5. Training and Postings (1977)

5.1 The bank later posted me to Secunderabad, ADB Anantapur, Kakinada, Visakhapatnam branches and LHO-Hyderabad for training during the two-year period 1977-79.  Secunderabad is not new to me and was a large branch. But suddenly some Officers of our batch were deputed to Kanchikacherla branch in Krishna Dist then, to serve the Cyclones 1977/78 which affected Tobacco farmers and later to STC Alipore, Kolkata for Training.  The duration was for about a month.  I, TVLN Chary, Sreedhar and others were deputed to Kolkata.  Besides Banking, we underwent training by eminent faculty on topics / case-based sessions covering vigilance, management and behavioral science topics also.

5.2 It was the best time of my career and bachelor life going to places and learning new skills in banking like Personal / Commercial / Agri / SSI & SB / Foreign Exchange as also Administration. Experience at ADB Ananthapur was very different and memorable under Mr N. Ganapathy, BM a native of the place and Dr T Ashok Nair, RDO belonging to Secunderabad. My only stint in Rayalaseema rural banking was impacting on me.  As an Officer Grade-I on probation, I exercised passing powers and involved myself in the Annual Closing work in December 1978 as also at a crucial time of shifting of premises.

5.3 My fourth branch training was divided between Kakinada and Vizag.  In Kakinada, I worked under Sri A. Sankar; met my old friend Bodi Radhakrishna and Mr V Jaganmohan, PO of Hyderabad.  I also met Mr Vuriti Jeevan and others in this branch. Next in Vizag, I reported to Mr YRK again to learn a lot as also reunion with batchmates Sreedhar, Rammohan, BSR Prasad and others. After LHO training as last leg and upon confirmation on 31st Aug 1979 as OG I, I was deputed for two months to Vijayawada, Gandhinagar, Moghalrajapuram, Masulipatnam and other Krishna Dist branches for Deposit Mobilisation work awaiting final / regular posting.  

Myself, K Rammohan Rao and Pratap in Mysore in 1978

Myself with Prasad, Rammohan and Pratap in Lepakshi in 1978

5.4 My elder brother was married in mid-1979 and was working in Andhra Bank in AP Branches. I was posted in November 1979 as Accountant at ADB Parkal in Warangal Dist, Telangana where I worked with Mr Sailanath, BM and S/Sri Govind Reddy and P. Somasekhar, RDOs.  I handled Annual Closing in Dec 1979, faced a Central Office Inspection and was transferred to Masulipatnam Branch in Krishna Dt, as Accountant in Feb'80.  I relieved my senior Mr Chintha Gangadhara Sastry, from whom I learnt a lot.  Mr V Ramakrishna and Mr KV Prasada Rao were Branch Managers during that time. Branch had Personal and SSI&SB Divisions and was an old large establishment. The branch premises was of British times and handles Dist HQ / Treasury business but had some typical union rivalry among the staff members. It was a very challenging and learning experience to work in this branch for one year. 

Myself with Murali Mohan Reddy, SW John, Bal Reddy, Purnachandra Rao,

CP Prakash and staff @SBI ADB Jangaon, Warangal Dt in 1981

5.5 I was transferred to ADB Jangaon, Warangal Dist as Field Officer in Feb 1981. Jangaon - Wikipedia. Here, I was working with Mr SW John, BM and others.  Mr P K Reddy of Secunderabad was posted at the same time as a Field Officer for rural lending.  It was 85 KMs away from Hyderabad City and was much sought-after branch for the Hyderabad city staff so that every day they can commute.  I vividly remember how a sincere Officer of the branch, commuting every day, went through hell in his personal / family life went to the extent of resigning from the job.  I carefully resolved the crisis then. 

5.6 However, state of affairs at the branch were in an unsatisfactory stage, and I had to face an awkward Central Office Inspection while officiating as Branch Manager. Village surveys and adoption was imperfect, credit appraisal / sanction / documentation / disbursement / inspection / insurance / recovery and balancing of books of accounts were not in bad shape.  Before joining at the branch, I got an opportunity to appear for Junior IBOs (for foreign branches) selection process, thanks to the recommendation by Sri N Ganapathy, Dy Personnel Manager, LHO but I was unlucky.  Mr Raja Reddy replaced Mr John as Manager, but things did not improve.  It was a frustrating experience in my career. 

With B Ramdhan, Dr Md Sajid Ali, Mallikarjuna Rao, Hanumantha Rao and 

Staff @SBI Wardhannapet ADB, Warangal in 1984

5.7 In Feb 1982, I was posted as first BM of ADB Wardhannapet, Warangal, which was about 30 KMs away from Warangal. Wardhannapet - Wikipedia.  Even though the Branch was located on the highway from Warangal to Khammam, the basic facilities like housing, drinking water, toilet facility, telephones or transportation were at the least eventhough it was a Taluq / Block Head Quarters.  Local residents and customers supported us affectionately.  Branch of SBH was already serving the area, and was headed by Mr Sekhar, who became friendly with us.  Also, the dedicated service rendered by Dr Sajid Ali, RDO, Mallikarjuna Rao, Head Cashier, Ramdhan, Hanumantha Rao, Janakiramaiah and others (in the picture above) in rural lending and administration is laudable. 

