A STATE BANK INTERVIEW SCENE.

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We were sixteen persons selected for final interview. That was an all India selection for Probationary officer's post in State Bank of India.

We had come all prepared. Necessary advance notice of the interview was received by every candidate one month before the interview by registered post. It meant that each one of us had received ample time for preparation.

All India recruitment board of SBI had arrived well in time. Though they were present in the interview room around 9.30am interview was to commence only at 10-30 am.

The head of the local head office of State Bank of India came out of his chamber before the interview commenced. He had a survey of the scene outside the interview room. For a moment he just looked at the sixteen candidates who were sitting outside and waiting for the interview.

As if he observed something, suddenly he moved towards a candidate quietly sitting in a corner there. Candidate got up. Now the officer told him "You have still time. You can go and have a change of dress," thereby he meant that all others had come in suits and his dress did not suit the occasion.

This candidate was wearing only a casual dress of pants and shirt. State Bank chief was not pleased with this dress. Though there was no dress code, he perhaps thought that the candidate's dress did not suit the occasion and mood of such an all India interview.

The candidate was a close friend of mine. My friend was not in a mood to go for a change of dress. Perhaps he did not have the dress ready at his place. And naturally so. I had got the suit specially stitched for the interview purpose only.

My friend looked a sad man. Bank chief was in fact trying to help him by giving his advice. In effect this spoilt the mood of my friend.

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It was true that my friend was not wearing a suit on the day of interview.

But what was interesting in this episode was the fact that he had come to attend the written test wearing a tie!

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A FOOTPATH MARKET SCENE.

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Some gangsters selling cameras to pedestrians moving through the footpath market at Fort in Mumbai had tricked me into buying a defective camera. 

 

I was to return to my native town next day.  I had some money left in my pocket.  And this was the reason why I thought of buying something.  Since cameras had a fascination for me from my childhood days, I became an easy prey to these gangsters who tried to sell cameras or something of that description.

 

Quite easily the gangsters mesmerised me into buying a camera.  When I returned to the office guest house I found that it was a defective piece which one would throw away rather than using it.  Clearly they had played a trick on me.

 

I returned to the market place. This time I was very careful.  Before setting out, I took all precautions.  Removed practically everything and of course all valuables from my body.  My wrist watch, purse containing money – I had kept everything in my guest house room.

 

I moved through the footpath market once again in lonely search of those tricksters who had hoodwinked me.

 

I found them out soon. They were in fact goons. I knew it would be dangerous to deal with them.  So I was very careful.

 

They threatened me. They pretended they had nothing to do with it.  They said sale was over.  They said nothing could be done about the same. At times they abused me. They frowned at me.

 

One moment they offered some refund.  But next moment they withdrew the offer. They paid me some money.  Then they took it back for no reason.

 

I was really going through an ordeal.  It was a difficult situation.  A harrowing experience.

 

At the end of the whole drama staged near the Flora Fountain, however, I was emerging successful in getting at least a major portion of the money.

 

Then I heaved a sigh of relief. Jumped in sheer joy.  I got into the nearest  beer parlor.  Gulped down a full bottle of chilled beer. Then I returned a cool man to my guest house room.

 

Yes, it was a case of sheer presence of mind. 

 

And nothing else, I can assure you!

 

 

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A TAJ COROMANDAL SCENE !

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Prof. Ishwar Dayal had agreed to be interviewed. He had conveyed his permission in a letter to me.  He had asked me to contact Zonal Office at Chennai for necessary arrangements for the same as he was coming on an official visit to Chennai.

 

Prof. Dayal is the architect of modern version of LIC.  He shaped LIC to its present form. 

 

I received necessary invitation from Chennai office.  They had reserved a room for my use in their VIP Guest House.  I stayed there for about a week's time.  The occasion provided me with an opportunity to meet several dignitaries who stayed there.  Prominent among them was the Director General of A.I.R. who was on a private visit to Chennai.

 

Prior to interview, Regional Manager had called me to his office.  He explained the necessary formalities I should comply with to meet Prof. Dayal. 

