Retirement and after math

I will soon be superannuating on 31/10/2011 as i have crossed 60 years of age,the precribed limit for service in public sector banks.

In the process i had put in 32 years and seven months service with my bank of which almost 10 years of service was put in the present department Viz, Balance sheet and management department (formerly known as Accounts department) while the rest of the career spanned over various places, Viz as a member of faculty in staff college for almost seven years and a stint in overseas lasting almost 5 years .Thus almost 22 years of service had been accounted in these 3 places while DElhi, Chennai and Kolkatta accounted for the balance period of my service.

People have started asking me various questions at this stage . I will list them herein and try to provide answers as honestly as i could, as there are few questions for which i my self is in search of an answer.

Qn 1.Which is the best period of your service, which is the most challenging one and which is the most satisfying one?

The answers respectively are the service put in at overseas, the service in my present department and the service in staff college respectively.

Qn 2. What is it you gained and what is it that you lost in your career?

I gained the good will of thousands of customers and collegues and the relationship developed with them all thru these years is the biggest reward that one can get.What i lost is more of material in nature, as persons with similar standing in the industry and with same type of experience had moved up to even posts of ED/CMD, while i had to be contended with that of an elevation to the Deputy General Manager cadre.

Qn 3. If you were asked to mention the single lesson that you learnt over 32 years , what is it?

No one is perfect and no body can calim to be perfect as the knowldge what we possess in comparison to what is supposed to be possessed is insignificant."KATRATHU KAI MAN ALAVU, KALLATHATHU ULAGALAVU"

Qn 4. Whom would you like to thank for this successful innings of yours?

There are many.I would like to thank first and foremost, the most important person vIZ my wife who tolerated me for my late comings, indifferent timings and the change in moods arising out of office atmosphere all of which were directed only aginst her.And ofcourse my children, my son and daughter who for their age
showed such a maturity and understanding and never encroached on my time or resources which were always wanting.

Next comes my team of members at my present department who instantly struck a chord of affection and understanding with me with the result it became a team work and a team as you know is capable of producing wonders to the surpise of many around.

Next in line is my superiors all of whom had absolute confidence in me with the result i could not only assume responsibility but also freedom which should necessarily go along with responsibility, to produce the desired results.

5. How do i feel at this moment with hardly 2 days to go for super annuation?

I frankly do not feel any thing. may be i was rehearsing for this day for quite some time that i have balnced within with no emotional outbirsts.

6.What are the future plans...

This is the question for which i do not have an answer at this moment.Not that i do not have any offers.Quite a few of them from known and unknown quarters have poured in . But i am hesitant as i really do not know what i am looking for.

Certainly i am not looking any more for a bonded labour.Nor am i expecting me to become overnight a consultant with money pouring in day in and day out.A place where there will be respect for my age and experience, a place where there will be transparency and understanding, a place where i will be treated as an equal is what i am looking for, Perhaps it may take some time . But i believe that the waiting time is worth it.Till some thing crystallyse i will go back to my most favourite pass times, Viz pilgrimage and books.

People normally pay encomiums, whether one deserves it or not at the time of retirement. I am sure i will also be flooded with such praise.MAY BE I DESERVE SOME OF THEM MAY BE I DO NOT DESERVE ANY OF THEM.

But the statements made by two of my collegues , quoted below, gave me a sence of satisfaction to the effect that after all, my 32 years of service had not gone astray.
Quote

Sir,
I have not worked with you but i have been observing you from a distance, all the same.I have found in you a personality , who is not biased , who do not hesistate to point out the follies, but still command respect and admiration and above all the affectiopn of all around.
Unquote.

Quote
Sir,
I just can not think of the department with out you. I have been working with you for the past 10 years and i have found in you a figure to whom i can confide, challenge, seek guidance, admit mistakes committed and also expect that you will do every thing possible to protect our interests at the time when it is most needed in front of persons who are to decide our future career"
Un quote

I AM OVERWHELMED WITH THE LOVE AND AFFECTION SHOWN BY THE PEOPLE, one who had never worked with me and the other who always had worked with me.I shall continue to pray for the welfare of all those who worked with me like bulls, putting behind all their self interests for a common cause, the upliftment of the institution and i also pray for the growth of the institution as the career graph of all are twined with the same.

I sign off....