Public embarrasment

I watched the audio launch of the movie Businessman in the TV yesterday. In the function the actresses Ms.Kajal Agarwal and Ms.Charmi were seated along with Mahesh Babu and his wife (and children?). Both actresses were asked a question about their interest to marry Mahesh Babu . It could be seen that both of them didn't expect such a question and seemed visibly embarrassed.But it is sad that instead of raising their voice against such indecency amidst a huge audience and the family of Mahesh Babu, they tried to make a clever wriggle out of the situation.

Would it not be an answer to those who try to derive cheap publicity at the cost of ones' modesty and dignity if they had the guts to rebut and drive sense in them? When cinema is getting accepted as an industry and a profession, women actresses and cine artists need not bear it with grin such form of harassment and indecency. They must seek justice in the appropriate forum, this would show the people who exploit the vulnerable situation their right place.

Who cares for the customers?

I have account with three banks ICICI, Canara bank and SBI . The First one with Canara bank was started in 1981 to credit my salary when I joined as lecturer at Sri Sarada College Salem, Tamilnadu and worked for a short stint ( The salary actually was credited after a period of anxiety in 1982 ater I got married and came to Hyderabad) I had to open an account at Hyderabad Canara bank to get the amount transferred from Salem and I am still continuing with the account. When I started a Data Processing Centre I approached Canara Bank for loan under women entrepreneur scheme in one of their meetings and also had a current account with them in the same branch, The now "know your customer" was perfect in my case with each one of the branch managers who operated from that branch and I could get anything done due to the confidence I had generated about me in all transactions with them like prompt loan repayments, adherence to guidelines and relationship management etc. The branch operated on sundays for half day and it was very convenient to operate locker also.

But some where down the line after year 2000 , I got a feeling that the bank was moving away from personalisation and efficiency. I had some interest in online trading and to facilitate this I opened an account with demat facility with ICICI bank Being technology savvy I could use net banking and online payment facilities and didnot have to frequent the branch and wait for for my work to be done.

My family members and friends felt that SBI is safer and advised me to transfer majority of my interest to SBI. I opened my account in SBI and my woes started from there . For making life simple I wanted a debit card , internet banking facility and transfer of funds to what is called flexi term deposit (Multi option deposit ) which transfers the excess of an amount in multiples of thousands specified by us to the term deposit . After my personal visits in regular intervals to the branch which is 8 kms away from my place I could manage to accomplish the first two. It required a lot patience not to react to the silly reasons they gave every time. I had to track when my debit card kit is ready only be personally going to the branch (no body would lift the telephone in that huge branch). The third time when I asked the person incharge, inspite of lunch time he answered me saying "it would not have come I know whose are available". With some persuasion he reluctantly looked at the list and saw that the kit was ready four days back . He was a little embarrassed when the kit was there. I could in the same way get my internet banking kit also.

But my instruction for transfer to MOD didnot happen. The concerned officer was not available over phone or in person, either she was on leave or not in seat or gone for lunch. When I found that the transfer didnot happen after three month I thought I have to set this alright. Once she casually mentioned that though the instruction has been given the system is not picking it up for some customers and asked Me Why?. she said that I can as well opt for a 45 days deposit which will be renewed from time to time . I was a little irritated at her suggestion and categorically told her that I am interested in that product and it is her job to provide me that. She asked for two days time to check out the mistake and get back to me . No, she did not contact me after two days . After trying to contact her on her mobile and branch telephone both of which were not picked up I was frustrated to the core. I tried all possible numbers of toll free, complaint cell numbers generously provided in the SBI website none of which were picked up had no other option left than shoot out my complaint in the online complaint form provided in the web site. After exactly half an hour I donot know whether this complaint really worked or it is the officer who worked I got a call from the officer on my mobile informing that the instruction had been picked up and the MOD is active.

The technology favoured me to have the problem solved. Looking at the number of complaints pending for a long time expressed in the web I feel I have been lucky. Otherwise Who cares for the customers

chaotic traffic in Hyderabad roads

Even if many talk and ventout their anger on the congested traffic in most of the main arterials of Hyderabad Iam not satisfied until I too join them.

