TOON BANK!!!

THE SYNDIAN FOOTNOTE

I have maintained throughout that Bankers have one of the most stressful job profile. In my case, it has only multiplied upon transfer from Phillaur (8133) to Ludhiana Main (8150). It is with this thought at the back of my mind, I have compiled the cartoon strips that you have just seen and hopefully enjoyed too!

These cartoons are the result of Google search and have been incorporated in the post purely for the purpose of providing some comic relief to fellow Syndians. THE SYNDIAN acknowledges the ingenuity of the respective cartoonists and does not in any way claim or wishes to appropriate the credit for the same. Thanks for poking fun on the tribe of Bankers!!!

I wish the reader hope, health and happiness.

Jai Hind! Jai Synd!

IMAGES COURTESY: GOOGLE SEARCH

THE JAR CALLED LIFE!!!

One day an expert in time management was speaking to a group of business students and, to drive home a point, used an illustration those students will never forget.

As he stood in front of the group of high-powered over-achievers, he said, "Okay, time for a quiz." 

He then pulled out a one-gallon wide-mouth mason jar and set it on the table in front of him. Then he produced about a dozen fist-sized rocks and carefully placed them, one by one, into the jar. When the jar was filled to the top and no more rocks would fit inside, he asked, "Is this jar full?" 

Everyone in the class said, "Yes." 

Then he said, "Really?" He reached under the table and pulled out a bucket of gravel. Then he dumped some gravel in and shook the jar, causing pieces of gravel to work themselves down into the space between the big rocks. Then he asked the group once more. "Is this jar full?" 

By this time the class was on to him. "Probably not." one of them answered. 

"Good!" he replied. He reached under the table and brought out a bucket of sand. He started dumping the sand in the jar and it went into all the spaces left between the rocks and the gravel. Once more he asked the question. "Is this jar full?"

"No!" the class shouted. 

Once again, he said, "Good!" Then he grabbed a pitcher of water and began to pour it in until the jar was filled to the brim. 

Then the expert in time management looked at the class and asked, "What is the point of this illustration?" 

One eager beaver raised his hand and said, "The point is, no matter how full your schedule is, if you try really hard you can always fit some more things in it." 

"No", the speaker replied, "that's not the point."

THE FINE ART OF BALANCING!

The truth this illustration teaches us is this: If you don't put the big rocks in first, you'll never get them in at all. What are the big rocks in your life? Your children, your spouse, your loved ones, your friendships, your education, your dreams, an worthy cause, teaching or mentoring others, doing things that you love, time for yourself, your health. Remember to put these BIG ROCKS in first, or you'll never get them in at all. If you sweat the little stuff (i.e. gravel, the sand) then you'll fill your life with little things you will never have the real quality time you need to spend on the big, important stuff (the big rocks)." So, tonight, or in the morning, when you are reflecting on this short story, ask yourself this question: What are the "big rocks" in my life? Then put those in your jar first.

THE SYNDIAN FOOTNOTE

The anecdote that you just read underlines the need to prioritize in life and have a healthy work-life balance. This particular story might not be new to you. In fact, there are numerous versions available in multitude forms and languages across the web-o-sphere. This edition is an adaptation from http://kanalpakkangal.blogspirit.com/

Wishing you a healthy work life balance. Till the nest time we converse, Jai Hind! Jai Synd!

IMAGE SOURCE: GOOGLE IMAGES

DONKEY'S DAY OUT!!!

One day, a farmer's donkey fell into a well. The animal crid sorrowfully for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided that since the animal was old and unable to perform his job well, it was just not worth taking the trouble to rescue the donkey.

He invited all his neighbours to come over and help him cover the well that was dry. It needed to be covered anyway. They grabbed a shovel each and began to throw earth into the well.

The trapped donkey realised what was happening and brayed piteously. Then, he calmed down. After dumping a few shovel loads, the farmer looked down the well. He was astonoshed at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up.

As the farmer's neighbours continued to pour in the earth, the animal would shake it off and take another step up. Pretty soon everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped over the edge of the well and walked away happily.

THE SYNDIAN FOOTNOTE

Krishna said: "Don't get bogged down by problems in your life and don't beg enemy for mercy. Steel your nerves, strengthen your will-power and you are bound to win the battle of life......"

The above anecdote has been adapted from an undated column 'The Speaking Tree' in The Times of India, authored by L R Sabharwal.

Let us face the problems in our life just like the prudent donkey!!!

