BANG...OH...BANK...!

What were we? What are we?’ This is a recapitulation of the story of India from 1956 until 2014. It chronicles one of the most wonderful systems that have ever been developed on earth by an ancient and cultured social group that had been a pioneer in the establishment of welfare measures for both the ‘haves’ and the ‘have-nots’. The system referred to here is The Indian Banking System which by its magical philosophy of “Save and Prosper” has been the instrument of change. A large group of people have benefitted in one way or the other by this enchanting industry and all that it has had to offer. They chose to pay tributes out of respect for the system – and hence this book. — Bang...oh...Bank...! But money was not everything. I realized that working in the bank brought with it a certain kind of dignity and social standing – which was quite a big deal in those days. Family future security status etc. Yes those days a bank employee was regarded highly by society. He was a sought-after groom in the marriage market. The liberalization era brought about important changes in the functioning of banks. The industry was the nerve-centre for all financial operations in the country. In order to meet the emerging need to match International Standards automation and computerization of all core banking operations became the norm — A Banker’s Diary. When the computerisation wave swept the nation’s banks lakhs and lakhs of precious public money was spent. The importance of Exceptional Reports was understood and these exceptional reports were implemented by all the banks in all earnestness. But the follow-up of the reports generated by the system and their consequences was not really done with the same amount of earnestness with which the scheme was implemented — Password Compromise. Human Resources or HR is perhaps the most valuable asset in any organisation. It is the human resource that exploits and makes use of other resources in the organization so as to achieve organizational objectives. The aim of the Human Resource Department or by whatever name it is known – such as Personnel Department P& IR and such else is established to get the best out of the workforce of the organisation. For the achievement of organisational purpose there are many sub-systems in the Human Resources Department such as Grievance Handling Counselling Performance Appraisals Career Planning Training & Development Programs and such else. — A new born baby given new life to a Bank Office. All promises became true. All performances were spot-on. This is truer than the truth. Banking in India was promising and encouraged the growth of India into becoming a vibrant and energetic economic power. That dream has now become reality. Now India has become a force to reckon with in terms of economic development. No other country can afford to ignore India. I will not for a change make a conventional call that banks are at a cross-roads. We have crossed all of them if you wish please and there are only roads ahead. Rest assured that Indian Banking will survive at all times. — Banking Highway.