Banking and me

 Although I visit India, about thrice a year, I only visit my bank during my summer vacation as that's when I am in Pune for the longest stretch- approximately 3 weeks.

One of the first things I do after settling in over the weekend is ' visit SBI on East Street'.

If lucky, I see a face or two amongst the staff, who I have dealt with before and that's quite reassuring. (The others have probably been transfered.)

Them not remembering me is another story.

After waiting in line for about 30 min or so , it's finally my turn.

I have prepared for this visit well before leaving Dxb. 

Cheque books, Account numbers, Credit and Debit Cards ,miscelleanous receipts, Aadhar cards, Pan cards and whatever else I imagine the bank may ask for.

Thus, well armed, I approach the clerk smiling. 

She or he smiles back and right away I get into the job of reminding him or her how we met the year before. While engrossed in that , the clerk attends to calls, enquires from people behind me, clicks a few keys on the computer keyboard, drinks water, sips tea and rifles threw masses of papers on the desk.

That the clerk was not paying attention to me is obvious. So my 10 minute introduction has been wasted.

I make a second attempt. 

The manager suddenly summons the clerk so I am left sitting at the desk.  

I check my papers nervously and feel relieved that I have everything I need.

Meanwhile my wife asks me if I switched off the gas before leaving the house. 

I thank her for her query with a cold stare.

Meanwhile the clerk returns and asks me if I have filled the KYC.

I reply in the negative .

So I am handed a form which I attempt to fill in. 

Proof of Dxb and local address ? I manage to get this from my phone and look up triumphantly ! 

Photographs of my wife and myself- that was a breeze . Various copies - yes I have them.

Now I come to the cards . They have not been used for a year and never work.

Getting a new password is difficult as it has to be mailed to you. 

However I usually coax the clerk who makes an exception and so that's done.

As the card does not work right now,I need to withdraw some money.

Signing on the cheque book is something I dread. My signature never matches. The clerks are always suspicious. 

They ask me questions to check.

Where have I been for a year? Why haven't I used this account?. Why don't I remember my signature? 

At times they show me my old signature and ask me to copy it. 

I fail miserably.

I once suggested they take my thumb impression as that would be easy. They said no. But I can swear I have seen people affixing their thumb impression on bank cheques before. 

My wife has suddenly remembered that she used the iron at home .... did I use it too ? 

We argue as to whose fault it is. OMG her timing is always spot on. 

Meanwhile the clerk has checked, and as expected, my signature does not match.

She then needs a sign off from the manager. My frustration makes my ears go crimson.

I peep in and smile my most charming smile at the manager. She thinks I am acting smart and requests me to wait till she checks. She keys in some numbers and looks up. I don't know whether to smile or not. It's almost like passport control

 

I volunteer to show her documentation to prove I am the real deal. She finally believes me and I proceed to get the cash. 

The original plan was to lunch out .However that plan is shelved as we need to get home to see if the gas is still burning and the iron still on. 

Holidays are fun aren't they?

 A pensive mood

A vintage Port

The lamps aglow 

Sam 'lightnin' Hopkins for company.

Asking for more?

No. 

Desiring a change ? 

No.

Could be better

Yes!

But certainly not bad !

The lazy boy 

Cushions tucked in 

Legs stretched out 

Comfortable 

A cat purring at my feet

Begging for love?

Probably not.

She is a mean kitty

And as elusive as they come!

And then

Suddenly - a phone call 

Out of the blue 

And 

It all changes. 

The mood, the music, the wine too.

And what an unexpected change 

In seconds 

I am glad.

Euphoria? 

No .

Happy ? 

Oh yes 

Life . Yes that's life. 

Patience is a virtue 

And it pays .

Dinner beckons.

A tryst with trolleys

 I hate the trolleys in supermarkets.

Ok, let me tone that down before people start suggesting anger management classes for me – I like supermarkets and malls but I hate most of the trolleys therein.  

Now please don’t get me wrong – I love shopping for groceries and walking down long isles, buying things I don’t need. Let me modify that too before people brand me a shopaholic- my wife is the one doing the buying, while I am the one who is pushing the trolley.

Back to the trolleys, and our shopping last Sunday.

We needed a few vegetables and some curd according to the Mrs. and I knew right away what that meant, as it has happened before. We go in with good intentions, but by the time we are done with ‘shopping’ it’s about two hours, I am fed up with life as a married man, and looking for the nearest bench or chair to rest my weary body, but that, after finding the washroom. When you’ve got to go, you’ve got to go!

So last Sunday was no different, but this is about the disgusting trolley that I pulled out from a line of about twenty. That’s Murphy’s law, isn’t it? You may wonder as to why I pushed it forward when I knew it was malfunctioning. Well, trolleys are sly creatures. They start out all smart and perfect and soon you are on roll – one isle after another. Then the inevitable happens. 

Like most husbands, I guess trolleys get a tad fed up too, and that’s when they start playing up. All was going well that day when all of a sudden, my trolley wheels seemed to have jammed and it came to an abrupt halt. After a few kicks and shakes all seemed ‘hunky dory’, but then, without so much as a by your leave, this monster started a game with me. It instantaneously started moving to the left. The more I tried to steer it straight, the more it kept veering off to the left. 

