11.1 Whatever said and done, the quality and standards of private higher education and life in Manipal is par excellence. In particular, TAPMI had the highly competitive admission process, fair selection mechanism, fee structure, curriculum design, pedagogy, evaluation and grading, general discipline of students in class room attendance, submissions, participation, assignments, rigorous screening, mentoring, students committees and overall learning, participative management by faculty members, faculty selection / promotion / compensation, faculty advisory system, placements, alumni relations, top management governance mechanism, social endeavour engagement by students, and many other aspects of campus life are almost as good as any other IIM in India. Having spent over seven years and played key role in many initiatives, I was looking for delivering same standards in any other Business School of competitive level. To me, it all begins with highly structured and fair selection of students in the admissions (Input).
11.2 In August 2008, Director of TAPMI vacated his position after having attained superannuation age of 65 years as per AICTE norms. By then, possibly he set up a record in India to have served by any Director (17 years) of a Management Institute. He brought many dynamic changes by almost imposing IIM standard, with a triple 100% conditions in Classroom Attendance, Campus Living in Hostels and Placements for students. He was also instrumental in construction of a 42-acre campus with modern facilities and hostels, in Badagubettu, 5 kms away from main town of Manipal. This campus was informally launched in January 2009 when Dr AS Vasudeva Rao was officiating as Director cum Dean-Administration. Dr Simon George was Dean-Academics. The top management of Manipal, asked the duo to bring back the old glory to TAPMI, if necessary, by recalling the faculty like me who worked hard and contributed for the growth of the Institute.
11.3 Dr Rao and Dr Simon visited Bangalore and held discussions with me in December 2008 when I showed my inclination to rejoin TAPMI, Manipal by next Academic year. In mid-January 2009, I was invited by the Students Committee of Atharva to visit the new Campus and be a Moderator for Polemic event on Banking Sector Reforms. The Panelists at the event were GM-Corporation Bank, VP-Axis Bank and CGM-RBI, Mumbai. It was a marathon evening discussion on the contemporary topic of Banking Reforms and Crisis in the industry, which went on for over two hours, beyond Schedule. TAPMI Atharva Polemic 2009 - YouTubeBrandScan @TAPMI Manipal
TAPMI Atharva 2009 / Polemic 1/7 on Banking Sector Reforms
New Campus of TAPMI Manipal, Badagubettu in 2010
11.4 In April-May 2009, I completed all required formalities for my appointment as a Professor in TAPMI, Manipal as a second stint. I quit Alliance Business School, Anekal, Bangalore in May 2009 and went back to Manipal in June, leaving behind my family in Bangalore to enable them to continue to pursue their respective employment. Ganga was with St Mira's High School and Sravanthi joined Ramco. I started living in my own flat at Premier Park, Manipal for over a year. In July we got a new Director in Dr Saji Gopinath from IIM Kozhikode on deputation for two years. With change of leadership style, our branding and ranking work took new heights. I shifted my residence to Faculty Apartments in the TAPMI Campus but living alone. TAPMI started organising Leadership Lecture Series as part of our Silver Jubilee Celebrations. AICTE was approached for our offering new programs with increased number of students intake. AACSB accreditation work was escalated. I was elevated / designated as Dean (Planning & Development) in October 2010.
Formal inauguration of TAPMI Manipal new Campus
by President of India Smt Pratibha Patil in Dec 2010
TAPMI Alumni for interaction with Peer Review Team of AACSB in 2011
Monthly Newsletter of TAPMI, Manipal edited by me
Aerial view of new campus of TAPMI, Manipal
Quarterly Newsletter of TAPMI Manipal Students edited by me
Newsletter for Alumni of TAPMI Manipal edited by me
Annual Magazine of TAPMI released at the Convocation
Received a Gold Award for TAPMI from Dr Shashi Tharoor, Union HR Minister
at Indian Management Conclave 2013 organised by MBAUniverse, New Delhi
Receiving Silver Award in August 2014 for TAPMI Admissions from Dr Subramanya Swamy
at the Annual Management Conclave of MBA Universe, New Delhi
Won Silver Award for
a Case Study titled “Experience TAPMI”
presented at the 5th Indian Management Conclave 2014 held on August
8 & 9, 2014 at New Delhi by MBAUniverse.com. It was published in a book “Envisioning the Future of Indian Management
Education” by McGraw Hill Education and edited by SR Singhvi and Amit
Agnihotri in 2015
10. Back in Bangalore / Alliance Business School 2006
10.1 I never expected that I will shift from Manipal seeking another employment, because I was doing very well in my job of teaching and academic administration. In fact, we also purchased two flats in Manipal from Premier Builders, Udupi. Sravanthi completed her School studies of Xth in 2001 and XIIth Standard from Little Rock Indian School, Brahmavara by 2003 Little Rock Indian School - Wikipedia. She joined BE in Bio Medical Engineering and was to pass out by 2007. Ganga was also working with Manipal Informatics Ltd., a BPO, as a Team Leader / Captain. She was a member of Manipal Mahila Samaj and was a President in 2003.
