I Am Not Yet Ready

 

What is the difference between human beings and animals? Can the difference be defined with a most notable single feature? It is the capacity to think, understand and relate. The human brain works at different levels at the same time. It takes in multiple inputs, sorts and understands them, store and retrieve the required parts as and when desired. There is also the capacity to transfer these stored and accumulated information and knowledge. Some animals also display such qualities but they are to a very limited extent. Dogs and Parrots are the best examples. Other animals are also trained to do certain actions and used in shows and circus. Some of them like Elephants are used to work as well so that the life of humans is simplified and made easy. But all these meet with limited success. This basic distinction also results in the capacity of human beings being able to visualise things, plan their execution and act decisively to achieve those plans. This makes human life interesting as well as complicated! 

Human beings visualise, plan and execute those plans. This requires action or a series of actions. As a human being is executing many plans simultaneously, there are multiple sets of actions in implementation at any point in time. In case of team tasks, there are multiple sets of actions being implemented by each member of the team to achieve the common goal. 

What are the basic objectives behind all these actions? This is a very interesting question. One of our well known ancient philosophers Kumarila Bhatta has quoted from Parashara Samhita (Verse 59 of 13th Chapter) that even a stupid person will not venture into something without evaluating its utility  (प्रयोजनमनुद्दिश्य न मन्दोपि प्रवर्तते - Prayojanamanuddishya na mandopi pravartate). His evaluation may be defective, but it is another matter. This being the case why does a person act in a given direction?

Each action has two basic objectives; to get rid of some difficulty or sorrow and achieve some pleasure (दुःख निवृत्ति, आनंद प्राप्ति). Thus many actions lead to a second situation (action) to rid of an existing situation. The funniest part is that each pleasure so derived often brings its own pain either immediately or with a time lag. This leads to a further action and so on....

The above chain is very well chronicled in the birth of Draupadi in Mahabharata. 

***** 

Sage Bharadwaja is one of the Saptarshis, the seven revered sages, and is credited with immense contributions to our Vedic literature, Ayurveda and many other branches of learning. He is the son of Devaguru Brihaspati and devoted his entire life to learning and teaching. He had taken a vow of celibacy and remained a bachelor. One morning he was going to the river near his hermitage to take bath and start his daily routine. Ghrutachi, a celestial nymph (apsara) had just finished her bath in the river and came up. A strong wind blew away the thin cloth she was covering herself with. She recovered her cloth and went away. Rishi Bharadwaja saw her and for a moment his mind was severely disturbed. Surprised at the happening, but satisfied that this was due to some cosmic will of the Lord, he collected the semen in a vessel made of leaves. In due course of time, a handsome boy came out from the pot. The boy was named as Drona, as he was born not from a mother's womb but a Drona, a container made from leaves. 

Sage Bharadwaja brought up the boy by giving him proper education. The prince of Panchala kingdom, Drupada, joined the gurukul of Bharadwaja. Drona and Drupada became close friends. Drupada once promised that when he becomes the king of Panchala, Drona can have anything he wants, even half of his kingdom. In due course, Drona came to be known as Dronacharya and was appointed by Bhishma as the Chancellor of the Archery and Weapons Training School in Hastinapur. Drupada became the king of Panchala. Dronacharya married Krupi,  the sister of Krupacharya, Guru of the Hastinapur kings. The son of Dronacharya and Krupi was named as Ashwatthama, who later became an important General in the army of the Kauravas.

Dronacharya was leading a contented life with Krupi before coming to Hastinapur, without asking any favours from anyone else. Young Ashwatthama was being given rice flour mixed in water as milk. After becoming friend with Duryodhana, once he had a chance to drink the real milk in the palace. Ashwatthama demanded that he be given real milk henceforth. Krupi persuaded Dronacharya to approach his childhood friend Drupada, who had now become a king, for getting a cow so that Ashwatthama can be given proper milk. Though unwilling, Dronacharya went to king Drupada. Drupada laughed at his friend and said there cannot be any friendship between a king and a pauper. Enraged at this behaviour of Drupada, Dronacharya took a vow that he would have Drupada captured by his disciples to teach him a lesson. A new set of actions were set in motion now.

At the convocation of the Archery and Weapon School in Hastinapur, the issue of giving "Guru Dakshina" (a fee by the student to his teacher) came up. Dronacharya used the opportunity and told kauravas and pandavas that he would like them to defeat Drupada, capture and present him at Guru's feet. Kauravas went first but were defeated by Drupada and his army. Pandavas went in next and Arjuna succeeded in in defeating and capturing Drupada. Dronacharya pardoned Drupada and sent him away saying that he is now gifting away the entire panchala kingdom to Drupada.

Now it was the turn of Drupada to feel insulted. He was extremely impressed by the bravery and skills of Arjuna. He now decided that he would do something to get a son who would kill Dronacharya to get his revenge. He will also get a daughter so that he can make Arjuna his son-in-law. The twin desires now put a further set of actions in motion!

*****

The task was not an easy one. There must be some method to achieve these twin objectives, Drupada thought. He entrusted the kingdom to his ministers and set forth in search of someone who could guide him to achieve his goals. He went to the forest and found a Rishi who appeared competent to guide him. The rishi was Upayaja, a brother of rishi Yaja (Similar to Indra and Upendra, Upa meaning younger brother). After hearing Drupada's request, Upayaja refused and said that he is not willing to get involved. On repeated requests by Drupada, Upayaja said that he can approach his elder brother Yaja who may accept his request. After serving Yaja for a long time, he agreed to do a holy ritual (Yagna) to achieve the objectives. But Yaja put a condition; it was not possible for him to do it alone and his brother Upayaja should join him in the conduct of the ritual! Drupada was now again forced to go to Upayaja. Upayaja agreed to assist Yaja as it was a command of his elder brother. The two brothers made all arrangements and started the ritual.