Before you can say “Jack be nimble”, I was banging into oncoming trolleys, knocking over large pumpkins, grazing people’s shins and knees, missing shelves of glassware by millimeters, and in general causing mayhem.

I was scolded by a rather fierce-looking man for attempting to force my way into the middle of a queue, when all I was actually doing, was trying to steer the trolley toward the payment counter. That was easier said than done. 

Did I tell you I had a bad back when I went in and this imbecile only made it worse? So here I am, limping along, back aching and pushing an overloaded trolley, that was as stubborn as a mad mule. 

After almost knocking an old lady off her feet and crashing into the payment counter, we cleared the bill and I breathed a sigh of relief. I just had to go down a small slope and then move towards the car park.

That’s when my trolley decided it needed to visit the lady’s loo. Yes, you read that right! Despite my best intentions, it went careening down the slope in the exact direction of the toilet, with me and my bad back limping along, trying to make it go straight out of the exit door nearby. 

Three ladies were chatting & exiting the toilet and I was almost inside! They jumped aside to avoid getting injured. A meter or so more, and I would probably have been escorted away by security and arrested. That would have made nasty news for sure!

My wife was oblivious to the agony I was in, as she was still looking to see what else she could buy on the way out, and that irritated me no end. 

We finally made it to the car, but not before almost scraping the side of an oncoming vehicle whose driver must have thought me insane, for seeing him approaching in broad daylight, yet walking in the center of the path in an attempted suicide mission. 

Please – can someone get these supermarkets and malls to service their trolleys?

The changing education scenario

 Change signifies progress and if there is one field that is changing rapidly, it's education and the way children are learning. 

We must also acknowledge the fact that they are more aware and literally and figuratively speaking, they have the world at their fingertips. 

Education in the not so distant future , is definitely going to be highly personalized, innovative and technology-driven and we must either keep pace or risk being left behind.

With the tremendous amount of advancements in AI and machine learning, educational systems will be able to cater to the unique learning needs of each student. We can already see the change happening in real time. 

This is being done through the use of adaptive learning software, which can adjust the pace and content of instruction based on a student's needs, performance and progress. 

Differentiation is crucial and the quicker educational professionals master the art, the better. The one size fits all model works no longer.

Online learning platforms are also becoming more prevalent, allowing students to access educational resources and take classes from anywhere in the world. 

Covid had a part to play here for sure. Almost overnight , most schools went online, thus ensuring that education did not suffer. 

There were the initial hiccups but sooon it was smooth sailing and pupils and teachers took to it like ducks to water. While observing online classes I saw change and progress happening daily. Today, books like The Encyclopedia Britannica are mere showpieces and I hardly see any value add at all.

Virtual and augmented reality technologies are now being used to create immersive learning experiences, making it possible for students to visit and explore historical sites, conduct virtual experiments, and more. In fact, we can already see that in almost all schools worth their salt.

One other important aspect of education is the emphasis on developing soft skills, such as critical thinking, leadership, communication, time management, conflict resolution, problem-solving, creativity and communication. These skills will be increasingly important as automation and technology continue to change the job market.

In addition, education will become more flexible and self-directed, with students given more autonomy to design their own learning paths and pursue their individual interests. This will allow for a more diverse, interesting and inclusive education system, where students of all backgrounds and abilities will thrive. 

The job market is seeing jobs being created, which never existed a decade or so ago. 

Blockchain jobs, ethical hackers, virtual content creators, youtubers and even online tutors or real time online entertainers are things I never even dreamed of!

This is such an exciting time for change .

At Gems Education, our schools are already well ahead of the curve. In order to continue to keep pace with the fast changing world and our keen pupils , our staff continue to research and learn. 

This is encouraging because it ensures that we are the market leaders in providing education for the future.

 

#GEMSEducation

The Number one fiasco

 The time is not too far away when airlines will start enforcing a breathalyser test for passengers.

If you think about it seriously , it makes sense.

All airlines serve liquor to passengers - irrespective of whether one is sitting in First class or economy.

The quality may differ but that's of little consequence. 

Some people can have five drinks and walk backwards on a white line while blindfolded. Others have one drink and start braying like asses. 

Of course there are some who don't drink at all and yet behave like complete morons once up in the clouds- but that's another story.

Back to this one.

In order to prevent another unfortunate episode, airlines must definitely up their game. 

You can't have drunken brawls and passengers urinating or spitting on each other.

It's shameful, utterly disgusting and so repulsive.

So airlines must think of restricting the number of drinks they offer- and enforce a breathalyser test before boarding. 

You can't continue supplying liquor at 35,000 feet or whatever altitude they fly at, and then wait with bated breath hoping no one gets drunk and misbehaves.

It's only time before some vague guy in the sky attempts to do something worse.

Now you don't need a very vivid imagination to fathom what that 'worse' can be, do you ?

So, airlines need to be decisive and proactive. 

Emirates Etihad Airways can be the game changers. 

On a lighter note , I am sure Air India will come up with a quick and concrete plan as to how they can be known as the Number one airlines - as of now, 'the number one tag ' has got people sniggering.