10.2 Similarly, I was an active Lions Club Member / Director / Treasurer / Secretary in the ccompany of elite local Konkani / Tulu friends like Dr Ganesh Pai, Dr Rajagopal Shenoy, Mr Ramesh Kini, Vincent Pinto, Benjamin Kunder, Santhosh, Sandeep, Shashi Ranjan, Dr Pratap Kumar and many others. We were engaging in Blood Donation camps, Eye check-up camps, donation of artificial limbs, Tree Planting, visiting Orphanages, Old Age Homes, etc as part of Social Work as also in picnics, cultural programs and Weekly meetings. For some inexplicable reasons, a big bunch of faculty members quit TAPMI during 2006.
10.3 I got two Offers to join viz., ICFAI and Alliance Business School (ABS) in Bangalore Alliance University - Wikipedia and I chose the second. In 2003, Dr KS Srinivasa Rao, a PhD in Statistics from Andhra University, Vizag AP, joined TAPMI as Associate Professor, but after one and half years moved out to take up as Director of KLE Institute of Management in Belgaum. He worked there for a year up to 2006. He was offered the position of a Professor cum Associate Dean at ABS, Bangalore, while I was given as Professor cum Registrar. Both joined together and were engaged in improving the quality of academics of the PGDM Program of ABS. We both have also beena engaged in writing Research Papers and Publishing / Presentation at National and International Conferences, the topics being Management Education, Banking, Financial Services, Entrepreneurship, etc.
10.4 ABS is an extension of Alliance Business Academy founded by Prof Sudhir Angur, who is an alumnus of IIT-Mumbai and IIM-Ahmedabad, with good corporate and academic experience. His elder brother Dr Madhukar Angur is an alumnus of NIT-Karnataka (Suratkal) and IIM-Ahmedabad with a PhD in Marketing from USA. He was a Professor in the US wanting to expand ABA and hence started ABS. Both brothers and other family members came together to establish Alliance University in Anekal in a huge campus of 40 acres with modern amenities, hostels, and offering programs in Management, Engineering and Law. ABS was offering a 2 year PGDM, week-end PGDM for working professionals and another program in Singapore. Course on Commercial Banking 2009Priority Sector Advances in Indian BankingWomen Entrepreneurs Networking Paper 2008
10.5 Senior Professors with high academic credentials and corporate experience were engaged as Faculty. Myself and Dr KS S Rao worked hard to give our best, seen through the transition from BTM in Bangalore to Anekal Campus but quit our jobs by mid-2009. We had scholarly faculty members in Dr GR Narayana, Prof Venkatesh, Dr Kishan Rao, Dr Baskaran, Dr Catherine, Dr Kavitha Chavali, Prof Ray Titus, Dr DNS Kumar, Dr P Janakiramudu, Dr Subrat Sahu and others in our team handling different courses in an efficient manner. A Research Journal was also published then.
10.6 In mid-2007, Ganga and Sravanthi also left Manipal and joined me in BTM, Bangalore and we stayed in the accommodation provided by ABS. Sravanthi joined MBA program in Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Bangalore offered by Marshall University, USA and completed with Marketing specialisation. Ganga took up as Vice Principal at St Mira's High School, Dollar Colony, BTM 1st Stage, very close to our residence and ABS Bangalore. Life was going smooth, but nothing is in our control.
