KCC godowns

Guntur is famous for mirchi and tobacco godowns. Usually bankers were giving OCC&KCC limits for big and reliable parties.KCClimits are to be given against stock kept in godowns under our lock and key. I heard that actually there would not be any stock in those godowns but limits would be granted with the adjustment they make with higherups.When officials start to go to godowns for surprise checking as is supposed to be done, customers get feedback immediately and by the time these people reach there stock would be present there.Actually I never worked in advances department nor went for surprise inspection.But people used tosay that it was the normal practice in almost all the banks.For renewal of limits, enhancement of limitsor fresh sanction, in the commission higherups get even the clerk who does the paperwork also recieves certain amount.Idont know the truth in these allegations but I was sorry to hear those things.I was disillusioned.

Ramakrishna

Ramakrishna was our agricultural officer at Guntur. His wife was a government college lecturer.They had three girl children and one was a polio patient.He used to talk with the customers, especially with villagers in local slang.Oneday, one villager brought a big Sora kaya, a member of cucurbitaceae , to him and kept it on the counter for him.Another day, one villager brought one or two kgs of pure ghee to him and gave him across the counter. Till that time I was under the impression THat in banking industry there wont be bribing and no temptations. But I was shocked to observe these things. Later I came to know that these are nothing before some of the other demands.

He later came to Nellore branch as Priority credit cell manager.He was mainly giving loans for poultry. Some used to say gudduki rupai ie it was his commission for sanctioning the loan.I dont know if it was true or not.When his daughter matured he invited friends, relatives, colleagues and big customers.Even for marriage so many gifts would not come. One entire was not enough to keep the gifts they recieved on that occassion.Actually it was such a simple function but mega turn out.

summer holidays

My eldest sister,Rajeswari came with Ashok and Asha to Guntur tospend few days with us. At that time My brothers children, Seenai and Durgai also came with my parents. Those few days we enjoyed like hell.We went to movies , shopping and whatnot.My brother did so much for me. My father opted for voluntary retirement on medical grounds when I was in my ninth class. From then on my brother and sister looked after all the financial matters along with love and affection. So I opened RD accounts in the names of Seenai, Durgai and my mother rs 50/ each.When I got transferred to Nellore I CONVERTED THEM in to KDRS and after maturity I gave them to my brother. It was not very big amount but what I could afford.My mother and father used to come and stay with me in rotation, because atleast ones attendance towards my brothers children was must.

After coming from Bank I used to wear my brothers shirt as a jacket over my blouse. My house owners and neighbors used to look at me strangely.But the actual fact was that I used to like my eldest brother very much and I wanted to copy whatever he did. Wearing his shirts was one such act.

Sri Rama RAO

Sri Rama Rao was my first manager.H ewas our senior manager.At first he was working in Andhra Bank but joined Canara bank as direct officer. He was short nad fair in complexion. H ewas very active and intelligent. His wife was also a nic elady. He had one son and two daughters.I used to play with them because after business hours they used to come down.Their family was residing upstairs.He had two sisters ,one of them was a polio patient. His sisters marriage was attended by all our staff members. Big customers also attended and helped him.He was going to movies very frequently.At that time I was also seeing movies quite often.

In the backyard of our house aged couple were staying. He was working in some film distrbutor office. So he could get us tickets for any movie, in any theatre first day itself.We use dto get tickets from him. I used to sit in balcony. Our manager used to sit in next lower sections . I used to feel great thinking I was one up against him.Now it all seems so silly.Later he became Divisional manager and visited Nellore Branch twice or thrice.His children also were settled in States.I think he retired as DGM.He was very much interested in TV and was participating in some family programmes.

Guptha and Ramachandra murthy

Guptha was a Setty and very jovial.H e was unmarried. He was very interested in getting married. Whenever he went to other towns or cities , he would buy sarees for his future wife. his brother was also our bank employee, Anjaneyulu.I think he was my brothers friend.Guptha was not knowing whom he was going to marry. But he had so many dreams to be fulfilled. He used to buy silk sarees , gift items and whatnot for her. H eused to keep his table and surroundings very neatly.Pin box, stapler, punching machine and everything should be new,neat and clean for him.He was not interested in promotion or writing CAIIB.BuT later I heard that he got married but committed suicide. No on eknew the actual reason. But most of our colleagues expected outside debts which he could not repay.

Ramachandra murthy was a senior clerk. He was very fair in complexion but headstrong.If any one touche dthe allotted to him if he delayed. he would never attend to it in future.Officers were afraid of him because he was atrouble maker to them. Yagna narayana, Lingamurthy, Ramachandra murthy would not attend to office work with interest. For single day thye would complete balancing of just two ledgers only.Officers were afraid to question them.But later he became special assistant and came to Tirupathi few years back. It seems he had come to Tirumala and he lost his purse. I gave him some money and he sent it back after reaching his place. H ehad two children and both were in States.As soon as I came know about it I thought of asking him to consider my daughters for his sons.But it never materialised.