Before eight in the morning is manageable but evenings are the testing time. I see working women clinging the support at the foot board to reach home through roads which allow traffic to move at just 10 kms per hour.

During summer the situation will be still worse with over crowded buses. heat and sweat all around and temperature of the conducters and commuters rising.

The APSRTC buses maintenance needs to be looked at during summer. The amount of heat with glass windows difficult to open for ventiation
poses an unhygenic and smelly emvironment that has to be tolerated to save the few rupees charged by auto fellows.

Is there a solution for the problem and who is going to bell the cat?

Uncleared doubts

The other day I happened to travel by auto from home to college , the auto driver was at his best driving fast to put me at college on time . I thought I should keep the money ready for him to pay and rush to college and as I opened my purse to pull out a ten rupee note , a few ten rupee notes fell down and a whiff of wind carried away something like paper from my purse, as the auto sped I was doubtful whether the paper was a ten rupee note or an old bus ticket. While I tried the recollect the amount I had in my purse and cross check I thought that it was a ten rupee note , but then the way it carried off like a kite , i thought it might after all be a bus ticket.
Bus ticket or ten rupee note , Bus ticket or ten rupee note ......., the whole day this was coming back to me until I had another instance to take over me.

The regular traffic jam at panjagutta cross roads in the evening with irritant commuters.
A middle aged lady with her two sons aged around 11 and 14 with sizable luggage were in the bus to board train to chennai . They got in at mehdipatnam well in advance for the train but panjagutta traffic was too heavy on that day that it was full 45 minutes before a stretch of about half a kilometre was crossed and the peak hour rush made life more worse . The lady had her doubts about catching the train , with auto strike still on , worry written on her face on missing the train she was constantly asking the driver whether she would reach the station in time .
The driver not being a prophet and not ready to take risk in this looked at her sympathetically and concentrated on his job. I had to get down

But then I had the doubt were they able to catch the train on that day or not?

Both the doubts remain uncleared .

Roller Coaster ride of life

Who or What fills my life , is it a difficult puzzle for me to unravel ?

When my life is in my control(seemingly?) , why such question arises?
At the cross roads of middle and old age , one is bogged with such philosophical questions now and then and forgetting about it most probably. This happens when you feel you have had a raw deal and sympathise with yourself for it.

Sankarathi holidays is a break for me from my work place, but how do you enjoy them , it is long forgotten. During school and college days when all of us cousins got togther, we were treated with extensive menu and rest of the time were unforgettable moments (hrs ) of fun. what we realy did and laughed about has been forgotten but the happy time lingers forever. I attempted to create the ambience and exitement but never match my experience and expentation. May be it requires the same people and same time also . At the end of the day it is again a question, would I get to experience the same happiness once more in my life time?

Inspiration

My first blog - born out of inspiration

My thoughts needed the right channel; in the middle age it appears inevitable to express them. so here I start.

I dedicate this to the invisible blogger whose clarity, humour, logic and style inspired me to take a pluge into this.

Inspiring are some others too!!!

This month of 'markhazhi' in tamil calender(Dhanur masam in pandit's parlance) is sacred for few of old fashioned religious older bhramin households. Ours happen to be one of them. The ritualistic part of it is getting up early in the morning and conducting an elaborate puja followed by 'prasadam' of hot pongal (sometimes sweet) for entire month. I can see the frown in the face of my grownup 'kids' whose lifestyles have changed- in hostels during studies and being in the grip of e-power through out night. What they were earlier they are not now and what they are now, they may not be later!

Nostaligic recollection of the divinity surrounding home with the gracious presence of stalwarts performing the puja during the month culminating in sankaranthi festival would be the matter of pride and discussion for the coming months.

In this month AIR Hyderabad presents the early morning special Bhakti Ranjani of 20 minutes , whose hightlight is a recorded version of short telugu discourse of Andal Thiruppavai by Sri Santhanagopalachar who is no more . The poise, clarity and delivery of the speaker in bringing out the essence of Andal's Thirupppavai with quotes from vedas, prabhandhams, kirthans from various languages has surpassed the elaborate pravachanas of two to three hours of his contemprories and later discourse practitioners (is this alright?)

Hearing him at dawn, in absolute stillness , How inspiring ! Keeps me through the day.