The time was set for the ritual. Drupada and his wife Queen Prishati started the proceedings. After the initial phase, Prishati was permitted to attend to the guests and arrangements at the site and advised to be available as and when called to take further part in the ritual. At the conclusion of the ritual, a divine messenger appeared from the fire and handed over the "Yagna Phala" to Chief of the ritual, Rishi Yaja. Yaja advised Drupada to call his queen Prishati to join him to receive the Yagna Phala. When the queen was called to the site of the sacred fire, she said "I Am Not Yet Ready" to receive the Phala as she was busy with some chore and had perfume in her hands. Enraged at this Rishi Yaga shouted and said that the divine events do not care whether anyone is ready to respond to them. He said that a ritual done under the leadership of Yaja and Upayaja cannot go waste nor can it wait for someone to come. He put back the yagna phala back into the sacred fire with a prayer.

As a consequence of this, a remarkable boy of about 14 years in shining armour emerged from the fire. Following him, a very beautiful girl with dark complexion emerged from the fire. The boy was named Drishtadyumna and the girl was named as Krishnaa due to her complexion. She was later known as Draupadi, the daughter of Drupada. The one born without a mother's womb (Dronacharya) was now destined to be killed by another born without a mother's womb (Drishtadyumna). Another set of actions were set in motion now.

Queen Prishati was now crestfallen. She had looked forward to be a proud mother of divine children, but now was deprived of this distinction. She was also worried as to how the two children would deal with her now that the bond a mother had with her children she delivered is absent. She requested Yaja and Upayaja to bless her. The two brothers recognised her position and gave her a boon. "The two children will treat you as if you have given birth to them. You will enjoy all the blessings and happiness a mother can expect from her children. Shower your love and affection on them as well", they blessed her. Thus ended the saga of the sacred ritual, but it was only sowing the seeds of the future actions.

*****

In all such sacred rituals, Yagna Phala results in the couple getting children delivered by the mother, but this was an exception when the children emerged from the sacred fire itself. It is a very interesting and intriguing story. 

Is there a lesson in this for us? Revenge opens the gates for another revenge, is the first one. Forgiving and starting a new chapter in one's life is more beneficial than keeping old wounds open and seeking to settle scores with our friends who may sometimes offend us. Understanding that elders and events do not wait for us and we should be ever ready, is the second. The main objective should not be forgotten while looking into allied things, one should remember. If and when something adverse happens, one should try to retrieve and salvage whatever best is possible, as done by Queen Prishati, is the third.

Do you find any other lesson as well?

Please Wait For Your Turn....

 

The mighty milky ocean was churned for a long time. Devas and Asuras joined together in this task, despite their irreconcilable differences, with the only hope of getting the "Amruta" the Nectar, consuming which would make them immortal. There were many problems and difficulties on the way, but ultimately Lord Dhanwantari emerged with the pot of Nectar. One of the Asuras stole the pot and ran away with the intention of denying the Devas of their share. Lord Mahavishnu appeared as Mohini. Just by looking at her, the one who ran away with the pot dutifully handed it over to her and everyone requested her to equitably distribute Nectar to all.

Mohini made all the Devas and Asuras sit in separate lines and distributed the Nectar. Mesmerised by her beauty, the Asuras did not even complain when distribution started on the other line. Ultimately they were denied any share of Nectar. The present day practice of our political leaders distributing the benefits of government schemes to their party-men only, has its origin here and we should not unnecessarily blame them. Asuras fought with Devas but lost the war since the Devas had now become immortal due to the effect of the Amruta consumed by them. Many Asuras were killed and they had to ultimately run away to the lower worlds. 

The Asuras did not have the Nectar, but their Guru Shukracharya had the power of "Mrutasanjeevani" with him. He restored all his disciples to the original forms. Devas came to know of this. Now they wanted to divest Shukracharya the power of this Mrutasanjeevani. Kacha, son of Devaguru Bruhaspati was deputed to the hermit of Shukracharya for this secret mission. Kacha served Shukracharya for a long time but Shukracharya did not part with the secret as he was aware of the dangers of kacha's mission. Asuras came to know of the efforts of Kacha. When Kacha went to the forest on some errands, they cut him to pieces and fed the parts of his body to wild foxes so that he will not be alive and succeed in his mission. 

Devyani, daughter of Shukracharya was fond of Kacha. She cried with her father when kacha did not return from the forest in the evening. In order to pacify her, Shukracharya used the Mrutasanjeevani process to bring back Kacha to life. The parts of Kacha's body tore open the stomach of the foxes, assembled together and came back as kacha. Such was the power Mrutasanjeevani had!

The Asuras were unhappy that Kacha has come back to life. They wanted to create a situation where Kacha would never come back to life. This time they cut Kacha into pieces, burned the pieces, mixed the resultant ashes in wine and served the same to Shukracharya himself. When Devyani again cried with her father, he said nothing can be done. But Devyani was not one to give up and she insisted that her father can somehow find a method to resolve the issue. Unable to deny his daughter, Shukracharya used the powers of Mrutasanjeevani to bring back kacha to life inside his stomach. Once he became alive, Shukracharya taught him the knowledge of Mrutasanjeevani while in his stomach. Kacha burst out of Shukracharya's stomach but Shukracharya was now dead. Kacha used the knowledge of Mrutasanjeevani to restore Shukracharya to life. Once his mission was completed, Kacha went back to the upper worlds.

*****

Banking practices were much different forty or fifty years ago. There were no computers and all records were maintained manually. Physical control of records and securities at the branch was very important. Branch Manager was the most important person and held many such records and assets in his custody. When a Branch Manager was transferred and a new person posted in his place, there was a need to physically hand over certain records and assets, including the pledged securities held in the branch safes and pledged godowns of loan customers. In order to facilitate this process, there was a procedure of handing over charge of the branch by the existing Manager and taking over of charge by the new person. Depending on the size of branch and business levels, a period of one or two weeks were allowed for this process. The incoming Manager was provided temporary accommodation in a hotel, he would report at the designated branch and start the process and proceed systematically taking custody of the records and assets. On the final day, a charge taking over report was prepared and signed by both the persons and the process would be complete. The earlier Manager would proceed to his next branch to set the same process in motion there.