5.7.1 I experienced many challenges in personal life and career at this branch till April 1984.  In 1982, my sister Jyothi was married to Dr I Sankara Rao, a PhD in Nuclear Chemistry from Andhra University, Visakhapatnam. I got married to Ms Ganga Patnaik of Bhubaneswar in March 1983 and we had a memorable living experience at this semi-urban location without proper housing, water, transport facilities.  

5.8 The monsoon experience that year was deadly when the nearby Vagu (stream) overflowed. Wardhannapet witnessed very heavy rains and the bridge on highway over the vagu collapsed affecting regular road traffic.  Telephone lines were also affected severely.  Unfortunately, I met with a serious scooter accident then while on duty and was unable to walk.  I could not get relief or leave replacement.  On Sundays, I used to cross the vagu with some help and go to Warangal for my treatment. Please click to read a brief profile of Smt Ganga Prasad, on page no.18 of LEKHA Lekha_July_2022_ (1).pdf. 

With my wife Ganga Prasad in 2021 at Nandi Woods Apartments

5.9 After a brief stint of six months in Region II, RO, Hyderabad under Sri Bandaru Ramachandra Rao, RM / AGM, I was posted to Corporate Centre / Central Office, Nariman Point, Mumbai, but again in Agricultural Banking Department. State Bank of India - Wikipedia On October 31, 1984, Smt Indira Gandhi, then PM of India was assassinated in New Delhi by her own Security Guard.  Whole country was shocked and was in deep mourning.  Around same time, I was relieved from SBI Hyderabad RO and travelled along with Ganga and transported my household items. 

5.9.1 I reported to Sri S Chintamani, Chief Officer (belongs to Patna Circle) and Sri MS Yadava, Additional Chief Officer (belongs to Bhopal Circle).  Both were senior Officials from whom I learnt a lot. Subsequently, I worked with Sri N K Jain, Chief Officer / Dy General Manager (also from Bhopal Circle) and had different experience / relationship.  Mr Jain was kind enough to be friendly even after I quit the bank and visited us in Manipal and Bangalore. 

5.10 Bank provided decent 2 bedroom plus residential furnished accommodation in Malad (West), which is about 30 KMs away from Nariman Point, Mumbai. Malad - Wikipedia There was hardly any telephone facility to us in those days.  Transportation was either by Local Train or Contract Bus.  Commuting to Office and back every day is a different experience.  And then, work culture in Corp Centre, is entirely new and different to me compared to the highly dedicated and challenging work at branches and in South India.  

5.11 Thankfully, our batchmates Nayani Sreedhar, BSR Prasad, K Ramamohana Rao, TVLN Chary and others like T Appa Rao, PP Krishna Rao, BVV Rajeswara Rao, G. Sambasiva Rao, TVS Murthy, N Ramesh, S Narasimha Rao and many others also stayed in the residential flats in Malad and elsewhere.  Many more senior officials of Hyderabad like S/Shri Sitaramam, NN Prabhakara Rao, Smt Rama Devi, C Sundershyam, Nagabhushana Rao, Santhanakrishnan, DRK Patnaik, Mohd Yunus, B Ramachandra Rao, Y Radhakrishnan, and many others were also posted at Corp Office. It was rare and golden opportunity to learn administrative work.  Interactions with cross section of colleagues from different Circles was a great learning.

5.12 Three promotions came in during my stay in Mumbai till November 1992.  I was elevated to MM II in 1984 Merit Batch (released in 1986), MM III in 1985 (Special Batch) and SMG IV in 1990 before I was transferred as Chief Manager, Sangareddy Branch near Hyderabad on my revert to Circle.  One more opportunity came in for selection as IBOs during the stay but could not be converted.  On the personal front, my daughter Sravanthi was born on 10th July 1985 in Vizag and I could also build / buy a flat in Ashok Nagar, Hyderabad with the help of my colleague and batchmate TVLN Chary in 1989 with an Individual Housing Loan at SBI, Vidyanagar Branch, Hyderabad.  Ganga also started working as a Chemistry Teacher in a nearby School in Goregaon (W) handling high school students.  

5.13 My father late Sri Shanmukha Rao retired from service as Deputy Director (Planning), M&H Dept., Govt of AP in August 1989 and was appointed as Secretary to the newly created AP Vaidya Vidhana Parishad for a period of one year.  Unfortunately, he died due to ill-health in June 1990, while I was working in Mumbai.  My friend Mr N Hanumantha Rao, took all care of my sick father in his last days.  With no frequent airlines facility or trains connecting even Hyderabad, I travelled by a private bus service for about 24 hours to reach for a last darshan and perform his last rites.  My elder brother was able to arrive at a short notice from within the State and my sister could also come along with her husband (my brother-in-law, Dr Sankara Rao) while youngest Babu was at home only. 

