What is Your Aim?

Those were the early days of our college life. One of the Lecturers had just finished his post-graduation and was in the first year of his teaching profession. We were new students and he was a new Lecturer. The new Lecturer was looking like another student in the campus with only a few years of age separating us. One of our classmates was a little mischievous. He did something in one of the sessions that distracted the lecturer's attention. The Lecturer got angry and shot a question at the mischievous student. The student could not answer and looked helpless. A veteran teacher might have handled the situation in a better manner. This student had the habit of taking many end to end walks in the only long road of the town. Everyone knew of this habit of his. Not yet used to subtle classroom management, the lecturer asked him another question.

"I see you wandering (moving from place to place without a fixed plan) aimlessly in the streets everyday. Can you not answer this simple question?"

The student shot back instantaneously. 

"Aimlessly wandering itself is my Aim, Sir"

Parthasarathy probably won the round that day. But were his long walks really aimless? 

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We often hear about aims, goals and plans. Aim is defined in the dictionary as "to intend or direct for a particular effect or purpose" and "something intended or desired to be achieved by one's efforts".  It naturally flows from this that achievement of a goal or target is the result of conscious efforts to reach something clearly defined, towards which such efforts are directed. 

Aim or Objective is important in all walks of life. Aimless efforts are often a waste of valuable and scarce resources. Time is one of the most valuable resource as it cannot be replaced or brought back. In the context of teaching and learning or training, "Aim" or "Objective" assumes paramount importance for both teacher/trainer and student/trainee. Courses or programs are planned and devised to meet specific objectives. In longer programs that run for several months or years, the basic objectives of the programs is like the blueprint of a building to be constructed. These objectives are further divided into subjects or topics with focused aims to be achieved, resembling details of each of the rooms to be constructed in that building. The learning and training objectives of each subject or topics are further sub-divided into learning points to be covered under teaching or training sessions. These sub-learning points identify the minute details of each component or item in the room. 

The entire process of learning or training is expected to achieve the desired outcome of the aggregate of all sub-learning points that go on to make the subjects or topics which in turn complete the course, and ultimately achieve the overall aims of conducting the learning or training program. It is therefore imperative that both teachers/trainers and students/trainees are clear about the aims or objectives of each session as well as the whole course and never lose their focus. Otherwise it becomes aimless wandering.

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Is there any reference in our ancient texts about having specific aims in actions? Do they deal with such aimless wandering? There are definitely many references to having well-defined aims before actions. The popular phrase used is Prayojanamanuddishya Na Mandopi Pravartate (प्रयोजनमनुद्दिश्य न मन्दोऽपि प्रवर्तते). It means "Even a fool will not start a work without seeing its utility". It is found in the 59th verse of Sri Parashara Smriti. Sage Parashara is the grandson of Sage Vasishta and father of Sage Veda Vyasa. While discussing importance of aim with his friend and classmate Sage Mitreya, Sage Parashara mentions this. The word "Manda" denotes a person of low IQ or a stupid person, mentally dull and lacking sense. The import of the discussion is that when even a dull and stupid person does not venture into actions without weighing the likely rewards or outcome, how come a man of ordinary intelligence plunge into actions? This is even more relevant in the case of intelligent people pursuing higher goals.

It is said that this phrase finds references in the works of Mimamsakas like Kumarila Bhatta, who believed that the "Karta" or the "Doer" is the centre of all activities and pursuits.

The full reference for this quotation can be seen in the celebrated work Sarva Vedanta Siddhanta Saara Sangraha of Sri Shankara Bhagavatpada or Sri Adi Shankara. Verse 12 of this work reads thus:

प्रयोजनम् संप्रवृत्तेः कारणं फललक्षणम् |

प्रयोजनमनुद्दिश्य न मन्दोऽपि प्रवर्तते ||

Prayojananam sampravruteeh kaaranam phalalakshanam

Prayojanamanuddishya na mandopi pravartate

There can be arguments that some actions have no aim. An example can be when a child smiles at someone around. What is the aim of that action of smiling and what does the child get back? The answer for the question is that the child is acknowledging someone's presence and the smile is an expression of that recognition. What is the reward? The someone at whom the child smiles also returns the smile involuntarily. The child learns the first lessons of communication and is benefited by the process resulting in its overall growth. That the child loses this innocence as it grows and refuses to acknowledge presence of others is a different matter. 

What about the actions of a Saadhaka who is indulging in Nishkama Karma? He does not expect anything while discharging his duties. Does he not have any aims? For such a person, discharging his duties without any rewards is itself the aim and goal. His actions automatically get the rewards of contentment and fulfilment.