During this one or two weeks period, known as Charge Taking Period, the earlier Branch Manager would continue to sit in the Manager's chair in the cabin. The incoming Manager would sit in one of the chairs opposite to him (usually meant for customers). All actions of a BM were done by the outgoing Manager till the day charge taking was complete. The process was usually smooth and the new Manager occupied the Manager's chair only after the previous incumbent handed over charge and left. The principle followed was that there is only one BM in any branch on any given day.

With the advent of computerisation and change in the method of managing things, this process is no longer followed. Time spent on charging making over and taking over and the expenditure thereon is now considered a waste. In today's banking, things manage themselves and nobody really has any control over the affairs of a branch! The illusion that things are under control make everyone happy and the world goes on...

*****

The vaccination against Covid pandemic had just started in the first week of April. Front line workers like Doctors, Nurses and other medical staff were vaccinated in the previous two months. When the vaccination opened up for the general public, persons with age of over 60 years were allowed first to get vaccinated. All these were senior citizen and the anxiety and initial teething problems in managing such a huge effort was telling on them. The large crowds at the hospitals, the process of producing and checking documents, the struggle of the dealing staff in handling the process, slowness of the computer systems in bearing the burden, handling vaccination while attending to other regular patients, all contributed to the delays. A person seeking vaccination had to stand in many Queue; starting with registration at hospital, verification of documents, checking of temperature, BP and Pulse rates, final registration and checks, vaccination proper, observation hall and so on. It was a testing time for all concerned with the added problems of masking and social distancing. 

As it happens in such situations, a new vaccination candidate landed at one such spots. There were many queues around the place and there was total confusion. The elderly gentleman (all were elderly there; the difference was only elderly, very elderly and very very elderly) stood in a queue but after sometime wanted to find out whether he was really in the right queue. He moved out of the queue and went up to the person handling the computer on the other side to make his inquiry. Others who were impatiently waiting for their turn pounced on this gentleman, in not a gentle way. "Please wait for your turn Mister! Don't jump the queue. We are waiting here since a long time", one of them shouted. Some others supported him. One or two supported the gentleman attempting to make the enquiry. Tempers ran high till a smiling hospital supervisor intervened and restored sanity.

Jumping the queue is not tolerated. One has to wait for his turn, even if otherwise eligible tor attention or the place. The rights of those ahead of you are to be respected.

*****

Guru Shukracharya was not happy with the turn of events and the defeat of his disciples. He took the Asura King Mahabali under his wings and made him perform a series of Yagnas (holy rituals) that would bestow on him the eligibility to become the Lord of all the worlds and occupy the seat of Indra, the Captain of the Devas. King Bali was the grandson of Prahlada and son of Virochana. He dutifully followed all the instructions of Guru Shukracharya. Guru Shukracharya gave him additional powers using his own special efforts. 

Armed with his new found eligibility and special powers, King Bali went to the upper worlds to challenge Indra and takeover the seat of the Lord of the upper worlds. Indra looked to Guru Brihaspati helplessly. Guru Bruhaspati told him that the times are in favour of King Bali right now and he is invincible. There is no use in fighting him now and it is advisable to handover the throne and live in exile for sometime. Lord Mahavishnu will intervene later on and resolve the issues involved, Indra was advised. Indra dutifully followed the advise of his guru. Bali took over the reins now.

*****

I was working as an Officer in one of the branches of the bank in the late 70s. There was a Branch Manager, an Assistant Manager and other staff members. Somehow there was a misunderstanding between the Branch Manager and Assistant Manager. They were not talking to each other and roundabout communication was being used. A cold war was going on and I was the mute observer. The Assistant Manager was transferred to another branch after sometime, a new Assistant Manager joined and things were normal.

Days passed and after a year or so the former Assistant manager was promoted and now posted to our branch as Branch Manager. He was to come to his old branch and take charge from his former Manager. He was not in a mood to sit before the other person for a week and go on with charge taking. He arrived on a Monday morning much before the existing manager arrived and occupied the Branch Manager's cabin and seat. Existing manager arrived a few minutes later and found his cabin already occupied by the new BM. He did not want to sit opposite to a man who was much junior to him but now in the same rank. He came and occupied a chair opposite to me. The new BM told me that he is waiving the charge taking, assuming charge on "as it is where it is basis" and the old BM can be relieved anytime he wants. Anyway, he was well familiar of the affairs of the branch having worked there only a few moths earlier.

The charge taking was curtailed to one day and the awkward time thus passed when the former BM left the branch.

****

After King Bali occupied Indra's throne and the Devas were forced into exile, it was the turn of Aditi Devi to be unhappy. Her mighty children were now refugees elsewhere and were denied their rightful positions because of the usurper. She pleaded with her husband Sage Kashyapa to initiate some action and restore the status of her sons. Sage kashyapa advised her to embark on "Payovrata", to please Lord Mahavishnu. During the first half of the month of Phalguna, last month of the Lunar year, prayers were to be offered continuously and shunning all food items. Only a small quantity of milk offered to the Lord was to be consumed as prasada, to sustain oneself. Aditi did this dutifully and Lord Mahavishnu appeared before her.

When Aditi made her intentions known, the Lord informed her that he would certainly take steps to meet her request. He advised her that he would himself take birth as her son. Since Bali was in the ascendant now, it would not be possible to displace him with power. So, the Lord assured her that he will meet her request even by taking the form of a yaachaka (one who is asking for something - beggar would be a crude word for it) before King Bali. Thus was born Vamana, also known as Upendra (younger brother of Indra and hence Upendra). 