Our father late Sri Ch Shanmukha Rao (1929-1990)

Our parents @Saidabad Colony, Hyderabad in 1980s

Continued ......... 6

4. AB and switch to SBI (1971)

4.1 In August 1970, The Andhra Bank Ltd., (Andhra Bank - Wikipedia in Private Sector then, and since merged into Union Bank of India in 2020) which had its Central Office in Hyderabad was to modernise and expand all over India, under the Chairmanship of Sri Kalluri Gopala Rao and General Manager Sri MV Subba Rao.  Andhra Bank advertised for a large-scale recruitment of staff.  While sitting idle at home, I asked my father his permission to apply.  I also got encouraging advice from our neighbour Ms S Naina, working in the Staff Dept.  I was asked to attend a typical written test in English and Mathematics, which I cleared easily.  The Bank took a decision to further screening and administer a second special test for all qualified 450 candidates to be conducted by NIBM, Pune (NIBM_PUNE (nibmindia.org) set up in 1969).  It was a Test first of its kind in Indian banking industry, comprising English Language / Numerical abilities, Logical Reasoning, etc.  No clear information or coaching or guidance of any sort was available in the market or with the Bank staff.  To my pleasant surprise, I could successfully qualify with ease and highest score among the 450 participants. I then faced my first ever Personal Interview for a job in January 1971 before a Selection Board headed by Chairman himself.  I was selected in April 1971 and joined Andhra Bank at a young age of eighteen years and six months.

4.2 My friends, family and relatives were very happy that I got a bank job against stiff competition at all India level.  I had no choice but to accept the offer quitting my unfinished B.Sc. studies, after getting consent from my father, with a promise to pursue my academic studies in part-time. The starting salary was a handsome Rs. 330/-, which was supposed to be high and decent.  I was posted in Staff Department, HO, Hyderabad after due formalities and training.  I enrolled as Member of Indian Institute of Bankers (IIB), Bombay immediately. It was a memorable experience to have worked with stalwarts like Sri A Balakrishna Murthy, AGM, Sri Simhachalam, Personnel Manager, Sri Sripada Narasimham, Staff Superintendent, Sri Papa Raju and Sri Venkatadri.  

4.3 I also remember some of our bright colleagues like Ashwini, Kulkarni, Ashok Kumar, Mohan, Kashyapa, J Patanjali Sastry, P Prabhakara Rao, and others. I vividly remember our carefree days as young staff of a Private Bank and the first and best movie we saw in a group, the Rajesh Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan starrer, ANAND directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee and music by Salil Chowdary with a theme of FRIENDSHIP.  One more job offer from SBI made me quit the first job in Nov. 1971 by paying penalty of one month's pay.  With me to quit were three colleagues, ie., Kashyapa, JP Sastry and Joseph Mathew.  Click to know all about SBI: State Bank of India - Wikipedia

4.4 Thus began my second employment in India's giant public sector bank, SBI on November 5, 1971, when I joined the Main Branch in Bank Street, Hyderabad.  I started my baby steps of banking under guidance of Sri AV Rajarathnam, C Ramaswamy, KP Subrahmanyam (all of IBI) and I Veerabhadra Rao.  My colleagues were Mr SV Sudarsan and Mr JN Pawan, at Sub-Offices Cell. Hyderabad branch was overseeing seven Sub-Offices (or Pay Offices) at ECIL, Padmaraonagar, Bible House, Red Hills, Gowliguda, Shamsheergunj and Choutuppal. I was just 19 years old then, and an under-Graduate. But on the advice of elders, I started appearing for Part-I of CAIIB and cleared in 2 attempts by October 1972.  

4.5 I decided to forego my unfinished B.Sc., three years study and join B.Com (3 YDC) at VV Evening College, Hyderabad.  Thanks to two of our Dy Managers, Sri G Upendra Sarma and T Venkateswarlu, I balanced my time between work and studies in learning banking work and studying for B.Com / CAIIB Part II.  It was very difficult for me to sit for three more years in a graduation course classes, when I had already passed the two language papers during B,Sc., and important subjects like Accountancy, Banking, Economics, Business Law, etc through self-study.  I was fortunate to have got into a very affectionate group of colleagues at work in SBI in V Venkateswarlu, RL Nageswara Rao, N Hanumantha Rao, B Radhakrishna, SP Narasinga Rao, U D Kumta, BSR Prasad, PP Krishna Rao, Tangirala Srinivasa Rao, Sarma, Sastry besides many other seniors and juniors, male and female, Officers and staff members. 

Picnic with SBI Hyderabad friends to Hampi, Karnataka

With Mr N Hanumantha Rao of SBI, Hyderabad

Farewell party to me and BSR Prasad on our promotion as Trainee Officers in 1977

4.6 Interestingly, I was also active in SBI Staff Union, Hyderabad during 1973-76 and was elected as Representative of A/cs Dept of SBI, Hyderabad. Shri PV Sastry and Shri P Lakshminarasaiah were President and Secretary at the State level. Mr Ganti Seshagiri Rao, Mr J Venkat Rao, Mr P Siva Sankara Reddy, Mr N Hanumantha Rao, Gopalakrishna, GMK Gandhi and others were some of the active union members then.  I worked with two bosses Shri Seshadri Rao and Shri K Raghunatha Rao, Managers.  By April 1975, the political disturbances in Telangana region subsided and Osmania University, Hyderabad appointed Justice Jaganmohan Reddy, Retired Supreme Court Judge as its Vice Chancellor.  He took control of the state of affairs to curb the malpractices in exams.  Coincidence was that at all-India level of politics, Central Govt imposed National Emergency in June 1975 The Emergency (India) - Wikipedia.  Exams were conducted with strict discipline.  My hard work and wait for four years to become a Graduate yielded result.  I passed B.Com. with 63% marks in First Division and obtained Fourth Rank in the University Merit Order.  What a big relief that I fulfilled my promise to my father!