10.7 Dr Rao came in contact with an agency 24x7 in Ulsoor, Bangalore offering Online teaching of 2-Year PGDM Courses for a Delhi based and reputed Institution. He took up Quantitative Methods course and asked me to teach Business Laws Course, which I was already teaching at Alliance. We used to develop contents for sessions of one hour duration, through PPTs and hand over to the Agency on Friday which will be uploaded in their server ready for teaching on Sundays. It was a very exciting experience.
Continued ......... 11
Thursday, October 20, 2022
9. Switch to Academics and shift to Manipal in 1999
TAPMI Manipal old campus in 1999
Dr D Nagabrahmam, Director TAPMI, Manipal
9.1 After my preliminary discussions with Director TAPMI, Dr Nagabrahmam and visit to Manipal Manipal - Wikipedia in April 1999 along with family to see the Institute, Place, School and other facilities thereat, I was offered an appointment as Associate Professor. Top Management Institutes in India, Best Business Colleges in India for Management Courses (tapmi.edu.in) He stated that MBA Education was unique and Faculty with industry background would certainly add value to students learning. He also indicated that I would handle admin position as Chairman-Admissions. Mr NG Nayak was to help me in settling down in Manipal.
9.1.1 I joined in mid-May 1999 and started understanding my role. I read all the files and books provided to me regarding TAPMI, Manipal, Udupi, etc. Dr TMA Pai was a Medical Doctor who played multiple roles as a Physician, Educationist, Entrepreneur and a Philanthropist to create Manipal. T. M. A. Pai - Wikipedia His nephew Sri T A Pai, was a Banker, who headed Syndicate Bank Ltd., LIC, FCI and then Union Minister for Civil Supplies, Finance, etc during 1970s. T. A. Pai - Wikipedia
9.2 The Pai family renamed the MIM founded by him in 1980, but died later, as T A Pai Management Institute (TAPMI) in 1984. TAPMI also entered into an MOU with SBI to distribute / sell our Admission Application forms / Brochures at their branches all over India with some terms and conditions. Already MOU was signed by TAPMI with IIMs regarding use of CAT Scores by non-IIMs for Admissions to 2 Year PGDM Program. I also started preparing two Course outlines for Management of Banks and Financial Institutions (MBFI) and Financial Services (FS), two Elective Courses for Second year students.
9.2.1 Later, it was decided that I will be sharing courses in Accounting and Managerial Communication for First year students. (Now, TAPMI is part of MAHE, Manipal MAHE - Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Admissions open for 2022 (Formerly Manipal University) Subsequently, I also taught courses like Business Laws, Entrepreneurship, Retail Banking, etc. Having started with Chalk and Black Board teaching, we moved to White Boards and Multi-Media.
TAPMI Annual Faculty Retreat to Soan's Farm in 2002
With Prof Raghunath Rudran, Raspal Singh and Students of TAPMI in Mumbai
With Prof Avinash Paranjape of Mumbai, Visiting Faculty @TAPMI
Special Session on Future Banking at Manipal Press with Mr Dhingra
of Syndicate Bank and Mr Bhat of Corporation Bank
On getting AACSB Accreditation to TAPMI in 2012
9.3 During the summer of 1999, myself, Dr Ashis and Prof Gururaj attended one week's course on Case Method Teaching at IIM Kozhikode. Prof RC Natarajan and Prof Mohan joined as senior faculty members subsequently. We also had workshops on preparing of Mission / Vision 2005 Document for TAPMI. Director also asked me to accompany Dr Sunil KP, Professor in charge of Placements to visit Mumbai and interact with Corporates. We stayed in hostels of IGIDR, Goregaon and spent about 10 days working like Salesmen, canvassing for TAPMI Manipal and its graduate students.
9.4 Two senior Faculty Members handling Academics and Administration portfolios were Dr Rajagopalan and Dr AS Vasudev Rao. The other senior most faculty member in Marketing area was Dr Simon George. Prof S Balasubramanian joined next year to play a key role in Branding, Placements, etc. TAPMI revised its Mission Statement, changed its Logo and finalised Vision 2005 Document after due deliberations. All these steps were taken towards TAPMI applying for global accreditation by AACSB International. About Us | AACSB
9.5 I played a very successful and effective role as Chairman Admissions and achieved excellent results year after year for 3 years in succession. The number of applications increased in geometrical progression due to sincere efforts of myself, the Admissions Committee, SBI tie-up, introduction of innovative methods of GD / PI, support from Admin Staff like Parimala, Sakuntala, Suneethi, Jyothi, Nayak, Bharathi, Varalakshmi and others, aggressive communication with applicants over phone, emails, Website and engaging Visitors and Alumni sharing their experiences.