After his Upanayana (sacred thread ceremony), Vamana proceeded to the place where King Bali had embarked on another holy ritual (Yagna). All the persons gathered at the site of the ritual were astounded by the presence of the young Vamana. King Bali received Vamana with full respects and asked him what can he offer to the young Vatu. Vamana merely asked for three measures of land for carrying out his daily rituals; the three measures by his own small feet. King Bali was warned by Guru Shukracharya not to be fooled by little Vamana; this was no ordinary Yaachaka. King Bali said he would abide by his promise come what may. He advised the boy that he should ask proper things and not insult the King by asking for three feet of land. He would give him immense wealth as anyone who got something from King Bali would not be required to ask anyone for anything for the rest of his life. On the other hand, he would himself be able to donate to others!

Vaman stuck to his request and said he did not want anything more than three feet of land. Bali reluctantly gave away the land following the prescribed procedure. The moment the transfer of land was done, Vamana (dwarf) started growing and attained the form of Trivikrama, the Giant. All the upper worlds were measured in one step and all the lower worlds in the second step. Now King Bali did not have anything else to give! When asked for the third step of land, King Bali offered the top of his head. Vamana put his foot on King Bali's head and pushed him to the Sutala Loka, one of the lower worlds. Lord Indra was back at the helm of affairs at his usual position. Normalcy was restored.

Prahlada came running and thanked the Lord for the kindness bestowed on his grandson. Where is the kindness, someone may ask. Lord Mahavishnu took one form form of Narasimha for the sake of Prahlada. But for the grandson Bali, he assumed two forms; Vamana and Trivikrama. King Bali's wife Vindhyavali requested the Lord to forgive her husband. What was the offense? King Bali said he would give something. That was the big mistake. How can he give something to Lord Mahavishnu, who is the owner of everything? Ishavasyam Idam Sarvam. Everything belongs to the Lord and others are only trustees of the concerned assets for the time being. The mere thought that i can give something to the Lord who owns everything is itself a serious lapse. You cannot donate something to its owner!

Vamana smiled and assured Vindhyavali that not only King Bali was excused, he is also conferred orders to be Lord Indra in the next Manvantara. Lord Mahavishnu will himself stand as a guard at the royal gate of King Bali's palace in the Sutala Loka, in recognition of the noble qualities of Bali.

*****

There are many interpretations that Lord Mahavishnu did injustice to King Bali. In the SrimadBhagavata, King Pareekshit asks the same question. Why innocent Bali was punished? The answer lies in the two lessons the episode of Bali and Vamana teach us. Mere eligibility does not entitle someone to usurp the seat of another and one should not jump the queue. One should wait for his turn patiently. A competent authority should issue an order for occupying any position. Secondly, everything belongs to the Lord. We are only trustees of a tiny part of his treasure that is entrusted to us from time to time. The arrogance that "I give something" is not acceptable.

How can it be said that King Bali jumped the Queue? What is the measure of time? 

The answer is here:

When measured by the length of our one year, the Yuga Cycle is as follows:

Kruta Yuga:       17,28,000  years

Treta Yuga;        12,96,000 years

Dwapara Yuga:    8,64,000 years

Kali Yuga:             4,32,000 years

(We are in 28th Kali Yuga, First Quarter - Prathama Paada))

One Maha Yuga: 43,20,000 years (one cycle of the above). 

A cycle of 71 Mahayugas (30,67,20,000 years in our measurement) is the span of one Manvantara. So far, in the present cycle, six Manvantara have lapsed; Swayambhuva, Swarochisha, Uttama, Taapasa, Raivata and Chakshusha. 

Present Indra has his reign in the seventh, Vaivasvata Manvantara. 

King Bali will get his chance in the next Manvantara, the eighth - Saavarni Manvantara.

It is also humbling to note that 14 Manvantara is one day for Chaturmukha Brahma. This is one Kalpa. Present Kalpa is Swetavaraha Kalpa. Another 14 Manvantara is one night for him. 28 Manvantara is one full day for him. His span is 100 years measured by such days! Present Chaturmukha Brahma is in his 51st Year. (Dwiteeya Parardha)

*****

When someone like King Bali has to wait his turn and should not jump the Queue, what about about us, who are insignificant in this vast measurement of time? 

We should learn to be patient and wait for our turns!

When "Six Eyes" Failed Together

 

The young Probationary Officer (PO) had just started working in the bank, after successful completion of his long training program. He was finally out of a rigorous training schedule and felt relieved that he is no longer dependent on others for his life's needs. He was now secure in his job and the monthly pay packet will take care of his financial requirements. Time had finally come to enjoy the pleasures of life, he thought. The first salary received was only for part of a month as he joined the branch on first posting in the middle of the month. The second salary was better as it was for a full month. A regular monthly credit in his account now onwards will be a routine thing. There will be increments awarded every year. There would be some salary increase once in five or six years as well. If he is able to secure a promotion, the emoluments will go up further. The very thought of these coming events was indeed thrilling.

The Branch Manager called him to his cabin in the morning and told him to check the records of a transaction put through in a customer's account a week ago. The customer had complained that he had requested for a transfer of 2,000 Rupees to an account in another bank, but his account was debited with 200,000 Rupees. He wanted immediate return of the difference wrongly debited to his account. When the application for transfer was called for verification, it was found that it was indeed a request for transfer of 2,000 Rupees. Customers have the practice of writing the amounts in cheques and applications in different manners. Some write the amount of Two Thousand Rupees as 2,000/-. Some others just write 2,000. This customer had written it as 2000.00. The last two zeros were actually meant to be paise. But the dot placed between the rupee amount and the paise was very pale and almost invisible. This was more so when viewed during the rush hours at the bank. The transaction was put through at 200,000 Rupees and hence the dispute. The amount written in the application in words clearly said it was Two Thousand Rupees only. The dot placed between the rupee and paise in figures was there when viewed carefully. The customer was right and he had to be compensated. 