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In summary, one should have well defined aims or objectives before actions. The actions must be implemented in the directions of those well-defined goals. The aims and goals are never to be lost sight of in the midst of actions. When there is no definite aim or when actions are made having lost sight of the defined aim, it results in aimless wandering. Then it becomes the proverbial wild-goose chase!

Trial by Bench and Trial by Jury

These are the days of Biopics. Biopics have been produced since a long time, but it has become a regular trend nowadays. A Biopic is actually a Biographical Film, that dramatises a historical or non-fictional person and use his real name. There are also many films in which real life happenings are used with suitable changes to suit the motion picture medium. In some cases names are also changed, but everyone including the viewers know the reality. Sometimes the changes made are so bizarre that real life villains become heroes on the screen or vice versa. The Lord and Filmmakers are the only two authorities who can make and unmake and make something else out of nothing. Filmmakers make subtle or not so subtle use of the sentiments of the viewing public and en-cash it for their financial successes. There are many instances of the same person, issue or idea used for production of films at different periods of time. It is also true that films on some of these subjects have an eternal appeal on the general public. Many films on the same topic have been successful at box office each time they were produced. One such recent film is Rustom, produced two years ago, in 2016. 

The case of K M Nanavati vs. State of Maharashtra (1958-59 and decided in 1961) is one such instance. The case was on a murder charge on Commander K M Nanavati for the death of his friend Prem Ahuja. The case was tried before a jury. Jury returned a verdict of 8-1 that he was not guilty. The jury verdict was overturned by Bombay High Court and Nanavati was convicted. Subsequently Governor of Maharashtra granted him pardon. It is said that Nanavati, his wife and three children migrated to Canada. Nanavati died there in 2003. 

The Nanavati case aroused lot of passion among the general public. Newspapers reporting proceedings of the case were sold on the streets for six to eight times of their normal edition prices. Nanavati pistol models were sold on footpath. Public sentiment was with the decision of the jury.

Trial by Bench and Trial by Jury are in practice all over the world. In Trial by the Bench, the presiding officer of the court (The Judge) weighs the evidence and arguments and pronounces the judgement. In Trial by Jury, the proceedings are controlled and monitored by the Presiding Officer of the court (The Judge), but the members of the Jury decide whether the accused person is guilty or not guilty. Members of the jury are selected from among the common people. After the case of K M Nanavati Vs. State of Maharashtra, jury system was abolished in our country by amending the Criminal Procedure Code. Now cases are decided by the Presiding Officer of the designated court and there is no system of using jury. That is why we see members of jury in old Hindi movies, but it is not available in present films. 

Three Hindi films have been produced so far using the Nanavati case, with changes for the films. The first was "Yeh Rastey Hain Pyar Ke" (1963) starring Sunil Dutt. "Achanak" (1973) with Vinod Khanna in the lead had some more changes for the film. "Rustom" with Akshay Kumar in the lead was produced in 2016. Akshay Kumar also won the "Best Actor" award for this role in 64th National Film Awards, 2017.

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Second anniversary of Demonetisation is being observed during this week. The earlier practice was to celebrate birth anniversary of people who are alive and death anniversary of people who left us. Now we have both birth and death anniversaries of various personalities being celebrated. The numbers have crossed the number of days in the calendars and shortly we may have to celebrate them in shifts when more than one anniversary falls on the same day. We may also have two time slots for each such anniversary, one for celebrating and one for opposing such celebrations. 

What were the goals of this Demonetisation? Is it a success or a failure? Who is to decide this? Should it be a trial by a Jury or a trial by a Bench? These are just and proper questions that can be asked, but we may never get a just and proper answer. The views expressed by various responsible personalities have more personalities in the discussion than a fair evaluation of the signs of success or failure!

Finance Minister made a strong defence of the step saying Demonetisation resulted in formalisation of the economy and increased tax base, with the Government earmarking more resources for the poor and infrastructure development. Its opponents have gone to the extent of claiming that it was a brutal conspiracy and a shrewd scheme to convert the black money of those close to the people in power. They say that drawing any other meaning to the exercise will be an insult to the intelligence of the nation. Former Prime Minister says that the scars and wounds it caused are getting more visible with time and the decision's second anniversary is a day to remember how "economic misadventure" can roil the nation.