Annapoornamma&Padmavathmma

Padmavathamma was my house owner. Her maternal aunty was Annapoornamma. She was a widow. Padmavathamma was a divorcee. She was very obese and could not move freely. Her aunty used to do all the work. She had no children and her husband had transferred the properties in his brothers name . ASshe had no where to go she was staying here.They were good natured and were helping me a lot.For Atlathaddi, they invited Brahmin neighbors and early in the morning they served dosas as many as we could eat. On some other festival, they prepared minapa vadas and invited Brahmin ladies and served vadas to all of us as many as we could eat. Itwas some kind of nomu I think.I was very eager to attend such functions because their preparations used to be very tasty and it was such fun getting up early in the morning and eating in groups.

Padmavathamma had an elder brother who was retired . H ecame once and stayed for some days. H eused to pour wine or beer in to copper vessels and used to sip it sitting in the verandah. At first I thought he was drinking water but later they told me it was not so.As I was still unmarried at that time, they used to be very alert and attentive as to who are coming to my house and about my movements.I was very secure there.

year end work

Annual balance sheet was done on december 31st in those days.Everything was manual. Interest application ,balancing of all ledgers and tallying was done many days beforehand. Loan instalments paid after calculating interest was kept in SL and being credited after balance sheet.Window dressing was very popular but we used to get circulars and strict instructions not to indulge in them. Branches which reached their targets used to tranfer their excess funds to those branches which failed to reach targets. For that particular yearend ie 1978 KC had come in the morning to my house. It was Sunday and the nextday was dec 31st. He told me that few of the employees went to branch to assist management complete balance sheet in time. We went to the branch. THey made me write transfer waste and tally it. Slips were coming unendingly.Figures were being altered constantly.I was not knowing with what figures I had to tally the different heads especially minor subsidiaries.They called us but did not make any food arrangements.When I asked KC as to what Ishould do , he took me to nearby hotel for lunch. Meals was very nice there.After comig back I commented ABOUT not providing food for us by the manager.So , in the evening his wife prepared lemon rice and sent it to us.

THe tragedy was there was no use of our working that Sunday. Again they changed the figures by Monday morning and again we had to tally everything.

pen down strike

Soon after Ijoined the Bank, workmen went on pen down strike or work to rule. Here no one would say no to any work allotted to them.But they would be attending to it slowly so that nothing would be completed except counter work. It went on for many days.I dont know to achieve what benefits they had undertaken that type of strike. One day we observed bandh and all bankers took tp procession in the main roads of Guntur. I did not participate in the procession but waved at them when they went by our house.But in later processions I took active part by carrying banners and shouting the slogans. At first our festival advance was Rs200 payable in four instalments.My father bought me silver anklets and rose color saree.I used to buy sarees to my liking. All sarees had white back ground with different colors for borders or prints. At Tirupathi I used to buy at Jamuna stores.Another year I bought big ear rings with my festival advance.Iwas not stylish but smart in those days.

Anand

Anand was a n officer there. He was promoted as an officer from Tamilnadu. I think he was of my age only, but joined the bank just after his degree completion. He complted part 1CAIIB and attempted 0 to 1 exam and passed in the first attempt. He was a Tamilian. We had second line manager Nehru who was also aTamilian. These two used to talk to me in English. Most of the time after 5 pm I used to work with them. Our senior manager used to go away and these two were staying.Around 7.30 --8pm we used to lock the premises and walk down to our homes.My house was in brodiepet and theirs in Arundelpet.WE became friends in no time and most of the time fe used to talk about his girl friend who was a medico at that time.He taught me how to lodge oscs cdbs ie out station cheques and credit discount of bills and cheques. I was very eager to learn what ever was new to me.

Nehru was an old man around 50 years of age.He was always of pleasant disposition. H ewould never lose his temper. His approach was always mild and entertaining. He used to cut jokes and we all used to enjoy. He was cutting jokes at me also but at that time I could not understand that they were levelled against me.After I came to Nellore, I heard that he had heart attack and passed away in guntur only. Our colleagues took the body to his home town.It was a sad news to me.

CAIIB PART 1

Iam a science student ,that too natural sciences.CAIIB exam is all about arts and commerce. K Chandra sekhar said it was very difficult exam and he had been appearing for the past six years. H etold me that he would give me the guide for all the papers if I were interested. I wanted to see what it was all about. THE papers were five--banking,acoountancy,English,geography and economics.It was about degree standards. Casually I leafed through the guide and determined to make an attempt. In the first attempt I passed English, geogarphy and economocs. Banking and accountancy were there to be passed. Banking was only theory but accountancy involved sums . I came to know that in arundelpet some guys were teaching accountancyfor CAIIB.I joined there and prepared for Banking and accountancy in my second attempt. I came with flying colors. In those days it was considered a rare feat.I was refunded the exam fee by the indian institute of bankers. It was rs 15/. I bought a small hand bag with that amount and I was holding it for many years.THe person who gave me the book and told about the exam never passed the exam.