Banks use a system called Maker-Checker concept in all transactions. In fact, this is extended to all other aspects of bank's working. Any action is initiated by an authorised person and completed by verification and approval by another authorised person. The one initiating the transaction is the "Maker". The one verifying and approving finally is the "Checker". The transaction is complete and recorded in the bank's computer systems only when it is approved and authorised by the Checker. It has no value in the intermediate period; after the maker's input but before authorisation by the checker. The checker can return the transaction to the maker if he is not satisfied with the action or if there is some inaccuracy. The final authority and responsibility for the transaction rests with the checker. 

In any organisation, most of the work is carried out by persons at different levels based on the basic confidence reposed in their subordinates. Each person knows whether the subordinate is diligent and can be depended upon. This is more so in respect of routine matters and small transactions at banks. A 200,000 rupee transaction is a small transaction in most of the big branches whereas it is a big transaction in a rural branch. A bunch of transactions are scrutinised and authorised by a functionary in quick time during rush hours. Probably this was one such case. Experienced bankers have seen many such events in their career. Excess payments in cash also happen sometimes. Good customers promptly return the excess money. Some do not return or become untraceable thereafter for various reasons. Tough situations indeed, but most of the time bankers manage to wriggle out of them by prompt action and some good luck to supplement.

The next logical action in the instant case now was to contact the bank branch at the receiving end and seek refund of the excess amount remitted. It turned out to be that the receiver's account had never seen such a large sum of money in its life time. The customer had withdrawn the entire amount on the very day of receipt of remittance. The bank reported that the customer was now not traceable and there were no hopes of recovering the excess amount paid. The remitting bank took the help of its own branch in the receiving station and all efforts were futile. An amount of Rs. 1,98,000 was lost by the bank.

The process of disciplinary proceedings was set in motion as per the rules and practices of the bank. Disciplinary Authority found that the young officer was negligent in his work and was responsible for the loss. The amount was ordered to be recovered from him with an interest rate equal to the cost of funds for the bank. The order stated that the amount may be recovered in 60 instalments, with interest. 

The young officer was now in deep trouble. He forgot the dates of annual increments. His chances of quick promotion had also evaporated as he was found negligent in the initial days of his work and caused loss to the bank. He was now not even thinking of wage revision. Forget increase in emoluments, he was drawing less than all his batchmates by some 4,000 rupees every month. A small error had resulted in a big setback to his career itself.

*****

A set of remittances aggregating to US Dollars 900 million was made by Citi Bank, New York to a group of lenders to Revlon, the well-known cosmetic company in august 2020, about four months ago. The receiving lenders were very happy to find the funds in their accounts. It was later found that there was an error in making the payments. The amount of 900 million USD paid (about Rs. 6,750 crores) should have actually been only 7.8 million USD (Rs. 58 crores, as per the prevailing exchange rates)! The excess payment was to the tune of 116 times. One can imagine the turmoil in the bank when this issue exploded. 

It is said that Citi Bank uses a system known as "Six Eyes" for such transactions, where the transactions are handled by three persons instead of the usual two in most transactions. The error escaped all the six eyes and resulted in a massive excess payment of USD 892.2 million or Rs. 6,692 crores. The payment process was outsourced by Citi Bank to an Indian IT major company. The first two levels were handled by employees of the outsourcing company and the third level was by a Citi Bank official. The error escaped all the three levels and thus resulted in the situation.

When the details were investigated, it was found that the remittance amounts were for the total of principal and interest due instead of only interest due for which payment was to be made. There was an error in ticking the boxes in the system while making payments. In simple language, instead of ticking box for payment of interest only, box for payment of principle and interest was ticked. Though the recipient banks were actually eligible for the amounts they received, the principle amounts were not current dues. From the details available, some of the recipients returned the excess funds while some others did not do so. The refused amount was to the tune of 500 million USD or Rs. 3,750 crores.

Citi Bank filed a case in the District Court at Manhattan for return of the 500 million USD from the recipients who refused to return the money. The judgement has now been received and the court has held that the recipients of the funds are entitled to keep the funds as they are their exact dues. Many complex issues of law are involved in the case and arguments can be made either way. But the judgement has been given against the remitting bank. Citi Bank is naturally not satisfied with the judgement and planning to appeal against the judgement in the superior court. Fingers are crossed.

*****

The last has not yet been heard in the Citi Bank remittance case. There are many dimensions to the issue and some of them are:

• Though excess remittance have been made, the amounts involved are actually due to the recipients.
• It is a case of early payments of loan as interpreted by the recipients refusing to return surplus funds.
• Complex issues of lending and recovery of the original acquisition of another company, Elizabeth Arden, by Revlon are involved. There is also an issue of collaterals in the form of Intellectual Property rights.
• There are many other contractual rights and duties of the various parties involved and there can be many solutions to the case, though they may not be acceptable to all concerned parties.
• It is premature to discuss various other aspects of the case as the last word has not yet been recorded on it.

What are the lessons for young bankers in our surroundings from these cases? They could be:

• As one of the the advertisements says, "Jaldi Karo, Jaldbazi Nahin". Do not delay customer service issues but no short cuts to be employed.
• Basic confidence in subordinates is required, but one cannot escape the fundamental responsibility of his level.
• Additional diligence is required when the lower level official (the maker) is either new to the job or passing through stress in his personal or official life.
• One should be more careful during peak work days and days following long holidays.
• There are many happenings around us in the work environment that disturb our attention. But concentrate on the tasks on hand.
• Use extra caution during rush hours and when there is undue pressure to clear a transaction or issue.
• Develop the habit of reaching work place a little early as late going puts extra pressure in work situations.
• Pressure to dispose of transactions or issues may be genuine or otherwise. One should learn to distinguish between the two.
• Extra care to be taken while handling abnormal and large value transactions. Experience teaches how to handle such situations.
• Have a trustworthy Mentor to approach when the needs arise.
• Update skills and knowledge regularly. An outdated knowledge level and deficiency in skills makes a banker a lame duck.
• Changes made in the computer software and systems are to be taken note of without fail.
• Laziness and lethargy never pays. Hard work and diligence do protect us, especially in difficult times
• One cannot be afraid of every situation. We cannot runaway from the battle field. 