The discourse on Demonetisation is just like what we hear in a court of law. At times it is even worse because claims and arguments made in the court are to be based on law and facts. Discussion on Demonetisation need not be with such constraints. Each one is free to mention or shout about what they feel it to be true. There are many shades of arguments:

• It was one of the brightest ideas that was implemented brilliantly.
• It was a good scheme with great success.
• it was a good idea but implementation was poor.
• It was a bad idea implemented equally badly.
• It was a bad idea implemented even worse.
• It was an ill-conceived and ill-fated exercise.

Of course, there are millions who do not know what it is actually was because they never had any money with them for demonetising. There are claims that 100 lives were lost and 15 crore daily wage earners lost their wages for several weeks. There were unending queues before banks. 2000 rupee notes were available in the market but nobody would accept them because they did not have change. There were reports that employers had one job for their workers for a month - to go the bank every day and exchange 4000 rupee value old notes for new notes. There were claims of bankers facilitating unholy exchange of old notes for new ones. There were reports of trucks directly going to houses of black money hoarders instead of ATMs. Of many more such issues and reports.

What has happened in two years? Some verifiable facts are as under:

• 99.3% of demonetised money has returned to the RBI.
• Financialisation of hidden savings took place.
• Number of tax returns filed have increased and revenue collection has gone up.
• There were huge economic, social and political costs, but returns are not clear.
• Small business and SME units suffered during and immediately after implementation of the scheme.
• Digital payments increased substantially immediately after the scheme.
• There was some suffering for Non-residents in exchanging their demonetised money.
• Digital transactions went up by 82% in 2 years. (It would have gone up by 40% even without the scheme)
• Money in circulation has come back to old levels now and it has even increased.
• Bankers had stressful days. 
• More than 40 changes in the scheme were made during implementation. One interpretation was that this was a signal of the responsiveness of government/RBI. Another interpretation was that this showed that it was an exercise undertaken without giving full thought to the repercussions.
• Many questions are still unanswered about cost of implementing the scheme.
• Counterfeit notes came down by 31.4%.
• Implementation of GST during the period has added to the fluidity of the situation.

Evaluation of success or failure of the scheme has been rendered difficult because all the goals were not clear from the outset. Though fighting black money and blocking counterfeit notes was mentioned as objectives, government did not publish a clear item by item goal list and expectations. Though the move was to have been sudden to keep the element of surprise, this list could have been published in the initial two or three days of implementing the scheme. RBI took inordinate time to put out figures of returned value of notes or the cost of their handling. Government never mentioned while implementing the scheme that it did not expect demonetised currency returned to RBI would be less than what was in circulation. When speculation was rife that a large chunk will be lost and thereby ensure success of the scheme, government played along with the hope that it would be so and credit for the same can be claimed. When 99.3% of the money has come back, it is now being mentioned that this was not an objective of the scheme.

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A proper evaluation of the scheme is impossible when the goals were not entirely clear and parties on either side are not prepared for a factual evaluation, but go by emotional judgement. Trial by Bench is not possible because nobody is prepared to establish a bench for this purpose. Trial by Jury is abolished by Criminal Procedure Code. But political discourse is now decided by Trial by Jury. There are many Trials by different sets of Jury. They would never be able to come to an unanimous verdict! Each one continues to hold to his own view; more by force of emotions and political expediency, than by stated goals on record and verifiable facts and figures. 

I Will Shoot Him Down

Holiday season is a nightmare for any administrator and more particularly to a bank Branch Manager. This is even more true of days when there are holidays on either side of a working day. Some of the staff members are excellent planners. They make a full plan of availing holidays during the entire year as soon as "Holiday List" for the next year is received. Their diary is marked with the declared holidays when the list is published. Then the leave for which they are entitled are apportioned to the in-between working days so that a longer period of leaving the work is ensured. This is done very efficiently even if such efficiency in planning is nowhere to be seen in any other aspects of their work. Of course, such planning is needed for those who have their own families living in another place. Branches or offices have their own methods to ensure that some skeleton staff are available on such in-between working days. There are some staff members who are either forced to work or are willing to shoulder the duties on such days.

This incident happened exactly 45 years ago during Deepavali festivals. Deepavali or Diwali is celebrated in our country during a period of 3 to 4 days, starting from Dhan Teras to Bali Padyami or Pratipada. Holidays are declared on some days and naturally there will be some in-between working days during the festive celebrations. As per the arrangement at the branch, I was one of the persons required to work on that day. There was the usual sound of crackers around the branch premises. Greetings and sweet boxes were being exchanged everywhere. 