9.6 This multi-pronged approach raised the applications from around 2,500 in 1999 to a record 10,000 in 2003 for the approved number of 120 seats for PGDM Program. Due to administrative reasons, I was asked to assist the Dean-Admin and take up as Hostel Warden when Dr Simon succeeded me. After two years, Prof Gururaj who incidentally hails from Udupi and an alumnus of TAPMI (1987-89) took charge of same.
Enjoying Singing Fun with Students on their Induction in 2011
Performing at Students Cultural Program at TAPMI in 2012
With Manjunath (Chief Librarian), Dr KS Srinivasa Rao and Prof R Raghunath Rudran in 2003
9.7 Life and Career in Academics at TAPMI, Manipal is more like my third innings, after Banking service in SBI till April 1993 and later in private sector till May 1999 as my first and second innings. I was engaging in Academics, Administration, Alumni Relations, Writing Research Papers, Attending Seminars / Conferences etc., in the Institute. I started many innovations in Admissions at TAPMI. In my teaching also, I made the banking courses contemporary.
9.8 One memorable initiative was when Harish Iyer, a CA with vast experience in Singapore and use of technology was invited to share a few sessions in my course for Retail Banking Sessions. Once, he prepared a ppt and handled a session from remote home in Hyderabad, while I was interpreting in IT Lab to my students to the shock and surprise of our Director. Ganga was busy with her work at Manipal Informatics and Social Work with MMS and Sravanthi was pursuing her higher education in Little Rock Indian School, Brahmawara / MIT Engineering College, MAHE, Manipal. We had two close Telugu Family Friends in Prof Alapati Vittaleswar of MIT and Prof J. Venkat Rao of Manipal Pharmacy College, MAHE. Besides, I was engaged in Social Work in Lions Club International, Manipal.
9.9 Five major annual events at TAPMI worth experiencing and mentioning are 1. Induction Program for new batch, 2. BrandScan (Marketing fair and a Credit Course), 3. Atharva (inter B-School competitions) 4. TA Pai Memorial Lecture on January 17 and 5. Annual Convocation. All these activities are passionately taken up by all Faculty Members, Management, Students, Alumni and Industry Professionals. Of course, the Admissions GDPIs, Area-wise Conclaves and Conferences, Outbound Program, Sports Events, Festivals, Placements, Alumni Reunions, Guest Lectures, MIP work, Faculty Advisory System, Toast Masters Sessions, Committees like Social Endeavour Group, etc also are given top priority. Every student on campus undergoes enormous experience in each of these events.
@TAPMI Students Cultural Event in 2012
9.10 Number of Seats and programs also went up during that time. So also, Faculty strength at TAPMI. We had an arrangement with Essae Chandran Institute in Bangalore for a second PGDM and one more PGDM program on Entrepreneurship was introduced. Placements were going on well. Besides Ranking of B-Schools by various agencies added strength to TAPMI and Prof Raja was working on preparing our application for AACSB accreditation process. Circumstances changed during 2005-06 and I quit TAPMI in August 2006 only to join Alliance Business School, Bangalore as Professor cum Registrar.
9.11 As is the requirements in Academics, I started writing articles on Reforms in Banking 2001 which was published. My next Conference Paper was co-authored with Prof Meghdoot in 2002. Later, Dr KS Srinivasa Rao and myself authored series of papers on Public, Private, Foreign Sector Banks in India and presented at International Conferences in Hyderabad and elsewhere. I also authored a Research Paper on Retail Banking along with two of my Senior Banking Students in 2005.
9.12 I received an invitation from Chairman, Corporation Bank, Mangalore to handle a Session on Cross Selling & Retail Banking for half-day to their Senior Executives, which I did along with Dr A Siva Kumar, Professor of Marketing. It was well received, and we were offered another Consulting assignment to study their Priority Sector Lending with a handsome honorarium which we both carried out during June-August 2006 and submitted to the Top Management Officials, supported by huge data.