It is not necessary that one should agree with all the above points.  

There may be many other learning points as well. Young bankers can add their own points. 

He Did Not Have Teeth

 

The King was a very worried man. He had just returned from a cabinet meeting after reviewing the status of finance in his Treasury. The statements submitted by the finance minister showed that the expenditure was increasing by leaps and bounds but the income was dwindling. Despite a half day discussion, they could not find even one item of expenditure that could be deleted or deferred. On the other hand, there were requests for additional funds by almost all the departments. Each department head put forth very convincing arguments as to how cuts in grants would impact the administration and people's welfare. Even after all brain storming and minute analysis, not one additional source of income could be found. Above all, the inflows into the Treasury were getting lower and lower each year. The King was recapitulating in his own mind, the discussion on the income side of the financial statements.

"Why are the inflows from taxes lower this year?"
"There was drought in some areas of the state this year, Sir"
"There was drought in some other areas of the state last year as well"
"Taxes were reduced on some items this year Sir"
"Last year taxes were reduced on some other items. These were assessed before reduction"
"Some additional expenses were incurred on war on the eastern border Sir"
"I am asking about income. Not expenditure. Can someone explain why inflows have dwindled?"

There was no satisfactory answer. The problem could lie elsewhere. The bureaucrats and ministers were not able to grapple with the situation. The King sent for the Royal Consultant. The Consultant was a wise man and had solved many problems earlier, though his fee was quite heavy. King thought of one more item of expenditure; consultant's fee. But that could not be avoided.

The Consultant came, heard the King and smiled. He said he could answer the question in words, but he would like to demonstrate the answer to the problem in the royal court on the next day. The King agreed.

The royal court was in session on the next morning. The King was seated in his place as were the other courtiers. The consultant was sitting near the King. The King asked for the demonstration. The consultant got up and signalled a servant who was stationed at the other end of the royal court. The servant had brought a big ball of butter. He handed over the ball of butter to the person nearest to him and asked the same to be passed on to the next person and so on until it reached the King. Finally the ball of butter reached the King. The King received it and looked at the consultant. The consultant now spoke thus:

"Your Majesty, you have seen the ball of the butter when my servant produced it at the other end of the court. It was of the size of a football. Please see the ball of butter in your hand. It has now reached the size of a cricket ball. Please observe what all the courtiers are doing. They are licking their palms and fingers. As the butter passed each hand, a part of it got stuck in each hand. Same thing is happening to your revenues. Revenue collected from the tax payers is the size of football. But there is some pilferage at each level when it is handled. By the time it reaches the Royal Treasury it is much less than the collections. This shows that corruption has increased tremendously. Your inflows into the treasury can increase only if the pilferage is checked".

It was indeed a very good demonstration and the reason for dwindling revenues was explained perfectly. But the King was not in a position to enjoy the demonstration. He asked the consultant after the day's session as to how this problem could be solved. The consultant suggested that some employees who are highly corrupt should be identified and dealt with firmly to teach a lesson to others. One such tax collector was identified and the King put him in the royal horse stables without giving him any work. The idea was to isolate him from fertile revenue portfolio and remove the very possibility of corruption. But the employee was kept under observation as advised by the consultant.

On the first day of the new assignment, the employee made a full round of the stables and familiarised himself about the working systems there. On the second day he went to the stables with a weighing scale and a ledger. He went to each horse, weighed the horse dung and noted their weight in the ledger. All the stable employees were amused by his strange behaviour, but he continued with his work without any hesitation. After three days, the supervisor of the stable came to him and enquired why he was dirtying his hands by weighing the horse dung. "The King has come to know that there is misuse of the fodder and horse feed in the stables. He has asked me to check the same. I am weighing the output in the form of horse dung. Through that I will calculate the quantity of feed you are giving to each horse. When the aggregate is compared with the amount of feed purchased for the stables, the amount of pilferage will be known". The supervisor told the tax collector to protect him and other employees and in consideration the tax collector would get his cut without doing anything at all. The tax collector now earned much more than his earlier assignment. The modus operandi reached the King.

The King removed the tax collector from the stables assignment. He was told to go to the river banks everyday, just sit till evening without any work and go home at sunset. No work was allotted to him. The tax collector went to the riverside on the first day and observed the scenery. On the second day he went with a ledger, sat below the tree and started making some entries in the ledger. After a few days the boats supervisor came to him and asked what he was doing. "The King has asked me to find out how many boats are there, how many trips are done each day and how much money is collected from the passengers when they cross the river. He has a doubt that you are cheating the treasury by under declaring the earnings and paying lower taxes. You will be caught now and punished". The supervisor was startled, had a deal with the tax collector and the employee started earning his cut thereafter. This episode also reached the King.

The King again called the consultant and narrated his predicament. The consultant's face lit up. He told the King not to worry. "My dear King, now you have the perfect candidate for heading your "Anti-corruption Task Force". Designate him as the head of the team as he knows how corruption is possible in every assignment. He will bring things under control. But do not pay him any salary. He can be paid a percentage of the corruption money identified. Then he will work sincerely". The King agreed with the bright idea. So was it done.

The King died shortly thereafter and the Consultant left the job. We do not know what happened after that. 