 

Prof. Dayal was staying in a VIP suite at Taj Coromandal. I was given the date and time for interview.  But the Regional Manager asked me not to go to his suite direct.  I should make a telephonic call from the reception and seek his appointment after reaching Taj. Though I have met Chairman of LIC after taking permission from his private secretary, this time I felt that I was meeting more formalities to meet the advisor to LIC.

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On the day given to me for interview, I reached Taj Coromandal Hotel around 5 pm.  I also made a call to Prof. Dayal.  I could talk to him.  In a gentle voice, he said he had just returned from the office.  I was asked to wait for five to ten minutes.

 

I waited.  I was not sure when I will receive the call to meet him. 

 

It was my first meeting with Prof. Dayal.  I had seen his pictures in office magazines.  Beyond that I had no idea about him. 

 

Soon I saw a tall, rather stout man approaching me.  As he reached me, he asked:"you are Mr….. isn't it?"  I said, yes.

 

"Come along.  I am Ishwar Dayal."  Then he escorted me to his suite on the fifth floor of Taj for the interview.

 

That was a memorable interview.  It was prominently published in 'Yogakshema'.  It was also published in 'Initiative',a magazine I edited. 

 

After about 20 years, the same interview was also reproduced in the Special Issue of 'Yogakshema' brought out in connection with the Golden Jubilee celebrations of Life Insurance Corporation of India.

 

That he came down to the ground floor from his fifth floor suite and the fact that he meted out a warm and affectionate treatment to me lingered long in my mind for many years. Even now it provides me with happy memories.

  

 

 

 

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Scenes of "HEALTHY" ESCAPES !

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"How is your health?  Hope you are keeping fine."  My boss had written an email reply  to me to this meaning.  But I wondered for a moment why he did not say anything specifically about the point raised by me in my letter to him.

 

Concern for health is sometimes voiced in personal letters.  But I have felt that this expression of anxiety about health is not always a genuine one. There is nothing sincere about the same.  It is just mentioned as a matter of formality to conclude a letter. 

 

I have also felt sometimes that this expression is employed as escapism also.  Just when you do not have anything to say or you wish to avoid saying something, you can merely enquire about health and close your letter.

 

The other day I was talking to a friend of mine over phone.  It was noon time.  He had only returned home after a hectic session of work in the morning as he told me. Before I could start, he wanted to end the conversation.

 

He said, "what's news.  How's your health.  Convey regards to all at home".

 

I sensed his mood.

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On another occasion, no concern for health was voiced.  I just didn't get any reply.  He was looking at the wall clock.

 

Again I judged the mood and quietly left the place.   

 

 

 

 

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SCENE AT A CUSTOMER'S RESIDENCE !

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"Insurance is a matter of solicitation." So goes an ad of insurance company.  You have to make insistent requests to get insurance business. 

 

Insurance concept is that insurance is not sold.  But a willing person buys it by submitting the required details to the insurance company

 

There is a contradiction in the above two statements.

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When I received a request from a customer that he wants to buy a policy, I was happy.  There was no need for solicitation but the willing buyer is approaching the insurance company to complete the formalities.  So we decided to visit his residence.  And the only Sunday in the week was earmarked for this visit.

 

We were received at the customer's residence.  Tea and snacks were offered. 

 

I have usually found that basic need of an insurance advisor is an offer of a chair.  If the party asks the advisor at least to sit down, half the work is over.

 

But here everything was fine.  A seat was offered.  Then there was tea.  Also snacks were served.  On the whole it was an ideal situation.

 

Then it was the turn of the prospect.  He was trying to get clarifications for some of his doubts. 

 

Doubt One - Why the policy says that during the first year, there is no death cover offered.

 

Answer - You may take it that in the case of a policy for fifteen years, there is death cover available only for fourteen years.  In case you wish to have cover for more years, you may apply for a policy for twenty years.  Then you can get death cover for 19 years.

 

But the party is not convinced.  Again he asked the same question: why one year is excluded.  Again the same answer is given. 

 

This question and answer session was repeated.  Party wants death cover from day one.  Even request to choose another type of policy for getting insurance coverage immediately was not acceptable to him.  He made frequent fervent request for the particular policy which covered death due to cancer.