Jai Hind! Jai Synd!

ACRES OF DIAMONDS!!!

HAFIZ,  THE FARMER

Hafiz was a farmer in Africa who was happy and content. He was happy because he was content. He was content because he was happy.

THE WISE MAN

One day a wise man came to him and told him about the glory of diamonds and the power that goes along with them. The wise man said, "If you had a diamond the size of your thumb you could buy your own city; you had a diamond the size of your fist, you could probably own your country". And then the wise man left.

That night Hafiz couldn’t sleep. He was unhappy because he was discontented. He was discontented because he was unhappy.

The next morning Hafiz made arrangements to sell his farm, took care of his family and went off in search of diamonds. He looked all over Africa and couldn’t find any. By the time he got to Spain he was emotionally, physically and financially depleted. He was so disheartened that he committed suicide by throwing himself into the Barcelona River.

Back home, the person who had bought his farm was watering the camels at the stream that ran through the property. Across the stream the rays of the morning sun hit a rainbow. He thought the stone would look good in his living room. He picked up the stone and put it on his mantle piece. That afternoon the wise man came and saw the stone sparkling. He asked, "Is Hafiz back?" The new owner said, "No, Why do you ask?" The wise man said, "Because this is a Diamond. I recognize one when I see one". The man said, "No, that is just a stone. I picked up from the stream. Come I’ll show you. There are many more". 

They went and picked some samples and sent them to analysis. Sure enough the stones were diamonds. They found that the farm was indeed covered with ACRES OF DIAMONDS!!!

SIX MORALS:

1. When our attitude is right we realize that we are all walking on acres and acres of diamonds. Opportunity is always under our feet. We don’t have to go anywhere. All we need to do is recognize it.
2. The grass always looks greener on the other side. 
3. While we are eying the grass on the other side there are others who are eying the grass on our side. They would be happy to trade places with us. 
4. People who don’t know how to recognize opportunity complain of noise when it knocks. 
5. Opportunities are easier recognized when they are leaving rather than when they are coming. 
6. Opportunity only knocks once. The next one may be better or worse but never the same. That is why it is so crucial to make the right decision at the right time. A right decision at the wrong time becomes a wrong decision.

THE SYNDIAN FOOTNOTE 

 

The cyber-world is replete with such anecdotes and we receive, forward, delete, read, ignore them through emails. The present story was stashed in a folder titled 'Gyan' in the E: Drive of my Lappy. I happened to read it and thought of sharing with you! 
Would like to hear from you, and also seek contributions from the Syndians for THE SYNDIAN in form of anything that they would want to share with all of us.   

IMAGES: GOOGLE.

नन्हा सा चिराग...

दूर कहीं एक,

नन्हा सा चिराग...

और मैं!

मुझे निगलता अँधेरा...

अँधेरे को निगलता चिराग!

जीत कर हारता मैं...

हारकर जीतता चिराग!

जल-जल कर बुझता मैं...

बुझ-बुझ कर जलता चिराग!

दूसरों पर निर्भर मैं...

वहीं, खुद ही बलता चिराग!

आँधियों में बिखरता मैं...

थपेड़ों से लड़ता चिराग!

पल-पल मुरझाता मैं...

हर पल खिलता चिराग!

डरा-सहमा सा मैं...

बेख़ौफ़ जलता चिराग!

खुद के लिए जीता मैं...

ग़ैरों के लिए जलता चिराग!!! 

THE SYNDIAN FOOTNOTE

Once upon a time, I was going through proverbial 'low' in life. One stormy evening, when power was not there and back-up had already backed out, we were left with no option but to light a candle to ward off darkness. It was when I mentally wrote this. I kept comparing myself and my situations with the one in which candle was placed. Then as I witnessed the resolute effort on the part of the candle to keep ignited in strong winds, I realized that the situations had got better off me!!!

It turned out to be a life-defining moment for me. From "Oh God! No more!!!" to "Bring it on!!!" is just a change in Attitude!

God Bless you!

THE SYNDIAN invites its readers to contribute similar spiritual experiences.

Jai Hind! Jai Synd! 

ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMRITSAR!!!

The emotional connect with the Bank was always there. But, I could never visualize myself passing cheques, counting notes, preparing accounts etc. Therefore, I consider it a 'divine providence' that I am today a part of the Syndian Family.