4.7 All my well-wishers appreciated my achievements in academics and career.  I enrolled myself immediately for M.Com., in Evening Sessions of PG Centre (Nizam College), Hyderabad. I was offered Merit Scholarship by the GoI, which I didn't avail of.  Here I met a good number of intelligent friends like M Lakshman Kumar, Giridhar Gopal, Vijaya Simha Reddy, Suryanarayana, Ramesh et al as seniors and Niranjan, Krishna, Ramdas, Buddha Kumar, Kameswara Rao, Guru Linga Chary, Purnima, Rajalakshmi, Mythili, Bhaskar Rao, AA Qureshi, Ravi Prakash Singaravelu, CJ Singh, Srirama Murthy, Jagga Rao, Sekhar and others as classmates.  My Elective subjects were Cost Accounting, Personnel Management and Industrial Psychology.  In all curriculum standards, the degree was equivalent to MBA.

4.8 We all completed M.Com. in 4 Semesters by April 1977 and me with 65% and 6th rank in Osmania University.  Sadly, four of our batch (Ali Asim Qureshi, Ravi Prakash Singaravelu, Ramdas and Bhaskar) died prematurely in later years and most of the remaining are friends even on date through WA Group.  Sri Dakoju Nagabrahmam, a young faculty member taught us Labour Relations in our Ist Semester.  He quit his job to join the Fellow Program (equivalent to PhD) of IIM Ahmedabad and later worked as Associate Professor in IRMA Anand.  We bid a simple farewell to him in 1975.  I met him after a long gap in 1998 in Manipal when he was Director of TAPMI only to join as Associate Professor in May 1999. 

M.Com. 1975-77 batch of Hyd Evening College, Farewell in 1977

Re-union of M.Com batch in Secunderabad in October 2019

4.9 After a gap of 42 years, at least nine of us could meet for a dinner at Secunderabad Hotel in October 2019 and recalled our golden years of 1975-77.  Dr Gurulinga Chary (SSIM-Hyderabad), ST Krishna (Standard & Chartered Bank, Dubai), P Niranjan (SBI-Hyderabad), L Buddha Kumar (Consultant), Jagga Rao (PNB), Jayawant Singh (SBI-Hyderabad), M Srirama Murthy (Air India-Hyderabad), K Kameswara Rao (SBI Hyderabad) from USA and I (Bangalore) attended on that day.  Each one excelled in their respective professions / organisations in the past over four decades and happily retired. 

4.10 To my luck, SBI decided to reduce eligibility criteria for Trainee Officers selection in 1975. I started my preparations to appear for my first attempt in 1976, while simultaneously attending M.Com classes / exams.  God was kind enough that I cracked the TOs Test and faced the GD/PIs only to be selected in the then smallest batch of 23 Officers in Hyderabad Circle.  My other colleagues were TVLN Chary, ChBV Sarma, Y Bhaskara Rao, BSR Prasad from Hyderabad Branch and others like KS Prakasa Rao, MVR Sainatha Rao, BBRK Durga Prasad, S Krishnan and Nayani Sreedhar.  The 2 years Training cum Probation commenced from 1st of September 1977, which on completion bestowed us to become Grade I Officers in SBI.  I was less than 25 years of age then and the youngest in the batch!  I reported at Vizag for my 1st branch training.  I spent seven months and worked under Shri Nambiar and Shri YRK. 

4.11 Of the 23 batch of SBI Hyderabad Circle Trainee Officers of 1977 I belong to, BSR Prasad retired as General Manager, MVR Sainatha Rao as Dy General Manager, and remaining in different positions.  Nayani Sreedhar retired voluntarily as AGM and settled down in Toronto, Canada. I also retired voluntarily as Chief Manager of Sangareddy Branch, Medak Dt., Telangana on 30th April 1993 to take up private sector engagements and academic assignments in later years.  Three colleagues, TVLN Chary, G Avataram died due health reasons and SSSV Nageswara Rao met with a road accident and also had premature death.  Y Bhaskar Rao took philosophical route and vanished from active life while R Narayana Swamy died in April 2022 post retirement.  We all are meeting occasionally in Hyderabad and Online as also keep in regular touch on daily basis in our WhatsApp group. 

TOs 1977 of Hyderabad Circle on confirmation as OG I in August 1979

Continued ......... 5

3. Migration to Hyderabad, School / College Studies: 

3.1 We lived in two rented houses between 1959 and 1964 and then moved into our own house in Saidabad Housing Board Colony, which was very close to our Malakpet Colony School.  Our Schooling was not affected due to these shiftings. Meantime, my younger sister Jyothi and brother Venkateswara Rao -were born and all four of us studied in the same School.  My father continued his part-time post graduate studies in Public Administration and Industrial / Personnel Management and grew in his Official positions.  He was also Secretary of the Saidabad Colony Residents Association and AP Sistakaranam Association Hyderabad (Regd), besides his professional and family responsibilities. 