 

Discussion took us no where.  Party was not convinced.

 

While the discussion went on I noticed a long scar of an operation on the abdomen of the prospect.  When queried, he parried questions.  Finally he admitted that he had undergone an operation at a famous cancer centre at Mumbai.

 

But he tried to impress us by saying that the doctor had assured him, there was no risk to his life for at least the next fifteen years. 

 

Policy, no doubt, was not issued.  But I always thought the party would have been happier had we issued a policy on the basis of his pleas and assurances !

 

*** ** *

 

 

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A LIC HOUSING FINANCE SCENE !

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As I reached the Corporate Office of LIC Housing Finance at Mumbai, I had no previously fixed appointments there.  So I met a General Manager whom I knew earlier. Then I wanted to meet Mr. Martin who was another GM there.  I approached his Secretary for an appointment.  I had no work to be done with him except meeting him.  We didn't know each other.

 

His Secretary asked me to wait.  After about ten or fifteen minutes, his Secretary took me to the chamber of Mr. Martin.

 

I just entered his cabin.  As soon as I entered the cabin, Mr. Martin got angry. There was another man standing before him in his cabin.  And he was talking to him. 

 

Mr. Martin got angry with me and asked me to wait outside. 

 

I came out.

 

Then I moved to the chamber of Mr. Subramaniam, Chief General Manager.  Though I was meeting him for the first time, he perhaps knew me earlier.  His predecessor Mr. Joshi must have told him about me.  At the instance of Mr. Joshi I had undertaken a study on the working of housing finance companies in India and submitted a report to him. 

 

Probably this introduction worked well.  I was treated very well by him.  I was warmly received.  Mr. Subramaniam also invited me to have lunch with him and also promptly called his Secretary to arrange the same.  I was naturally a happy man.  Happy also because of the unfortunate experience in the cabin of Mr. Martin.

 

But Mr. Subramaniam received an urgent telephonic call from the Chief Executive of LIC Housing Finance.  Chief Executive is the country head of LIC Housing Finance.  And naturally he had to rush to him. While going Mr. Subramaniam had asked me to wait.

 

I waited in his large chamber.  There was nobody else.  And I could do nothing.  I was a little bored that way.

 

Suddenly, to my surprise Mr. Martin appeared on the scene.  He was the same person who had got angry a little while ago. He occupied one of the seats in the CGM's chamber.

 

Strange it may sound, nevertheless it is a fact.  Yes, Mr. Subramaniam had sent Mr. Martin here to sit with me till he returned!

*** ** *

 

 

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AN INSURANCE INSTITUTE OF INDIA SCENE !

Then I was interviewing the Secretary General of Insurance Institute of India, Mumbai.  The interview was to be published through the Journal of Insurance Institute of India.  It was also intended to be carried by 'Clarion', a magazine I edited.

 

The morning session went off very well.  Questions and answers.  He was happily giving answers, often allowing sufficient time to note down points. 

 

He had arranged official lunch for me in a nearby luxury hotel.  We left for the hotel for lunch.  We were still to complete the interview.  But he suggested to me that the interview would be continued over lunch.  I agreed.

 

We reached the hotel.  We were immediately taken in to a large luxurious room for the lunch.  Lunch was served.  He had ordered beer. Soon he emptied a bottle.

 

There was silence thereafter.  I tried to talk to him.  No answers.  I tried in vain to make him talk.  Only questions and there were no answers.  He wore a serious face.

 

We finished lunch.  Returned to his office.  But the interview stood unfinished at that point of time and a version had to be carried based on what he said in the forenoon. Afternoon session was got lost due to 'foreign' intervention!

.

 

 

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A STATE BANK SCENE !

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I had just entered the cabin of Chief Manager of SBI.  I had prior appointment to meet him.  Chief Manager saw me and asked me to occupy the seat before him.  "Hi, be seated. I'm coming".  Then he left for the toilet room beside. 

 

The telephone in his cabin was ringing.  After a pause, again it started ringing.  Then his personal telephone was also ringing.