9.13 I moved out from Manipal first in September 2006 from TAPMI to Alliance Business School, Bangalore followed by Ganga and daughter Sravanthi. By April 2007, our daughter completed her BE in Bio-Medical Engineering from MIT, Manipal (MAHE) and later joined MBA Program of Marshal University, USA offered by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in Bangalore. Ganga also took up as Vice Principal of St Mira's High School, in BTM-1, Bangalore in early 2008.
Continued ......... 10
Tuesday, October 18, 2022
8. Private Sector jobs and Entrepreneurship:
8.1 I met my friend Mr PKR (elder to me by 8 years and married with two children) in February 1981 at SBI ADB Jangaon, Warangal Dt., where both of us were posted as Field Officers. I reported from SBI, Machilipatnam, Krishna Dt after completing my assignment as Accountant successfully. I wanted to be in a Hyderabad City branch, but the Regional Office could accommodate me only in Jangaon, which is within their administrative control.
8.1.1 The place is about 85 KMs away from City and is well connected by road and rail. My friend came from Secunderabad, with some understanding that like many other staff in the district, it is easy to commute to City every day. We shared the accommodation and were not very happy with the state of affairs at the branch or in the town. We parted ways after about a year but continued friendship for next few years, even after I moved to Mumbai in 1984 and he quit the Bank's service on VRS in 1988.
8.2 Mr Reddy started a Private Limited Company/ 100% EOU for Granite processing and exports to Japan, Singapore, Australia and USA, by investing his own and family resources. It was a family business concern and was doing well. For all his overseas travels on business, he used to go via Mumbai and visit / stay with me. He availed loans from SBI in Hyderabad and was to expand by opening a Partnership firm. Two of his brothers-in-law and young son were actively handling the production related work. They also owned a furniture making business handled by one brother-in-law.
8.2.1 I was invited to join the business to handling mainly Day to Day administration and was designated as Vice President (instead of as Director, as discussed earlier). Very soon I realised that things were not so rosy as was projected. There seem to be no expansion plans like going Public or diversifying into other business areas gradually. I started looking for outside opportunities as I did not see the need for my continuing in their business anymore.
8.3 As an interim measure, my elder brother CNR asked me to invest in a large agricultural land in Bommala Ramaram village towards Bongir. The adjoining land belonged to him with an existing garden and irrigation facility. A watchman and family were engaged and located in the site. I didn't take up any agricultural activity but sold the property after a few years while I was in Manipal. Another investment I made was to join hands with my ex-SBI Senior colleagues viz., SV Chetty, BRK Murthy, T Venkateswarlu and T Appa Rao, who started Twin Cities Permanent Fund, a Nidhi Company in SBI Staff Colony, New Bakaram, Hyderabad very close to my Ashok Nagar flat in 1994. The group also opened an NBFC and a Chit Company in the vicinity.
8.3.1 Later, TA Rao and others also requested me to associate / invest in another Nidhi Company called PDPF in Ongole (Prakasam Dist), his native place. All these investments were made as Share Capital in the name of Ganga, my wife whose savings from Mumbai job were used. In due course, all these have gone dry for various reasons. I quit my friend's granite business in January 1996 to join Leafin Financial Services, Hyderabad an NBFC Company as its Vice President at Hyderabad being taken over by my Mumbai friend Mr Surendra Kumar Hegde but quit the same in April 1996 to proceed to Bangalore for another better assignment.
8.4 In response to an advertisement by The Vysya Bank Ltd inviting applications for President of their Housing Finance subsidiary in Bangalore, I sent my application. Leasing Finance and Housing Finance subsidiaries were the brainchildren of Sri Ramesh Gelli, the then Chairman of Vysya Bank. When I attended the personal interview by the Board in March 1996, they offered me to take up as Vice President of their Leasing subsidiary in Bangalore, which I did in April 1996. Sri Sadashiva Gupta (of SBI) was the Chairman and Sri G Mallikarjuna Rao (GMR) was Board Member. VBLL was headed by Mr SV Ramana, a CA as President, who is also a DGM in the Bank. Bangalore / Bengaluru (Karnataka State)
8.4.1 Within a few months' time, Sri K Rama Murthy of Corporation Bank took over as Chairman of Vysya Bank Ltd., after Gupta went back to SBI. NBFCs in general, were passing through tough challenges in carrying out their non-banking business due to unfavourable economic environment. Banking industry already experienced tough times during 1992 Stock Market Scam coupled with introduction of Financial Sector Reforms by GOI in 1993. More than doing the normal business, I was handling inspection of leased assets, recovery and legal proceedings against several defaulter customers located all over India. Lot of travelling across the country was involved.