3.2 We had a big group of Sistakaranam families viz., Dabbiru Narayana Rao, Patnayakuni Venkat Rao, Muddukrishna (PV Patnaik), P Suryanarayana, Chowdari Lakshmana Rao, Chowdari Govinda Rao, Behara Satyanarayana, and others in Malakpet Colony.  A few more names to recollect were Sri Kondavalasa Krishna Murthy garu, ex-President APSKA   Sri BMM Bhujanga Rao, Sadasivuni Prasada Rao, Salur Prasada Rao, (Labour) Prasada Rao, P Bhaktavatsala Patnaik - ex-President APSKA, Justice S Madhusudhan Rao, Vinod Nath Patnaik, (Bata) Narahari Rao, Justice ND Patnaik, Dr Raghunath Patnaik and others.  Most of these men were in govt service. In fact, my father has been my role model in several facets in my life. 

About our School - Page 2

Dinner meeting of trio me, Purandhar and GSR in Secunderabad in 2012

Our School : Page 1

3.3 The youngest in our class was Y Purandar (in the picture above), who turned to be one of the bright stars in career.  After serving for long years in ECIL on the Scientific field, for the past decade or so he is into Academics as a Dean in Hyderabad based Engineering College / University.  He remembers and can recall names of any student or teacher or any incident or facts and figures about our School even now.  We keep meeting regularly.  

Our family : Father, Mother, Elder & Younger Brothers and Sister in 1970

3.4 I joined Science College, Saifabad (OU), Masab Tank, in Hyderabad for my PUC (with MPC) in June 1967 based on my marks in HSC exams.  It was about 12 KM from home, and I had to travel via Kothi in / change two RTC Buses daily.  Moving from School to College at less than 15 years of my age, I started wearing full pants and pursuing English Medium studies.  New friends, new environment, Science Labs and NCC Classes were new experience.   National Cadet Corps (NCC) was compulsory for all College students, due to the reason we just went through two wars with China in 1962 and Pakistan in 1965.  The annual NCC Camp I attended in December 1967 at RK Puram, Secunderabad is still fresh in my memory.  My elder brother visited me in the Camp to check my welfare. 

3.5 At home, I was an active member of Saidabad Colony Youth Club engaging in extra-curricular activities like Library Work, Chess, Carroms, Cricket, Volleyball, Ball Badminton, Tennikoit, and Light Music.  I took up membership of USIS Centre (American) Library and John F Kennedy Science Film Club. Mr Sitaram Yechury (CPM) was our friend then. Unfortunately, the OU Colleges were affected in some Student Union rivalries and communal clashes in the year 1967-68, which affected our college studies and eventually the exams. The results naturally were very disappointing and hit my career.  

3.6 I joined B.Sc. (3 YDC) with Maths, Physics and Geology at NB Science College, Hyderabad under Osmania University in June 1968. In Geology, we started studying Minerology, Petrology, Crystallography and other subjects of interest. I was participating in Cultural activities like Debating, Mock-Assembly and unsuccessfully contested for the post of President of Telugu Literary Association of the College in 1969.  Osmania University, Hyderabad

3.7 Unfortunately, the Separate Telangana State agitation that stirred in early 1969 took worst turn and affected our studies again.  No classes, no examinations and total uncertainty making me sit at home and idling for about two years.  The political movement was controlled by GOI, but as many as 350 students lost their lives then.  1969 Telangana Agitation - Wikipedia.  I learnt English Typewriting and passed Lower and Higher-Grade exams in first class.  

3.8 When the University held the B.Sc. 2nd year exams, I attended and cleared the Languages Papers, with highest marks in College.  The University syllabus and scheme was that examinations were to be held only at the end of third year covering all three years portions, Science Lab Work, etc.  In the normal course, I could have got my B.Sc degree in hand by March 1971 only to decide about future career of studies or employment. But it didn't happen.  

Continued ......... 4

2. Grand Parents and families  

2.1 Polaki village and Mandal HQ in Srikakulam Dt of AP is my mother's (late Smt Ch Sugunavathi) native place. Polaki, Srikakulam district - Wikipedia). The distance between my paternal hometown Kotabommali and Polaki is about 26 KM.  My maternal grandfather, late Sri Kasimahanthi Bhanu Murthy was working in SE Railways, in Kharagpur, West Bengal.  All his four sons (maternal uncles S/Sri Jayarama Murthy, Narasimha Murthy, Bhaskar Rao (Babu Mamayya) and Dakshina Murthy (Baba Mamayya), were employed in SE Rly. in Kharagpur.  He also had a widowed sister, whom we used to call Appa, living with them.  I remember that I visited Kharagpur in May 1964 along with my elder brother, Nageswara Rao.  I was eleven years old then, and my grandfather was no more.

In my mother's arms as a toddler 

My mother late Smt Ch Sugunavathi (1934-2016)

2.2 My mother might have been married in the year, 1949 to my father when they were 15 and 20 years old respectively.  My elder brother was born on 20 October 1950 in Bobbili both in Srikakulam Dt, AP.  Around that time, my father was working in Education Department of Andhra Government and was posted in Srikakulam Dist. During 1953, my father was selected / appointed in Medical & Health Department and was posted in Madras (now Chennai), the then combined State Capital. Madras City / State (Chennai / TN) He went alone to that far off place leaving the family (wife and 2 young children) with my maternal grandfather.  I have a photograph showing my Aksharabhyasam at my grandfather's house. I have no idea when my maternal / paternal grandfathers expired.  But I vaguely remember some stories of village life.