The branch premises was opened for the day and we had taken our seats in the banking hall. A very distinguished looking customer entered the branch and went to the Branch Manager's cabin. Branch Manager greeted him warmly and the customer acknowledged the greetings. He took out some pass books and fixed deposit receipts from his leather handbag and placed them on the Branch Manager's table. Those were the days when computers were not even heard of. I was called to the cabin, given the pass books and advised to update them as the regular staff member handling this work was on leave that day.

When the ledgers were opened for updating the pass books, an interesting aspect came to light. The three pass books were with the same name - Lt Col S S Kashinath, Col S S Kashinath and Capt. S S Kashinath. The ledger accounts were however had full names. The names were Lt Col Shiva Shankar Kashinath (Retired), Col Shambu Shiva Kashinath and Capt. Shankar Shambhu Kashinath. Lt Col S S Kashinath (Retd) was the person who had come to the branch that day. 

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Those serving in the armed forces of the country are very particular about their ranks being recognised correctly. Staff handling such accounts are to be alive to the rules followed in writing their names and ranks appropriately. My branch manager had sensitised us youngsters about these requirements.

• A retired officer's name must be written as while in service and then the word (Retd) is to be added in the end. For example, Lt Col S S Kashinath had since retired from active service. His name was to be written as Lt Col S S Kashinath (Retd) and not as Lt Col (Retd) S S Kashinath. This is because of the principle that the officer holding the rank retires, but not the rank. This is to be meticulously followed.
• Letters sent by post to army personnel is sent to C/O APO (Army Post Office) as their actual place of posting is not known to us. APO would deliver the same to them at their place.
• A Lt Colonel is to be addressed as Colonel and not as Lt Colonel. However, while writing the name on paper or document or letter, it is Lt Colonel. But while addressing the person, it is Colonel.
• Similarly, a Major General or Lt General is to be addressed as General. But the envelope or document will carry the actual rank in full.
• Similar practice is to be followed for officers of other armed forces as well.

The three pass books before me were of three generation of army officers; Father, Son and Grandson. Father joined the army and had a distinguished career and retired as Lt Colonel. Son joined the army when the father was still in service and was presently serving in a forward position on the North East Frontier. The Grandson continued the family tradition and joined the army too. He was serving on the westren borders. Father and son were both highly decorated officers for their distinguished service. There was every indication that the grandson would continue on the same path. As per  the family tradition all of them had the surname Kashinath, but their names were Shiva Shankar, Shambhu Shiva and Shankar Shambhu respectively.

*****

After updating the passbooks, they were handed over to the customer by the Manager. The visitor took out a sheet of paper from his leather folder and gave it to the Manager. He had made some notes therein. While I was standing there for any further instructions, he spoke to the Manager thus:

"Mr Rao, we are a family of soldiers. For us, money is not that important. Myself, my son and my grandson have excellent relations between us. My son does not mind if I take his money. I will be very happy if my son or grandson take my money. That is fine between the three of us. But it does not mean that the bank can meddle with our funds. I was struggling to reconcile the balances in my account as the balance amount was much higher than it ought to have been. Then I realised that my son's salary is being credited to my account and my pension is going to him! Interest on my grandson's Term Deposits are going to my son's account. This is not acceptable to us. Should I open the accounts in three different banks to solve this problem?"

The experienced Branch Manager handled the situation very well. He politely apologised to the customer and requested for some time to study the discrepancies and settle them. The colonel agreed and said he would come in the afternoon to collect the pass books. He wanted the rectification entries to be passed so that proper balances were reflected in all the three accounts. 

We had to sort out each entry by referring to the old records. Rectification entries were passed and notes were prepared explaining the entries. Proper noting were made in the relevant records for future actions. We proceeded to lunch only after the entire exercise was completed.

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The Colonel returned to the branch in the afternoon. He verified the pass books and rectification entries. He was apparently satisfied. He thanked the Branch Manager, but said that he hoped that these things would not repeat in future. 

"Please advise your staff to handle the accounts properly. Next time when I come to the bank, I will come with my revolver. Show me the person who creates such mess. I will shoot him down!", he said while leaving the Manager's cabin.

Whether he joked or really meant it, we would never know. There was no such problem again in those accounts as long as I was in that branch. Every staff member saw a revolver pointed at him each time he saw a voucher (accounting record) relating to the account of S S Kashinath. 

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With the advent of computerisation, one hoped such instances would never happen. But that is not to be. Even now we have cases where transactions of a family or group accounts messed up due to the staff mixing up Customer-IDs and hurrying up while selecting items from drop down box in the CBS system. I had a similar case last month in one of my own accounts. May be Lt Col S S Kashinath (Retd) should visit such branches with his revolver!