8.5 Leasing business in general, they say is like riding a Tiger. No doubt, it is lucrative both to the Lessor (lender) and Lessee (borrower) in quick asset creation, business expansion, availing of Income Tax benefits and in terms of yield and increase in production etc. But unfortunately, if the lender has no thorough knowledge of markets or goes through financial brokers and spreads his business far and away from headquarters it is difficult to collect monthly lease rentals. Inspection and Insurance of Assets is very essential. There is also a danger of double financing against the already existing assets, wrongly shown by the borrower to more than one lender (Banks or NBFCs).
8.6 All these multiple omissions or constraints affected VBLL recoveries, and the Balance Sheet was seriously impaired, which the Board did not take kindly. All lending was done much before my joining and I landed only to recover the dues. After about three years, I made up my mind to move away and in course of my visit to Mangalore / Manipal in late 1998, I happened to meet Director, TAPMI who was my teacher in OU in 1975.
Continued ......... 9
Monday, October 17, 2022
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:
6.1 My tenure of 8 years in SBI CC Mumbai was between November 1984 and November 1992, when my age was 32 and 40 years. It is a rare and pleasant privilege to have been posted at SBI's Corporate Office in Mumbai, closely working with local Staff and Officials of different levels from all over the Country. SBI had 13 Circles at that time (now 17 and after merger of all 7 Associates). Working of the Top Management and Central Board, Policy Making, Economic Research, Legal Decisions, Approvals of Circle proposals, Collation of all-India data on various banking matters, liaising with Central Govt / RBI / IDBI / SIDBI / NABARD / ECGC / DICGC and other national bodies is of paramount importance. Commuting to Office daily is a mixed experience for each one of us, irrespective of cadre. Knowledge of Hindi / English is sufficient and of Gujarati or Marathi would be of additional advantage. Bombay / Mumbai (M.S.)
With daughter Sravanthi in Bangalore in 2013
Me, Ganga and Sravanthi in arms in Mumbai in 1985
6.2 Apart from birth of my only daughter in July 1985, I purchased my Bajaj two-wheeler in 1986, Flat in Hyderabad in 1989, Maruti Car in 1992, learnt to invest in Shares including that of SBI, and made a good number of friends from all over. I completed my Certificate Exam in Industrial Finance of IIBF in 1984, CAIIB in 1985, PG Diploma in Training & Development in 1992, part of PG Diploma in Computer Science in 1987 and two levels of Hindi (Official Language) Exams Praveen and Pragya held by GOI / SBI, all of which helped to move higher in my professional career in SBI and outside later. Having closely worked with Economists (Specialist Officers) of ERD helped me in carrying out some all-India studies and submit Reports to Top Management. I was also organising Seminars and delivered Guest Lectures at BTC-RBI, Mumbai SBI STC, Bandra and SBIRD, Hyderabad on various topics.
6.3 On the family front, Ganga's two elder sisters, Uma and Rama were also stationed in Bandra and Santacruz respectively during the same time. Their spouses Raja and Sukumar were working at ONGC and IDBI/SIDBI in senior positions. All their Children (Vanaja, Vandana, Vatsala, Giri, Sumathi and Deepu) were attending schools and grew up there. We all used to indulge in spending quality time during festivals and occasions. Navi Mumbai took shape just around 1988-89 and we used to frequently visit our relatives Mr Ganapathy of Reliance Industries and others.