My parents late Sri Shanmukha Rao and Smt Sugunavathi in 1990

My grandmother late Smt Sundaramma with our daughter in 1986 in Tirupati AP

My grandmother late Smt Sundaramma 

2.3 My father had an elder sister Smt Nagarathnam and three younger brothers, Vajrala Rao, Madhava Rao and Narasinga Rao under his responsibility.  Sister was married and lived in a nearby village. She became a widow very early, with two daughters.  They had cashew plantation as property and source of income.  My three uncles were not well educated and the first one took up employment in Araku Valley near Visakhapatnam and was married.  Two younger brothers were my father's direct responsibility, besides his widowed mother, sister and of course his own family.  Later, the second brother Madhava Rao died very young, and the youngest Sri Narasinga Rao Patnaik was employed in King George Hospital, Vizag, married and settled in Pendurthi, near Simhachalam, Vizag, AP. 

2.4 In 1956, when the new AP State was formed, with a temporary capital at Kurnool, my father was shifted to Hyderabad, Telangana the permanent capital in later years. Hyderabad / AP / Telangana  In 1958-59, he was deputed to Guntur to set up a Regional Office of Medical Dept and we joined him thereat.  I faintly remember to have lived in Kankaragunta and went to some School for a year.  In 1959, he was posted back in Hyderabad and at the Directorate's Office.  We accompanied him to Hyderabad and my formal education started in Govt High School, Malakpet Colony, when as a six plus years old, I was admitted directly to Standard IV.  My brother joined Standard V in same School.  Here is a photo taken in 1964, when I was studying VIIIth Standard.  I can recall a few names like Kesavulu, Papi Reddy, Upender, Sathish, GMS Rao, M Ramakrishna, Gopala Chary, D Ramachander, P Chandrasekhar, Y Purandhar, Sathya murthy, Adinarayana, Subhadra, Suchetha, Suryakantham, Rani, Savithri, Vasundhara, Padmavathi, Padma Jyothi and others with our Class Teacher Sri Suryanarayana and HM Sri Alapati Venkateswarlu. 

Me standing in the 4th row, next to GMS Rao (at second position from left)

2.5 I studied in Telugu medium till my XIth standard (HSC), which examination I passed in first division in April 1967 at the age of 14+ years.  During my studies between 1959 and 1967, the school had worked under four Headmasters, Mrs BA Richards (1957-61), Sri Vishwapathy (1961-63), Sri Alapati Venkateswarlu (1963-65) and Sri D Rama Rao (1965-).  Sri Rama Rao taught us English in our Xth and XIth Standard classes in 1966-67.  Sri Seshagiri s/o D Rama Rao was teaching us Mathematics and Somayajulu, his other son was my junior in School.  We were good students but were also indulgent sometimes.  In 1965-66, I was singing one day in class, waiting for teacher to come.  Suddenly, new HM walked in and shouted at us. After some days, when the HM corrected our English Test papers, and announced the result, he was shocked that I was topper, which information leaked to me even before through his son Somayajulu.  Somayajulu was a brilliant student, who passed his M.Com, CA and CS with high merit and was a professional in Hyderabad.  Unfortunately, he expired prematurely.

2.6 He maintained good friendship with me till his death three years ago. We do remember some names of teachers who taught us Mathematics, Science, English, Telugu and Hindi.  In fact, some of our classmates are in touch even now after 55 years of passing out in 1967.  Prominent among students from both A and B Sections we maintain contact now are (mostly residing in Hyderabad) Ratna Mala, Purandar, Muralidhar, K. Murali Narayana Rao, Gopala Chary, GMS Rao, T. Sanath Kumar, Ramakrishna, Siva Ramakrishna, P. Chandrasekhar, S. Chandrasekhar, D. Ramachander, TP Haridas, et al thanks to Social Media Networking.   As recent as on 8th Oct 2022, our School organised a get-together for all old students, which of course, I could not attend.

Re-union of our 1967 batch in Secunderabad in October 2019

Continued ......... 3

 

ROLLER COASTER

My Story of Seven Decades : Dr Chowdari Prasad, Bangalore, India

I completed my seventy years of age on October 19, 2022, while I was on a long vacation with my family in Melbourne, Australia spending my leisure time with my wife Smt Kondavalasa Ganga Prasad (nee Patnaik), daughter Smt Sravanthi Chowdari, Son-in-Law Sri Krishna Kumar Rao and Grandson Master Amay Rao (5 Years plus).  During the time, I decided to pen down my memories as also document certain stages of my life, at least for the benefit of my grandson.  Our daughter is now settled in Melbourne and Amay is born there, so he should know all about me. Not only family members, but I would like to share my personal and career indulgences with a large number of friends, colleagues and professional associates.