I have mentioned on an earlier occasion, one of the prime reasons to accept the offer for appointment in SyndicateBank was the element of serendipity that only a pan-Indian Institution can present. The very fact that I was supposed to report to Manipal made me jump with joy. And you have seen earlier, how was it ONCE UPON A TIME IN MANIPAL!!! . In the same post, I promised a travelogue on Amritsar. Here it is!

I had heard stories, read texts and seen movies about the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre. And I can safely say, that every-time it filled my heart with rage against the brutal face of the Raj. Also as a student of Modern Indian Polity, I came across the operation Blue-Star at Golden Temple (now Harmandir Sahib) and its aftermath. I wanted to visit both these historical places. Posted at Phillaur (BIC: 8133), the heart of Doaba, Amritsar was 100-odd kilometers away. This was my chance. And I made the most of it along with my parents.

Here is a glimpse of what I witnessed. 

HARMANDIR SAHIB

Spot a head that is uncovered! The view of the main shrine. Also notice towards the right side of the image, a bee-line of devotees waiting for their tryst with almighty.

The first thing that strikes you after you reach the precincts of Darbaar Sahib, is a palpable sense of peace despite the cacophony of a city bustling with pilgrims. There is a silent calm that overwhelms you as you near the shrine. And this is just the beginning! It is a date with divinity. The sewadaars (volunteers) serve with martial discipline, right from mopping the 'already-clean' floors to taking care of your shoes, offering you water for drinking and ablutions to ensuring that you have your head covered, maintaining sanity and order even as number of devotees keeps on burgeoning to serving masses in Guru da Langar (community kitchen). This is the spirit of Sikhism at display, this is the celebration of humanity, this is the practical exhibition of Granth Sahib.

I had a dip in the Sarovar followed by a darshan after a long wait in the serpentine queue of devotees and tourists. I think I kept on oscillating between the two extremes waiting for my turn. I have been all at different times: a believer, an atheist, an agnostic, a spiritual seeker. 

Those desirous of knowing more, can click here:  Harmandir Sahib .

JALLIANWALA BAGH

Brutality Bulleted.

Life-size artistic impression of April 13, 1919

All is not well.

Through an open window of the otherwise covered well (above)

The silence followed us as we traversed from the Golden Temple to Jallianwala. This was however a bit different. While at the Darbaar Sahib, it had a soothing effect on the battered souls; here at Jallianwala, the sound of silence was deafening and eerie. Just how could this happen? For the inquisitive soul: Jallianwala Bagh Massacre .

THE SYNDIAN FOOTNOTE

THE SYNDIAN invites fellow Syndians to contribute their own travel experiences afforded to them due to proximity to their place of posting or LFC/ LTC facility that the Institution provides. You can send your travelogue (preferably with photographs) to me at syndashish@gmail.com along with a brief profile about yourself. They shall find place in subsequent posts on THE SYNDIAN under the captioned label.

Till, the next time we converse:

Jai Hind! Jai Synd! 

Images Courtesy: My Phone

Links on Harmandir Sahib and Jallianwala Bagh: Wikipedia

LETTER TO BANK MANAGER!!!

An elderly lady actually wrote this letter to her bank.

Dear Sir,
I am writing to thank you for bouncing my cheque with which I endeavoured to pay my plumber last month. By my calculations, three 'nanoseconds' must have elapsed between his presenting the cheque and the arrival in my account of the funds needed to honour it. I refer, of course, to the automatic monthly deposit of my Pension, an arrangement which, I admit, has been in place for only eight years. You are to be commended for seizing that brief window of opportunity, and also for debiting my account £30 by way of penalty for the inconvenience caused to your bank.

My thankfulness springs from the manner in which this incident has caused me to rethink my errant financial ways. I noticed that whereas I personally attend to your telephone calls and letters, when I try to contact you, I am confronted by the impersonal, overcharging, re-recorded, faceless entity which your bank has become. From now on, I, like you, choose only to deal with a flesh-and-blood person. My mortgage and loan payments will therefore and hereafter no longer be automatic, but will arrive at your bank by cheque, addressed personally and confidentially to an employee at your bank whom you must nominate.

Be aware that it is an offense under the Postal Act for any other person to open such an envelope.

Please find attached an Application Contact Status which I require your chosen employee to complete. I am sorry it runs to eight pages, but in order that I know as much about him or her as your bank knows about me, there is no alternative. Please note that all copies of his or her medical history must be countersigned by a Solicitor, and the mandatory details of his/her financial situation (income, debts, assets and liabilities) must be accompanied by documented proof.