*****

Even in todays world, in many societies including ours, the position is not different on the expenditure side as well. A former Prime Minister of our country famously conceded that only 15 paise (15 per cent) of each rupee spent by the government on welfare activities reaches the poor. This statement found an echo in one of the landmark judgements of the Supreme Court of the country. Funds meant for developmental spending as well as welfare activities are swallowed all the way by sharks in the administration and their political patrons. Corruption has been institutionalised and its systems are much stronger than the administration systems and their supervisory machinery. 

One of the Chief Ministers in a state ran a very corrupt regime. Everyone including the incumbent agreed with this assessment and nonchalantly blamed the system for the same. To everyone's surprise he and his party got reelected after the first tenure. How was this possible? An analyst summed up the situation very well. The good thing about the reelected regime was that people were able to get their job done quickly once the required extra was given. It was different from the systems where one pays but does not get the job done as well. Further, everyone knew whom to approach, how much to give and how to give. There was also no discrimination. The unauthorised charges were also the same for all. The system was so equitable (!) that everybody was at ease and peace with the happenings. Why disturb the equilibrium and sow the seeds of uncertainties? Better to re-elect the regime and be comfortable! 

Some of the news headlines we came across in the last few months are like this:

• Two Crore false MANREGA cards were identified. These fake card holders were very active and worked regularly for claiming the wages due to them. 
• Some of the beneficiaries of this scheme were citizen of a neighbouring country.
• Six Lac fake midday meals claims were routinely made.
• 20,000 fake NGOs collected donations for their social work!
• 80,000 fake teachers were paid salaries regularly. One lady teacher was getting salaries from three schools in three different districts without visiting any of those schools.
• Five Crore fake ration card holders drew subsidised rations every month.
• 43,000 dead people were drawing pensions even after reaching the other world.
• 4,00,000 shell companies existed on record and aided wholesale money laundering.
• Many schools paid scholarships to students much more than their recorded strength. Even the school headmasters and the students that were paid did not know that they were receiving scholarships.

These are only specimen of wholesale pilferage of public funds on the expenditure side. The amounts siphoned off and laundered are running to several thousand crores in many cases. The records maintained in all these cases are more perfect than other genuine projects and they are regularly audited and examined as well. The stories of money diverted from bank loans is even more painful. A three digit loan scam is considered as a disgrace and laughed at as a incompetent job. These scams are shaking the very foundations of the financial sector. Many well-known names that were even decorated with awards suddenly surface in such scams.

*****

During my childhood days I had heard a Sanskrit verse about corrupt revenue officials who would eat and swallow anything from iron and stones to garbage. There was also a case of a stolen well from the agricultural lands of a farmer. All the documents were perfect and the money was spent for digging a very beautiful well in the farmer's land. Money spent was accurately accounted. The only problem was that the farmer did not have a well in his lands. He was forced to give a complaint that his well was stolen by somebody.

It is a beautiful verse and even after sixty years it still lingers in the memory. It runs like this:

ग्रामाधिकारी गर्भस्तः मात्रु मांसम् न खादति |

पापभीत्या न मन्तव्यम् दन्ताभवत्व हेतुना ||

Gramaadhikari Garbhastaha Maatru Maamsam na Khadati

Paapabheetya Na Mantavyaha Dantaabhavatva Hetuna!

The word "Grama" means village in Sanskrit and many other Indian Languages. Adhikari means an official or officer. Gramadhikari represents a government official at the village level. He is born to eat things (meaning he has a cut on anything he comes across). He is born with a mission to swallow things around him. The only thing he did not eat in his life is the meat in the mothers womb, when he was there. That he did not eat it was not because of any fear of committing a sin, for eating mother's womb would be the worst kind of sin one can imagine. The real reason for not eating it was because he did not have teeth then. Had he got teeth in the womb, he would have eaten her womb itself!

*****

It is often said that only two have "Vishwaroopa" or are "Omnipresent". The Supreme Lord and Corruption. The first we can understand and feel with dedicated efforts and higher learning. The second is felt without any difficulty, even if we do not want the same.

Jada Bharata to Ronald Nixon

There are three personalities with the name of "Bharata" that adore our epics. They are from different periods in time and belong to different clans. All of them are well-known for their valour and rich contributions our land. 

The first Bharata is a part of Adikavi Valmeeki's immortal work "Ramayana". He belongs to the Surya Vamsha (Sun Dynasty) and better known for the 14 year period as ruler of kingdom of Ayodhya. As brother of SriRama, he took care of the affairs of the state as a representative of his elder brother when he was banished to the forests for that period. Though he could have occupied the throne of Ayodhya himself, he chose to be a shadow of his great brother and attained an exalted position due to his qualities of brotherly love and sacrifice, among others. 

The second Bharata finds mention in the epic "Adi Purana" of Poet Jinasena, that describes the life and times of Rishabadeva, the first Tirthankkara in Jainism. The story of the two sons of Rishabadeva, Bharata and Bahubali is well known. This Bharata was also a great warrior and King, though his younger brother Bahubali is more praised and later became known as Gomateshwara. A Kannada Epic "Bharatesha Vaibhava" by Poet Ratnakara Varni in Kannada language describes the life of this Bharata Chakravarthy. (Please click here to read about this.)

The third Bharata finds mention in the epic "Mahabharata" of Veda Vyasa, in the Adi Parva. This Bharata was born in the Chandra Vamsha (Lunar Dynasty). He was the son of King Dushyantha and Shakuntala. Mahakavi Kalidasa has used the story of Dushyantha and Shakuntala as the base for his epic "Abhignana Shakuntalam". This Bharata is the king after whom our land got its name "Bharata". The land known as Aryavarta was called Bharatvarsha after this great Emperor. Those who have seen the tele- serial Mahabharata by B R Chopra will recall that the serial starts with this Emperor Bharata in episode 1.