In the year 1978, I read with keen interest the 1976 USA’s Best Seller Book, ROOTS authored by Alex Haley, when my friends used to read Arthur Haley novels. Alex Haley - His Search For Roots (1977) - YouTube This book is not a Fiction, but research work by the author about his own ancestors (12 Generations of Blacks from Africa) taken to America as Slaves. Roots: The Saga of an American Family - Wikipedia.  A Television Serial Roots 1977 Cast: THEN AND NOW [45 Years After] - YouTube  was also aired in US in 1978 with the story of ROOTS: Roots (1977 miniseries) - Wikipedia.  Of course, there were some controversies too. Generally, my reading of books is limited to Biographies and real-life stories of individuals or corporates of success, rather than novels or fiction stories, from which we can take inspiration to learn and progress in life.  

I read books written by Lee Iacocca, Steve Jobs, Akio Morita, Chetan Bhagat, Ravi Subramanian, Pearl S Buck, Capt GR Gopinath, Dhirubhai Ambani, Bill Gates, MK Gandhi, Richard Branson, NR Narayana Murthy, Subroto Bagchi, Verghese Kurien, Robert Schuler, Sucheta Dalal, Jack Welch, Nandan Nilekani, Muhammad Yunus, Rashmi Sehgal, Rajesh Chakrabarti, Kishore Biyani, B Yerram Raju and on SBI, AMUL, MARUTI, GE, McKensey, etc.  There is a lot of learning in all these books. 

Last year, I associated with my senior ex-colleague of SBI, an Economist, Researcher, Risk Manager, Academician and Author of large number of research articles, columns and 15 books on SMEs, Agriculture, Corporate Governance, Entrepreneurship, Risk Management, Development Banking, Rural Development, etc who captured his 80 years of life having spent more than five decades in Development Banking.  He is Dr B Yerram Raju of Hyderabad, and the book was titled ROOTS TO FRUITS: THE JOURNEY OF DEVELOPMENT BANKER.  Yerram Raju (yerramraju1.com) DEVELOPMENT BANKER IN HIS LONG JOURNEY | AN INTERVIEW BY M.SOMASEKHAR - YouTube 

I felt the need to document my own roots and different stages of my life and career, if not of the above levels or high standards, but in my own blog called Progressive Banker with a fond hope that my next generation viz., my daughter, son-in-law, grandson, nephews, nieces or grandchildren would someday lay their hands to know our roots viz., Relatives, Family Tree or Ancestors, Hometown, Community, Language, Culture, Festivals, Food, Education, Employment, Migration to different places, etc.  Today, Life for the young / new generation may be a cake walk with all possible amenities and modern facilities, but their ancestors' travelled miles and miles to reach where we are now.

I chose to give the title of ROLLER COASTER to this story, with a view to requesting the reader to go through patiently the chronological events in my life and appreciate the UPs and DOWNs I went through in the seventy years. Some of these may be self-inflicted (like Aa Bail, Muzhe Maar) for which I own the full responsibility. Same time, I was also a victim of circumstances beyond my control, and I believed blindly in some fake friends. Those whom I thought were my Mentors, turned out to be Tormenters too.

Please click here to view a Video Clipping of April 2021 on my life titled ZINDAGI KA SAFAR, Episode No. 2 in YouTube by Dr Tuhin Bannerjee, an ex-colleague at TAPMI, Manipal: Zindagi Ka Safar : Dr Choudhary Prasad - E2 - YouTube.  Please click and view / read: Dr. Chowdari Prasad - Sistakaranam Ikyavedika (skiv.online).  Also read a brief profile on Page No. 20 of the Monthly Issue LEKHA: Lekha_Feb_2021_.pdf.

I love friends, relatives, colleagues and friendship since my childhood and at School / College / Office / Society and maintain good contacts. Since 2009, I have been indulging in or using some Social Media Platforms like 

1.Google Scholar ‪Prof Dr Chowdari Prasad‬ - ‪Google Scholar‬,  

2.Facebook (4) Chowdari Prasad | Facebook,  

3.LinkedIn (33) Dr Chowdari Prasad | LinkedIn, 

4.SlideShare Chowdari Prasad, Professor at T a pai management institute (tapmi) (slideshare.net), 

5.YouTube Prof Dr Chowdari Prasad - YouTube,  

6.Instagram Chowdari Prasad (@chowdariprasad) • Instagram photos and videos, 

7.WhatsApp, 

8.AuthorStream.com, 

9.Twitter Dr Chowdari Prasad (@ChowdariProf) / Twitter 

10.Wiziq Prof Chowdari Prasad: Commercial Banking Teacher, Manipal - India (wiziq.com), 

11.Scribd.com Chowdari Prasad CV | PDF | Master Of Business Administration | Banks (scribd.com) etc., 

12. (2) Bengaluru Karanalu (Patnaiks) | Facebook

13. (2) AIPSKA Patnaiks Raipur | Facebook (All India Pravasandhra Sista Karanam Association)

14. (2) GHS Malakpet Hyderabad 1967 | Facebook

15. (2) TAPMI Alumni Faculty | Facebook

16. Founding Member of IAABS 2015-19: about IAABS | iaabs

besides my own Blog in the name of "Progressive Banker" since 2009 and StarMaker a Karaoke App for my hobby of Singing in Hindi and Telugu since 2019.  Introduction of Prof Chowdaari Prasad 

Albert Einstein advised not to share five things with anyone. I sincerely followed him. 