 

When he returned to his seat, he appeared disturbed by these telephones continuously ringing.

 

Nodding towards the phones, he said: "you could have attended it!"

 

 

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AN ONGC SCENE !

He was Mr. Singh, an IA&AS man.   My boss in the Planning Department had a talk with him.  Immediately my boss called me to his cabin.  He asked me to go to Mr. Singh and bring a paper which Mr. Singh was waiting to hand over. 

 

I went to him and promptly brought the paper.  But even before I reached back, there was a telephone call to my boss from Mr. Singh.  It was a complaint.  Mr. Singh told my boss: "your man barged into my cabin!" 
Since Mr. Singh was waiting for me, I could not then anticipate the formality of saying "May I come in sir", etc.

 

*** ** *

 

 

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SHY OF INTERNET, CELL PHONE, EMAIL....

I got the message: mobile phone is switched off. I wondered why he kept his phone switched off. Maybe it is a false message. Very often we got such false message in cell phones.

So when I met him next time I asked him why he kept the phone switched off. Rather serious was his reply. He said he was available on landline at his business place. If he left the place, he would be available at his residence. If he left the residence also, he would be available on his cell phone.

There was some 'technical' perfection in his submission. When he was on the move, he would be available on cell phone. Otherwise at his residence. Or at his business place.

But he missed one thing that a person who wished to contact him had to try his business place first. If he is not available, somebody else would lift the phone to announce he was not available. Then you try his residence. Here comes the announcement that he is not available there too. Then at the third attempt, you may be fortunate to contact him.

It meant that one has to spend his money for three calls, for the simple reason that the concerned person has an 'allergy' for cell phone.

.

Some people do show some enmity towards cell phones. One of my friends would very often say that he didn't carry a cell phone. His daughter would try in vain to keep a cell phone in his pocket but he would refuse even this.

.

I was recently told by a "Chief Manager" of a hotel that he knew only to answer a call or to make a call. Beyond that he didn't know much. And when a message appeared on his cell phone, he would call a hotel boy to open the message and read the same. All managers are not so. This chief manager was a retired military hand.

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The other day I was talking to a friend of mine over a cell phone. I asked him if he had a broadband connection at his residence. When he said he did have one, I asked him his email id for sending him my blog id. He paused for a moment. Then he said, he did have an id but he didn't usually open it.

Then he suddenly started talking about the examination he has recently passed. And other study plans to pass more papers to complete his associate examination etc.

He appeared to have reluctance to make use of internet possibilities while he studied for these examinations. Perhaps he didn't know that even school students made use of internet browsing to get more materials for their studies.

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It is surprising that people refused to change with the changing world.

The old generation is surely dying out but the new generation is coming up with more promises.

*** ** *

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STRANGE ARE OUR WAYS!

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My boss Ashok Malaviya invited all the staff members of our department for dinner at his residence. We were then working in oil and natural gas commission in Gujarat. Mr. Narang, Mr. Bhatnagar, Mr. Sood, Mr.Bhatia, Mr. Suthar Ms. Minaxie Shodhan and few other members of the planning department attended the happy evening get together.

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We reached the place sharp at the appointed time. We were greeted by our boss. In the office he was a person who did not talk much. But when we reached his residence, he was altogether a different man. He moved freely with us.

His house appeared a well kept place. All available space was properly utilized and neatly kept. We were all very happy. We were proud of our boss.

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Then it was feast time. We were comfortably sitting round the large dining table. Our boss brought every single item himself. We enjoyed the evening with the rich food he served. There was appreciation. Some of the staff members who were close to the boss said it loud and clear.

We must have spent a couple of hours at his residence. Our boss was taking care of us all this time. He looked to every possible detail of the items served to us. And he brought more and more for us. The occasion was grand and great.

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At the end, all of us returned and our boss was there to bid good bye.

When all our colleagues dispersed, I too returned home. But I was all along my journey back home wondering why wife of my boss who was very much there did not come out at all.Many years have since passed by.

But so far I have not received an answer to this question!

*** * **

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A BIG SECRET!

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My friend's house remained closed for over a couple of months. He had moved to his native town. Practically he had shifted all his furniture and other household items. But there remained a few more items to be transported.