*****

Bharata was said to be in mother Shakuntala's womb for 36 months and born as a very strong child. Due to his capacity of subduing even the strongest of wild animals he was named as "Sarvadamana", meaning one who can conquer everyone. After succeeding his father as the King, he won over large areas of land and expanded his Kingdom that reached out to the present parts of Russia, China, Iran and Eastern parts of Asia as well. He was a model and just ruler. It is also said that he was the emperor who sowed the seeds of democracy and chose an outsider as his successor though he had nine sons. He believed that none of his nine sons had the qualities to succeed him as the Emperor. 

After handing over the reins of the kingdom to his successor, Bharata proceed to the forests to live the life of a Vanaprastha, away from the lures of the worldly pleasures. He lived on the banks of the river Chakra and spent all his time in penance. While sitting on the banks of the river, one day he saw a pregnant Doe (female deer) drinking water in the river. There was a big roar of a lion nearby and the Doe became scared, stopped drinking water and jumped to the other bank of the river. The doe delivered the baby deer in mid flight and the baby deer was dropped in the flowing waters and being washed away. The mother Doe reached the other bank, hit a rock and died instantly. All this happened in a flash. Bharata jumped into the river and rescued the baby deer from drowning. As the mother had died, Bharata started taking care of the baby deer. His life changed and the deer became everything for him now! The king who renounced his Kingdom became a prisoner in the love of the baby deer. Shortly thereafter his end came and he died thinking of the baby deer and about its welfare after his death.

As he died thinking of the Deer, Bharata was born in the next life as a Deer. Because of his earlier penances, though born as a deer, he had the memories of the earlier birth and he continued his saadhana in that life also. As a deer he would always be moving and staying around the hermits of the rishis, listening to their discourse and hearing their discussions about the Lord. As a result he was born as a scholar's son in the next life.

Bharata in this life ignored all earthly pleasures and lived like a deaf and dumb boy even though he was perfectly alright. He would not talk to anybody and appeared inert to this world. He was now known as Jada (Inert) Bharata or Jada Bharata. People around made fun of him and called him stupid, but that did not matter to him. One of the Kings needed a human for being sacrificed in a ritual before godess Kaali. Jada Bharata was picked up by his servants and led to the sacrificial altar. Even when the sword was to be lowered on his neck in the ritual, he did not flinch. The mother godess appeared and killed all the others and released him. He continued to live in inner penance but appeared as stupid to outsiders.

King Rahoogana was now ruling the land. On a particular when he was travelling in his land, his servants found one person short to carry his palanquin (palki or pallakki). When they were looking for a person to fill the gap, they found Jada Bharata nearby. They found him fit for the job and drafted him to carry the palanquin. Jada Bharata quietly joined the pall bearers. While carrying the palanquin, he would jump whenever he found an insect on the way to avoid stepping on it. This resulted in violent shaking of the palki and caused severe discomfort to the King sitting in the palki. Rahoogana shouted at him but Jada Bharata did not change his ways. When the palanquin shook with very violent jerk, the King lost his patience and shouted that he would award death penalty to Jada Bharata. Jada Bharata now spoke for the first time and asked the King whether the punishment would be for the body or the soul. The King was taken aback and realised that this was no ordinary person. 

He requested Jada Bharata to accept him as his disciple and took him to the palace. He later learnt that Jada Bharata was his ancestor in earlier life. In due course Jada Bharata attained salvation. His story is remembered with respect and admiration even today.

****

Ronald Henry Nixon (1888-1965) was born in England and educated at Taunton. He became a British fighter pilot during World War I. Elevated as a Flying Officer in Royal Flying Corps in 1917, he had a miraculous escape when surrounded by many enemy planes. He had several close encounters with death during those days. He left air force at the end of the war and went to Kings College, Cambridge to study English Literature. During his studies there he developed interest in spiritual life, Hinduism and Buddhism. He got an offer to teach English literature in Lucknow University in India. He accepted the offer, came to India and taught in Lucknow University for some time. While so working he became close to the first Vice Chancellor of the university Shri Gyanendra Nath Chakravarti. He became a disciple of Gyanendra Nath's wife Monika Devi and pursued his spiritual journey.

When the family of Gyanendra Nath moved to Varanasi, Ronald Nixon also moved and joined Benaras Hindu University and taught English literature there. Monika Devi later renounced the world and became a sanyasi under the name Sri Yashoda Mai. The bright English Professor Ronald Nixon also chose to quit his job in BHU and became a sanyasi. People around him made fun of him but it did not matter to him. He learnt Urdu, Hindi, Sanskrit and studied various texts relating to spiritualism. He took sanyas later under the name of Sri Krishna Prem. Sri yashoda Mai and Sri Krishna Prem together founded the Mirtola Ashram in present Uttaranchal. Sri Krishna Prem travelled to South India to have interaction with Sri Ramana Maharshi and Sri Aurobindo. Sri Krishna Prem was widely accepted by Indian disciples, and the then President of India Ir S Radhakrishnan held him in high esteem for his spiritual knowledge. 

Sri Krishna Prem lived his last years in the Mirtola Ashram, on the Almora - Pithoragarh Road. Entry of foreigners was banned to Badrinath in those days, after the Indo-china war. Nehru Government gave special permission to Sri Krishna Prem to visit Badrinath and prey there. He has authored many books on the spiritual pursuits. It is said that that Sri Krishna Prem, known as Gopal Das to his disciples, used to offer fruits to the Krishna idols he worshipped, close the doors of the pooja room, come out and offer prayers. When the doors were reopened, the plate in which the fruits were kept would be empty. Sri Krishna Prem was known to say "My Krishna Really Eats!". This was not an occasional occurrence, but repeated many times.

*****

Bannanje Govindacharya (1936-2020) who passed away recently and known for his discourses rich in content and delivery, has made references to Sri Krishna Prem in his discourses. One such reference led to further learning about Sri Krishna Prem and this blog post.

Many enlightened souls would be around us and look like stupid and inert human beings. We may not be able to recognise them, but it does not matter to them. They concentrate on their spiritual pursuits and are oblivious to their surroundings.