO Mumbai, and the 1992 Stock Market Scam sent me back to Hyderabad, while Babri Masjid Rath Yatra times made me travel to Sangareddy to take up a new assignment very unwillingly.  

7.2.1 Besides my passing through bad times then, in Mumbai City and Goregaon (West) was in turmoil due to some communal disturbances where my wife and six years old daughter were locked up as guests with my friend's family in Malad (West).  They were in the grip of fear every day to attend work / school in the very same area.  We had no mobile or internet services in those days.  Life was very scary when we watched TV news!  I asked my wife Ganga also to quit her job in Mumbai and come back to Hyderabad along with our daughter!  In fact, I was passing through tremendous mental trauma on various counts.  

7.3 I took full charge from Sri Jyothiprakasam, CM around Christmas of 1992, celebrated New Year 1993 with staff and started Customer Service meets in a big way.  My experience at Corporate Office level gave me new ideas to handle the staff who commute daily from Twin Cities and manage the business / customers who expect top class service.  RM supported all my initiatives, supplied large number of New Year 1993 Calendars (Telugu and Urdu) and Silver Coins / Gifts, brought a popular Telugu movie star and ex-SBI Colleague Mr Kota Srinivasa Rao for deposit mobilisation campaigns.  There was an excellent response from all quarters, but I was feeling gloomy.  I was deputed to SB Staff College, Gurgaon (located in MDI Campus) for a Senior Management Program in January end.  

7.4 Whatever was going on in my mind, I had private discussions with an ex-colleague cum entrepreneur and close friend in Hyderabad about joining his export venture and submitted my papers to Bank.  I had completed 20 years of service with the Bank and was eligible to seek Voluntary Retirement with Pension benefit.  I was overconfident that I can leave the stable and prospering bank job and survive outside in private sector on my own!  I got tempted to stay in Hyderabad permanently with my family and look after my mother and brother too.  I did my calculations wrong both in financial needs and career prospects for years to come.  I did all my predictions wrong for my daughter and family then.  

7.5 I am not too sure but may be the LPG (Liberalisation, Privatisation, Globalisation) environment in Indian political and economic set up might have had serious influence on me.  Late Shri PV Narasimha Rao, a long-standing politician from Warangal / Telangana took charge as PM in most unexpected circumstances in 1991.  He took Dr Manmohan Singh as his FM to embark on Financial Sector / Economic Reforms in India.  That was a historical moment as these two ventured to change the winds to bring in radical developments in all spheres.  May be I had too much belief and was optimistic about Private Sector, even though I shifted from my first job in Andhra Bank in private then to SBI in 1971.  Besides, I relied too much on my trust and faith on Friendship!  

7.6 When I served my three months' notice, not many close friends, colleagues, relatives or well-wishers were consulted as to the likely opportunities or consequences of leaving a steady career in SBI.  RM advised me to think seriously and withdraw my notice.  I was very adamant, so he processed my request.  The papers moved from Regional Office, Hyderabad to LHO to Corporate Office Mumbai in the usual process. Within a month, on second thoughts, I rushed to Mumbai in February to meet my colleagues in Corp Office to withdraw the notice. The matter went out of hands by then for everyone due to my reckless or hasty decision. It was decided that I leave SBI by April-end with Pension benefit.  None could help change my fate!

7.7 When I went to seek blessings, my mentor and role model Shri YRK, Dy.MD from Hyderabad Circle at Corporate Office, Mumbai commented and cautioned me that I will be haunted by the thought of a successful and secure career in SBI.  In retrospect, I should admit that his words of warning or caution that I would regret lifelong about the wrong step I took to leave SBI.  Annual Closing of Accounts was due on March 31, 1993.  SBI Staff Union and SBI Officers Association gave a combined call to observe total strike on 30th and 31st March with some serious demands. 

7.7.1 I was a member of both associations during my service, but as a CM of Sangareddy, I experienced a memorable gesture from all cadres of the bank then.  Banking business was badly hit on both days as there was no mobile or internet banking those days, but to my wonderful experience, they worked unofficially day and night to balance the books and close the accounts for Financial Year 1992-93. By then, all staff had known that I was leaving the bank service by April end.  What an extraordinary gesture?  I can never ever forgive myself for the blunder I committed in 1993.

7.8 I hardly spent over four months as CM of SBI Sangareddy branch but left good footprints with staff and customers.  I recall quite often the manner in which I attracted NRI deposits from gulf customers by rendering express service in collection of cheques and converting in to Fixed Deposits by the Muslim community customers in and around.  I also recall the Village tours with staff and organising recovery camps from rural borrowers.  All my staff used to enjoy working in the environment I created for them.

7.8.1 Parting from the branch and bank permanently in search of unknown goals and uncertain future was very painful to me and my family, who by then joined me from Mumbai.  April 30, 1993 was really a Dooms Day in my career and life but how can I forget the grand farewell they gave me with Poorna Kumbham and a Shawl.  I left like a defeated soldier heading for upcoming disaster in life. 

7.9 My profile in the bank and achievements post my voluntary retirement in academics, culminating with an Honorary Doctorate in Commerce, Specialisation in Banking in Dec 2018, awarded by University of Swahili, Panama, Central America in Bangkok, Thailand has been captured in the SECOND INNINGS:

Honorary PhD in Banking 2018

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