One night his house was burgled. Hearing some noise, my neighbour called me. Before we could reach there, the intruder had left the house keeping the doors opened. Police was called in. Since the house remained unoccupied and the owner was not available, police kept vigil for the whole night.

My friend reached the place next day morning. Police left the spot after asking the owner to come to the police station and formally lodge a complaint.

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Then it was the turn of my friend. He made a thorough search of the whole house. He ensured that he had not lost anything and the curious onlookers in the locality left the place when my friend openly declared this fact.

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After a while he came to me. He ensured that there was nobody else. And with some hesitation, and taking the promise that I should not divulge it to anybody and with an introduction that he was telling this to me alone, he said: "My son had kept around three thousand rupees inside one of his note books in the book shelf. That is safe."

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I wondered what was the element of secrecy to be kept in this revelation. After all the burglar had left. He must have carried a poor impression about the owner. He must have also felt bad for the owner did not leave anything in the house to be taken away.

It was true that his son had kept a few currency notes inside a book. It was also a happy point that this amount remained safe. This fact could have been told to anybody too.

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In fact I just could not help wishing. I thought as a good friend of mine, he should have shown the mercy of sparing me. Yes, sparing me from the burden of keeping such a matter as a secret throughout my life!

** *

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OFFICERS AND LADIES !

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That was early seventies. A pleasant winter morning. Place: A city branch office of life insurance corporation of india in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

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A direct recruit class one officer had just joined. A smart stout gentleman. Well dressed.

He was one Kapoor from Delhi. He was a student of actuarial science. He would very often talk about the 'debit' and 'credit' classes he attended at the Officers Training College. He had happy memories about those days.

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I also thought he was an efficient officer. But I always used to wonder that he did not learn any lesson from the human relations management classes he must have attended in the same very training college. At least some of his behavior patterns made me think so.

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Scene One.

That day he was on leave. But he had forgotten something on his table. Suddenly he appeared at the branch office and swiftly moved towards his seat.

An employee working in the branch was searching for some papers. While he searched for papers, he happened to sit in Mr. Kapoor's seat for a while. He didn't see Mr. Kapoor coming.

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Mr. Kapoor suddenly appeared on the scene. He didn't like his subordinate sitting in his seat. That he was on leave didn't make any difference for him. Apparently annoyed by this, he asked his subordinate what was he searching for.

Even before he finished his words, Mr. Kapoor said: "Let it go to dogs".

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Scene two.

Branch office had two toilet rooms. One could be used for gents. The other could be used for ladies. Then what about officers? They were entitled to a toilet room.

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Kapoor could not think of sharing a toilet room with his subordinate male staff

members. He found a way out.

.

Next day he fixed a board : "officers and ladies" !

*** ** **

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A BUSINESS REVIEW AT OOTTY.

"Start action, camera, cut," so goes a Sreenivasan cinema dialogue. He said all at once. And the artist, cameraman and everybody present stood stunned hearing the instructions of the director. Even before action, he had said "cut"!

At Ootty a business review meeting was taking place. A marketing head had come from Mumbai. Review was conducted at a five star luxury hotel where the manager stayed.

When the local branch managers reached the hotel room for the review, marketing head from Mumbai was still watching a tv programme in the adjoining room.

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After a while, with a little reluctance, he came to the room where the local managers had assembled for the review.

"Let us start," marketing head said. He was still watching the tv programme.

Local managers gave out a picture of the business performance.

Very soon the meeting came to a close after the visiting marketing head briefly spoke. Thereafter Marketing head hurriedly moved towards the tv set.

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Sreenivan had said "Start action, camera, cut", but at Ootty business review had ended at "start" itself!

*** ** *

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ABSOLUTELY FREE...

Sometimes people lamented that they missed a life time opportunity of getting a coveted job because the postman didn't deliver the interview letter in time.

That's about postman.

These are days of couriers too. Often we speak of delayed delivery by courier boys.

Local couriers, state and interstate couriers are there. There are also reputed international couriers.