In due course, I will issue your employee with a PIN number which he/she must quote in dealings with me. I regret that it cannot be shorter than 28 digits but, again, I have modelled it on the number of button presses required of me to access my account balance on your phone bank service. As they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

Let me level the playing field even further. When you call me, press buttons as follows:

1. To make an appointment to see me.
2. To query a missing payment.
3. To transfer the call to my living room in case I am there.
4. To transfer the call to my bedroom in case I am sleeping.
5. To transfer the call to my toilet in case I am attending to nature.
6. To transfer the call to my mobile phone if I am not at home.
7. To leave a message on my computer (a password to access my computer is required. A password will be communicated to you at a later date to the Authorized Contact.)
8. To return to the main menu and to listen to options 1 through 8
9.  To make a general complaint or inquiry, the contact will then be put on hold, pending the attention of my automated answering service. While this may, on occasion, involve a lengthy wait, uplifting music will play for the duration of the call.

Regrettably, but again following your example, I must also levy an establishment fee to cover the setting up of this new arrangement.

May I wish you a happy, if ever so slightly less prosperous, New Year.

Your Humble Client




THE SYNDIAN FOOTNOTE

I received this letter as a mail forwarded by Mr. Francis Passanha, Sr. Manager (Training), SIBM, Manipal and thought of sharing with all of you at an opportune time. What better an occasion than a March 30, when all of us are busy 'Closing'! If you did not notice, THE SYNDIAN completes an year in existence. It was last year, this date when the maiden post about a HT Customer Satisfaction Survey was published. Since then, THE SYNDIAN has been coming to you unfailingly on every 30th. Of course, it was not possible in February!!! I take this opportunity to thank all 'younger than evers' who have patronized THE SYNDIAN and would conclude with something from the devil's workshop!


THE THEORY BEHIND TWO DOORS!!!
"Why does the Branch Manager's cabin has two doors?", THE SYNDIAN asked.
Fresh out of JAIIB success, I replied: "Because, for every debit entry there is a corresponding credit exit!"

Jai Hind! Jai Synd! 

MAHATMA'S MUSINGS

'A customer is the most important visitor on our premises; he is not dependent on us. We are dependent on him. He is not an interruption in our work. He is the purpose of it. He is not an outsider in our business. He is part of it. We are not doing him a favor by serving him. He is doing us a favor by giving us an opportunity to do so.'

MOHANDAS KARAMCHAND GANDHI

THE SYNDIAN FOOTNOTE

 

Today's post on THE SYNDIAN coincides with the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. The best tribute that we can give to this great son of Mother India and Father of the Nation is to follow verbatim the above quoted dictum.  

Readers who wish to brush up their comprehension of Gandhi, can click on this link: MAHATMA GANDHI'S LIFE HISTORY . 
Jai Hind! Jai Synd! 

IMAGE SOURCE: WIKIPEDIA

SIBM: A TRIBUTE!!!

In a few days from now, precisely on January 04, 2011, our batch will be completing an year in the service of this great Institution. What time could be more opportune to revisit the place where it all started: Syndicate Institute of Bank Management, Manipal, Karnataka. While the adventures and escapades have been accounted for in an earlier post: ONCE UPON A TIME IN MANIPAL!!!, it is time that tributes be showered upon the Alma mater of banking for the Syndians!

The SyndicateBank website provides the following overview of SIBM:

Syndicate Institute of Bank Management (SIBM), located at Manipal, in the backdrop of luxuriant Western Ghats, is the apex training institution of SyndicateBank for honing skills in banking and management for the bank's executives and senior personnel. The Institute was set up in November 1987. The institute has a sprawling campus of 15 acres, offering a panoramic view of the green valley on the east and Arabian Sea in the west. The fully residential Institute, with all modern infrastructure expected in an Institution of this nature, like well-equipped classrooms, library, computer laboratory, conference hall and auditorium, also offers a variety of recreation facilities, including a modern gymnasium, 5-hole golf course, mini-cricket ground, volleyball courts, indoor games, jogging track and so on. Shady fruit bearing trees, medicinal plants, rose garden and other recreational facilities are provided to rejuvenate the body and mind. The hostel has 65 fully air-conditioned and tastefully furnished rooms. 

Those interested in knowing more may follow this link: http://www.syndicatebank.in/scripts/APEXTrainingcentre-SIBM.aspx. But for our batch, it means much more. And I will once again let the pics do the talking. Have a look:

PRESENT AND FUTURE TOGETHER.....