And for goodness sake , no one wants to be known as second best or ' Number two' ! 

That will be the icing on the cake.

Success

 Do you consider yourself SUCCESSFUL? 

I have been reflecting on this for a few days now and doing some self-evaluation too. 

In fact, I sat down and made a list of the areas where I feel I am rather successful. That surely made me feel pretty good. 

 However, I was not surprised to note, that there are quite a few areas , where I can definitely do better.

I guess a lot depends on what SUCCESS means to you. 

Is success, peace of mind? 

Is it material gain? 

Is it having all you desired and more? 

Is it a great family life?

Is it social recognition?

Is it an accomplished aim?

Are you successful when you do not fail? 

Does it have something to do with achievement? 

Can we compare levels of success? – If I did a better job than you did, was I more successful? 

Does success have anything to do with age and circumstances? 

Is success the journey or the destination? 

Is success a state of the mind? – I feel I am successful, but in someone else’s eyes, I may be a failure. 

Is success self-acceptance or achievement?

Does success have anything to do with winning? 

Is it just a perspective? 

Should we live for success? 

After quite a lot of pondering, this is what I came up with 

Success is a very personal mindset. It is a journey of self-definition, self-discovery and self-belief. It is about our own desires and sense of fulfillment. Above all, it has a lot to do with the emotional connection we have with ourselves.

Would love to hear what you have to say. By the way, do feel free to disagree.

Allahabad memories

 Today there was a longing - a very sudden urge

deep within me 

To take a walk – a nostalgic walk 

On an avenue, of the Railway quarters 

In my hometown- Allahabad.

Instantly I was transported back home 

And there I was – a young boy again

Revisiting his roots.

Those narrow, enchanting, tree lined avenues 

Predominantly ‘neem’, ‘gulmohar’ and the occasional ‘pepul’

Where I played as a boy.

It was ‘121 Traffic Quarters- third avenue’

The address has a nice ring to it, even now.

The home where I was born and raised.

Those old Railway houses – Colour washed, once a year

 Double- storied, simple square blocks

with gardens at the side, front and back.

Where flowers bloomed & vegetables were grown

 And chickens were often reared.

They laid their eggs in the hedges around the house 

And I went and collected them every morning

A chore I loved – often there were six!

There were dogs too and we had one 

 some aggressive ones that bit-

 others whose ferocious bark was sufficient to scare you away.

The hedges were low and stunted – if any at all 

Usually bushy and green with the occasional bougainvillea

Chameleons and butterflies aplenty.

Barriers and walls were a rarity back then 

If it was yours – it was mine too

The jamun, plumb and guava trees

tempted all and sundry- we picked and plucked at will. 

We were shouted at occasionally

if caught in the act – but nothing serious or of any consequence 

hence, we did it repeatedly& with impunity. 

I vividly recall 

Vegetable and fruit sellers with their carts

Shouting out the various prices while cutting through 

the narrow lanes. 

 Peanut vendors, ‘Fatty’ - the butcher, the old man with his Ice cream cart,

 ‘Bushy’, the baker, with bread, tasty patties and biscuits 

In his tin box on the carrier of his bicycle – and the bell!

The ‘box man’ with trinkets and other knick-knacks for sale,

 ‘Kallu the kabari’ with his raucous laughter 

Who knew everyone by name- he loved to gossip.

Not to forget ‘Smiler’, the toothy cloth merchant 

With his bag of fancy material for Christmas dresses and shirts. 

These were all regulars I can never forget.

All residents had household helpers who cooked and cleaned 

Everyone was either ‘baba, baby, saheb or mem- saheb’

The older adults were ‘Bara- Saheb and Bara Mem-saheb’

Many stayed in small quarters at the back of the houses

 

 Everyone sat out in winter

Lunch in the shade of the moringa tree was so nice

Although I detested the curry with drumsticks !

 

 Eating peanuts and having tea at four!

It got chilly by five – and the adults went in to freshen up 

For the evening – no TV back then – just chit- chatting!

Visitors dropped in unannounced 

Simple friendly people and oh so many of us kids 

Seemingly more boys than girls whose only ambition in life

Was to play!

The avenues were put to good use

by rickshaws pullers, cyclists, pedestrians 

a few scooterists, motorcyclists and the rare car 

Who took this short cut to the Civil Lines.

We however put it to greater use

  And played cricket, football, kings , seven tiles 

And “gulli danda’’ as well

Oh, those endlessly long, fun filled afternoons

Where, caste, colour, creed or religion 

Had no bearing.

The burning of the ‘holkar’, the playing of ‘Holi’

The Eid and Christmas celebrations 

We enjoyed them all.

The avenue lights came on at dusk

Thinking back now – they were rather dim. 

Many were covered by creepers

 that had crept up the long pole- they dimmed the lights at times

“I spy” rang out from various corners, in the late evening 

And the shrieking and shouting continued till around eight

With us charging around in groups and having a blast

Before one knew it, it was eight or somewhere around that time

When the unwritten rule said- ‘get home’ for dinner.

Uncomplicated pastimes, kindred spirits, simple pleasures, great friendships

“Those were the days my friend”