Everything is computerized. And the couriers can tell you when the article was dispatched from a particular destination, where it has reached during the course of its journey to the addressee. Finally when it is delivered is also noted in the computers.

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People these days check their emails for prompt information. sms has also become a dependable mode of communication and one need not totally depend on the postman for his modern communication requirements.

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People just don't write anything. Not even an application for a job. An ad inserted in a newspaper drew a blank response. There was practically no response to the advertisement. The reason was that no contact number was given.

Next time when this defect was corrected and a contact number was promptly added in the ad, there was continuous flow of enquiries.

Rather than writing an application and waiting for a response through the post offices, people took pleasure in contacting the advertiser over a telephone. Of course this is not a general rule.

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There are other more interesting experiences. Recently when an ad was inserted in a local newspaper, there were telephone enquiries. The number of telephone calls was something more than what was expected.

While these people made calls spending their money, there was an interesting interference by a lady.

She just didn't have money to make a call. So she made 18 miss calls. Only then it was noticed by the advertiser.

When she was asked why she made all these miss calls, she frankly said she had no balance left in her prepaid telephone account.

We were then discovering the latest technique.

.

Yes, it was communication.

She too could reach the advertiser and communicate without a rupee being spent.

It was absolutely free communication!

** *** *

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NO TAKERS FOR JOBS !

This time I decided to place a few extra chairs in my front office. Front office had enough chairs to accommodate normal visitors. But I anticipated a reasonable rush of candidates for job.

The ad in the local newspaper about job vacancy appeared only yesterday. Since then my cell phone had been ringing continuously. Calls from far and near. Both men and women. They asked me the details of job. Salary that could be expected. Office timings. Other prospects. They were all asking me the same question over and over. I had been giving the same reply too.

.

I took pains to explain all the details to all candidates. I offered the aspirants for job the same salary and same working conditions. The previous employee was happy with these conditions. And this time too I didn't anticipate any problems. It was my hope there would be a number of applicants.

My anticipation was proving to be reasonably correct. If the number of telephone calls received was any indication, the response was really good. An encouraging one.

I gave interview appointments to the applicants over telephone itself. Some of the candidates appeared to meet job criteria as per details given during telephonic discussion. They were called for interview in the morning session itself. Less favoured candidates were called for the after noon session. Out of about 100 telephonic calls received, I had short listed about 30 candidates. Even from this list, I had finally called about 20 candidates only. They were sure to come for interview next day.

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Early morning itself I was getting ready. My wife also reminded me about the candidates coming for interview.

I set out early. When I reached the office, watchman greeted me. Asked why I reached office so early. I didn't say anything. Just smiled.

Immediately as I reached my office, I asked my office help to place more chairs in the front office. At least nobody should stand while I interviewed the candidates. That was my intention.

.

Then I quietly occupied my seat.

I looked at the clock.

It was 9.25 am. It was 9.30 am. It was 9.45 am. Minutes ticked away.

When it was 10 o'clock, it was quite sure that none from my favoured list had turned up.

But even then, I continued to sit. I was growing a little impatient but still hopeful. I consoled myself, maybe people were in the habit of reaching late.

By noon none had turned up. And I felt that surely by evening it was going to be a total shock for me. I had my fears.

Oh! after a while I saw a lady in her middle ages coming to the office. I thought she could be a candidate. Then I remembered that I had not called anybody of her age. Still I had a bright hope in my mind she would be a candidate for interview.

But she shocked me. Rudely so. She just asked if she could use toilet facilities in the office!

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Alas when I was about to rise for the day, a couple of candidates appeared on the scene. But both of them did not answer the job requirements. By then I was a sad, disappointed man…

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Finally a young boy appeared on the scene. He was an undergraduate doing distance education. He said he had gone to the city corporation office to collect unemployment allowance.

There was no scope for an interview.

Say yes or no was the question.

……

In the evening I returned home. I was totally a tired man. Alone in my car, I drove past the pedestrians and the city crowds. When I reached the city corporation office, the queue of the unemployed was still there. They were all waiting to receive unemployment allowance given by the government to the jobless persons.

.

But elsewhere surely no takers for jobs!

** *** *

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