6.4 One colleague in ABD of SBI Mr Uday Godse used to live in Goregaon West (Bangur Nagar) and was a good family friend discussing about old Hindi movies, stars and stuff as also taking excellent photos. One historical and unforgettable event I witnessed towards the end of my stay was the 1992 Scam, (Banking or Stock Market Scam) perpetrated by Mr Harshad Mehta of Bombay Stock Exchange, Harshad Mehta - Wikipedia which hit not only the market and banks but many top management officials of SBI and other Banks.
6.5 Living in SBI Officers' Apartments (Manish, Vidyanagar and Matru Chaya complexes) in Malad (West) was a wonderful / memorable experience. Officials from all over India including Maharashtra / Mumbai Circle lived as a community. Besides families from Hyderabad, we had some close friends like Pradeep Khosla (Patna), CL Khanna (Lucknow), Thampy (Bhopal) from other Circles too. Well-knit Andhra families, of course were that of N Sreedhar, BSR Prasad, TVS Murthy, TVLN Chary, T Appa Rao, PP Krishna Rao, for a variety of celebrations and support too. Chary suffered serious health issues and with timely support of the Bank and all well-wishers, survived and was promoted to Scale IV in 1991. Sreedhar got shifted from Personnel Admn Dept, CO to SBI Capital Markets and by middle of 1992, was selected as IBO and posted to our Toronto Branch. He moved with his family consisting of wife Mani and children Sudha and Stacky. Eventually, he quit SBI service as Asst Gen Manager and took up a new job and settled in Toronto, Canada. TVS Murthy and Vijaya were almost foster parents to our daughter Sravanthi (Sweety). We used to begin our day with playing Shuttle Badminton at 6 am, and then get prepared to leave for Office by Bus or Train by around 8.30 am to reach by 10.15 or so. Office routine was purely administrative, and lunch was at Mess and we return at 6 pm and reach at 8 pm. Saturdays were half-days but on almost all days, we used to have friendly meetings at home.
6.6. Work at Office was very professional. Your vast experience in the Circle either at Branches or Administrative Offices came very handy to handle the corporate culture from the angle of Top Management / Central Board. There was no difference in cadres / grades of Officers nor from which part of the Country you come from. Everyone used to think and display all-India or national perspective. Working or discussing with senior bosses was always a knowledgeable experience. Fear had no place in putting forth your views and interpretations taking into cognisance of pros and cons. My confidence level increased in travelling to other Circles for Study of Rural Branches either for ERD Study or accompanying Sri Solomon Raj, Dy Managing Director to Kerala and Lucknow on Official work. Great learning experience indeed.
6.7 The Indian Economy, Politics and Banking Industry was on move towards modernisation under the then PM Sri Rajiv Gandhi. Later part of 1980s witnessed emergence of new outfits like CRISIL, NHB, SIDBI, SHCIL etc., while NSE and SEBI were yet to emerge. Bombay Stock Exchange experienced an ugly Stock Market cum Banking Scam perpetrated by Harshad Mehta, called as Big Bull. Almost all Commercial Banks including Cooperative and Foreign Banks were involved in wrong investments in Stock Market and incurred heavy losses. SBI was no exception. Its main branch in Mumbai was the focal point during mid April 1992 but Treasury Department at Corporate Office was terribly affected. Several Top Management Officials heads rolled in these banks and financial institutions. Mr MN Goiporia was SBI Chairman (he was an outsider) and other seniors paid the price facing RBI enquiries.
6.8 For some administrative reasons, the Top Management of the Bank took stern decision to repatriate all those Officers with long stay in Mumbai. One after the other started leaving to their parent circles. In my case, I was to be posted as Chief Manager of Charminar Branch, Hyderabad, but due to delay in getting relieved, missed the opportunity. When in November 1992, I moved from Mumbai, Ganga and Sravanthi stayed back for completing the Academic requirements till March 1993. TVS Murthy and family came to our rescue in accommodating the two for three months, since I vacated the flat. To my utter disappointment and inconvenience, I was posted to Sangareddy branch in Medak Dt., which was 65 KMs away from Hyderabad. Branch was in good shape, thanks to outgoing CM, Shri TR Ananthan, Accountant and Staff Members. Shri T Appa Rao, my senior and friend in Mumbai was the AGM / Regional Manager and it was a mixed feeling to work under the peculiar circumstances at that time.
Continued ......... 7
Friday, October 7, 2022
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.