PRESENT AND FUTURE TOGETHER.....

VITHALA SIR GIVES INSTRUCTIONS ON THE EVE OF D-DAY. WHO'S INTERESTED?

JUST BEFORE THE FIRST STEP

ATTENTIVE THEY ARE! ICE-BREAKING IN PROGRESS.

WAITING FOR THEIR TURN. INSIDE AUDI BEING HANDED OVER THE RELIEVING AND MARCHING ORDERS.

STATE OF THE ART. A SESSION IS ABOUT TO BEGIN....

REFRESHMENT AREA. CAUGHT YOU TEA-HANDED, AFTER WE HAD OURS!

THE TRICOLOUR. VIEW OF THE MAIN ENTRANCE FROM INSIDE SIBM.

LADIES AND THE GENTLEMEN!

THE GANG OF GUYS!

THE HEAVENLY ABODE. IT TRULY IS!

THE FOOD FACTORY! YUMMY FOOD, MATCHLESS SERVICE. 

THE JOYRIDE CONCLUDES. THIS AUTO HAS BEEN FINANCED BY SYNDICATE BANK, WHICH WAS REASON ENOUGH FOR US TO HOP ON AND SAY CHEESE! OF COURSE, THE LADIES CRIED LATER ON, AS THIS WAS THEIR LAST HURRAH AT SIBM! 

THE SYNDIAN FOOTNOTE

I consider myself absolutely privileged, lucky, fortunate and what not, to have got an opportunity to be inducted into the Syndicate Family at the apex training centre. The experience is etched in the memories of all of us and remains fresh as if it was just yesterday that each one of us became a part of the Syndicate syndicate!
A word of gratitude to the Team SIBM, the parts of which works as a synchronized whole to ensure optimization of returns that a trainee gets from his/ her stay at the campus. Administration, Faculty Members, Support-staff: Thank You!!!
During the course of serving this great Institution, there may come a few opportunities to be a part of training programmes at different TCs, and may be SIBM again. But nothing can match the charm of induction training. Would want to come back again, and again and again......

THE SYNDIAN wishes all the readers a HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011. May our Institution continue to make GIANT strides in Nation's service with the combined PIGMY efforts of ours! May we all stay faithful and friendly! May hope, health and happiness prevail!

Jai Hind! Jai Synd!

SYND PIGMY IN A WOMAN'S MAGAZINE!!!

Its a strange feeling. Unusual and bizarre, and to a great extent quite unlike me, but it is there. And I can't resist sharing it with you. Ironically, it is a sensation of numbness. I write this morning from Jammu and the weather is dull and gloomy. My phone does not work here! Parents do not have internet! I feel cut off, forlorn and alone in this world! Terrible! Man is a social animal, they say! And if the animal in question is as social as I am, there cannot be a bigger punishment! 

Twice upon a time when I still used to wear shorts to school, there would be thin attendances on 'Rainy Days'! And those folks who managed to reach school somehow were sent back to their homes. It used to be so exciting. Coming back from school and immediately eating the contents of tiffin! By the time the clock neared 9:30 AM, it was my routine to plead mummy not to go to office! Then she would say, "Naukri is Naukri!" Being in Jammu, I now realize what she meant!

For those still wondering about my being in Jammu (7640), I have been dispatched on deputation for a week from Ludhiana Main (8150) where I joined only last week after being transferred from Phillaur (8133)! Going places! Well, literally at least!!! 
I have something interesting to share with you. Have a look:

THE SYNDIAN FOOTNOTE

The Pigmy Scheme typifies in many a senses the equity of Brand Syndicate Bank. Wikipedia provides an article about the same. The link is here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pigmy_Deposit_Scheme
I found this feature and thought of sharing with you. You may well laugh at my reading habits! Well! During my college days at Delhi, frugality was the mantra when it came to buying books. So I will spend hours searching for old editions, bargaining for the best price. This habit has stuck. I automatically gravitate towards roadside vendors selling books of all colours and hues. This edition of 'Bindiya' was purchased from Clock Tower, Ludhiana.
What every reader can do is to take a print of the image uploaded above and prominently display on his/ her premises. In case of any difficulty, the same can be had from me. Why? Simple. It is more convincing if 'others' speak good of 'us'. I again invite the Syndians to consider THE SYNDIAN as a common forum and contribute in form of ideas, articles, images, features and what not! Where else, but at syndashish@gmail.com!
Signing off,
Jai Hind! Jai Synd!