Albert Einstein (11879-1955), well known German born Physicist advised not to share: 

01. The Secret of your success

02. Your problems with anyone

03. Your dreams with anyone

04. About your Earnings and 

05. Your family problems with anyone. 

My attempt would be to recap the chronology of events in my life and career, with some supporting data, links, photographs, etc to narrate the story in the following order:

01. Hometown and Roots

02. Grand Parents and Families (1952)

03. Migration to Hyderabad & Studies (1959)

04. First Job in AB and switch to SBI (1971)

05. Training, Posting and Marriage (1977)

06. Work and Life in Mumbai (1984)

07. VRS and Goodbye to SBI (1993)

08. Private Sector Jobs & Entrepreneurship (1993)

09. Switch to Academics at TAPMI (1999)

10. Back in Bangalore to ABS (2006)

11. Second Stint at TAPMI (2009)

12. Final shifting from Manipal (2014)

13. Freelancing in 2016-17

14. MSRF/ RIMS Assignment (2018)

15. Shantha Group (2019)

16. Vidya Gateway Foundation (2020)

17. Music and Karaoke Singing (2018)

18. Research & Publications (2000-2018)

19. Me and My Family

20. Lions Club, Manipal (2000-2014)

21. Savings, Borrowings and Investments

22. Social and Organisational Work

23. Friends, Movies and Books 

24. Travel and Tourism

25. Trip to Melbourne, 2022

26. Social Media and Networking

27. Summing up 

================================================================

1. Hometown and Roots (1952)

Topography of AP/Odisha Borders

Geographical neighbours : AP and Odisha 

Connection between Srikakulam and Odisha 

1. My Hometown, Place of Birth and Topography

My Native Place Kotabommali, Srikakulam Dist., AP 

1.1 My native place is Kotabommali, in Srikakulam Dist., in North of Andhra Pradesh State. My grandmother late Smt Chowdari Sundaramma used to tell us that our great grandfather Sri Venkanna Patnaik and grandfather Sri Malleswara Rao Patnaik lived in Kotabommali. It is mentioned only in my School / College records and Passport but I hardly lived or known in that place, ever since my father late Sri Ch Shanmukha Rao Patnaik (1929-1990); I am his second son) moved out for his employment in erstwhile combined State Government of Madras, and later Kurnool, Guntur and Hyderabad (AP) during 1950s. I was born in Salur village https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salur on 19th October 1952 and started my early schooling and further career in Hyderabad (from 1959) and elsewhere in last seven decades. I am now settled in Bangalore, Karnataka since April 1996.

1.2 Polaki village is the hometown of my mother, late Smt Ch. Sugunavathi (1934-2016). Kotabommali RS (Railway Station) is a small Village / hamlet in Santhabommali Mandal in Srikakulam District of Andhra Pradesh State, India. It comes under Govindapuram Panchayath. It belongs to Andhra region. It is located 42 KM towards East from District headquarters Srikakulam, 9 KM from Santhabommali and 716 KM from Hyderabad. I post here a few photos from the Internet.

1.3 Kotabommali RS Pin code is 532195 and postal head office is Kotabommali. Akkayyavalasa (2 KM ) , Jagannadhapuram ( 2 KM ) , Kurudu ( 2 KM ) , Jarjangi ( 3 KM ) , Sariyaboddapadu ( 3 KM ) are the nearby Villages to Kotabommali RS. It is surrounded by Santhabommali Mandal towards East, Tekkali Mandal towards North, Saravakota Mandal towards west, Jalumuru Mandal towards west. Palasa, Kasibugga , Amadalavalasa , Parlakhemundi , Srikakulam are the nearby towns to Kotabommali RS. It is near to Bay of Bengal. There is a chance of humidity in the weather. Telugu is the Local Language here. Total population of Kotabommali RS is 3377. Males are 1668 and Females are 1,709 living in 776 Houses. Total area of Kotabommali RS is 498 hectares.

1.4 Kotabommali in Srikakulam, (neighboring Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam Districts in North Andhra) is the focal point of Sistakaranams who have traditionally been holding the responsibility of maintaining village land records etc. Teaching is said to be the other profession the Community members are largely engaged in. In fact, there is a Karanam Bhasha, spoken language (hybrid between Telugu and Odiya) which our older members / natives speak at home. Over a period, due to political and administrative reasons, the position of Village Karanams got abolished and Govt Officials from Revenue Department manage the job now. The origin of Sistakaranams community is not totally clear but we have some literature connecting the community to Bengal, Odisha and North Andhra. Today, Sistakaranams are distributed all over..... in Telangana, Karnataka, TN, Maharashtra, Delhi, Gujarat, MP, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, North Eastern States and also abroad like in USA, Canada, UK, Europe, Gulf, Africa, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, and many other countries where they migrated in search of greener pastures.

1.5 Some basic information can be had from: http://www.onefivenine.com/.../Santhabommali/Kotabommali-RS. More from the Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kotabommali.

Continued...2

Escape Melbourne City to Phillip Island | Penguin Parade, Kangaroo & Emu...

 My Hindi Karaoke No, 179 a ghazal of Jagjit Singh ji 

My Hindi Duet StarMaker Karaoke No. 179 : Jagjit Singh's Ghazal (short) - YouTube