Deathly of Latha Mangeshkar.

A tribute a singing legend called - "LATHA " 

Lata Mangeshkar breathed MANGESHKAR last after a brief illness. She is no more. But her voice remains till human existence lasts on tho8is Planet. Perhaps no other singer on this earth has touched the hearts of millions of people as she did. She was gifted naturally with such a sweet voice and she used to this voice with absolute perfection, viz scale, shruthi, pitch, range etc that no other singer could match her versatility and range. She had such a sweet  voice so mellifluous and mellowed that she could lull any disturbed mind into a trance. In toto she has mesmerised millions across the globe and has etched a permanent place in their hearts. She dedicated her entire life to the cause of music. She virtually eat, sleep and breathe d music. No wonder she became Bharatha Ratna. 8

She has made us all so indebted to her by her rendition of timeless gems. She has entrenched herself in the hearts of her music fans so firmly and inerasable. As time passes, her melody becomes even more mellowed. 

She strode the  bollywood filmdom  like a colossus for over six decades. She is unparalleled,  scaled  pinnacle of her glory and remained the unchallenged Queen of the hindi film music  throughout.

I bow my head in all reverence and respect to this departed soul.

May her soul rest in peace.

K. N. Krishnan  06.02.2022

Why marriages are breaking?

The marriages I am referring to in this article pertain to recent generation. Broken marriages, broken families and divorces are becoming too frequent and familiar. Divorce is no more a taboo or a thing which is criticised or condemned but has been accepted as a new normal by the parties to the marriage as well as society at large. It is no more sending any shock waves as it was hitherto in the past.

Why this new trendin2g which is not in good taste nor healthy to any society?  The reasons are not far to seek. They are obvious for a discerning mind. Some of the causes have their roots in parenting. I nonchalantly use the phrase bad parenting. Parents give overriding importance to the financial independence of the child especially the girl child.The recent generation's girl parent's constant obsession that their daughter should be able to sustain for herself in any eventuality in post marital life is in itself sets a wrong direction in parenting. May be they try to insulate her daughter from the examples of harassment as nd in some cases torture that has occurred in the past when patriarchal form of society was ruling the roost. Now in an attempt and in anxiety to protect themselves from such excesses, the reverse excesses are being practised or employed on the boy. I believe it is a case of overdoing what they perceived to be the possible danger. In the process they are throwing the baby with the bathwater. 

The disintegration of joint family and the increasing number of nuclear families has made the marriage even more vulnerable. Added to this, the constant interference from the parents especially the mother of the girl is another principal reason for the marriages to break. Once the girl is married off, the parents should bless her from a distance, instead they quite often meddle, interfere and in some cases dictate. We are in a transition phase. 

No doubt we have got to adapt to the changing environment, but the question is to what degree and at what cost. The change is so violent and disrupting that it often gives cultural shock. The way the recent generation children dress, their mannerisms, their absence of etiquette are too perverse and repulsive. Does modernism mean disrespect to elders, ignoring their wise advice as outdated sermon. They have to realise that the thinking - that only material things can bring the comfort that is much needed in the fast paced life is false and illusory. It is a well knit and organised family with harmonious and bonhomie climate that can provide lasting solace and succour in a family. This can only make - "Namma samsara ananda sagara". The moment the couple enter into the game of one-upmanship, may be it is financial, intellectual or societal, that is the beginning of the end of peace in the family.

To sum up, the culprits that are throwing spanner into the works-(marriage) 

1.Bad parenting. 

2. Financial independence of both the partners. This is a great inhibitor for compromise and reconciliation. 

3. Education bereft of moral values or ethics. 

4. Unlike in olden days, because of increasing mobility, education & seeking employment in far off places marriages are happening between two completely strange, unknown and incompatible people. This, after marriage leads to cleavage. 

5. Wrong definition of success & peace in life. 

6. Generational gap and therefore the friction between the young couple and old parents. 

7. Being in rat race for things even that can be easily ignored or let go of.

8. Both partners entering job for whatever reasons. 

Mahatma Gandhi has said - "Life is a compromise". 

More so a marriage. Marriage is a continuous process of compromise and a spirit of give and take should prevail throughout & the bedrock of this is mutual understanding. 

Mutual understanding is the strong foundation on which the edifice of marriage can stay strong & unwavering. 

KN Krishnan 

24.12.2021

The lessons from the chapter - Corona

Now it is 3.30. pm in the evening. I am peeping through the window of my bedroom. The whole world it appears has gone into deep slumber. The chirping of birds from a tree near and distant is clearly audible. The chatter of the squirrel is as clear and loud. Even the caw of the crow is heard. All these sounds are pushing me to those nostalgic childhood days when I used to play without bounds, scream, jump and fall in a carefree manner in the lap of nature. 

These animal/creature's sound made me reminiscent of my childhood in my village. All these indicate that man in those days was living on the lap of the nature coexisting with other flora and fauna. 

In this age, all these sounds were absent and only the rattling noise of the vehicles, the nonstop honking and the hustle and bustle of the modern day life was evident to our eyes and ears. Modern day man has drifted away and far from the lap of the nature. 

Today traffic on the roads is so minimal that it gives an impression that vehicles are just being invented.

The roads are so silent, calm and pleasant that they are attracting the much harassed two wheelers so much that they want to enjoy this once in a lifetime opportunity ride to the full satisfaction of their mind.

What a turnaround, what a comeback and what an irony. Have we come a full circle. No. This is only a temporary truce. Perhaps a warning bell for man to behave, respect the environment and the animal kingdom. A warning to rejig his his approach towards other living organisms. A message to live coexistentially with other living things and not to conquer, not to encroach, not to poach their habitats.

After we come out of Corona, will the man make a new beginning. Rejig and reorient his attitude towards neighbourhood. We should stop destruction of forests. At the same time we have to intensify afforestation Felling of trees in the name of development should be stopped. Cities have become concrete jungles. Constant awareness should be created through TV channels and other media and all available communication channels about preservation of nature, conservation of water. 

We have a duty and obligation to handover this planet to the posterity in the same way as we have received it from our forefathers. Otherwise the well being of our posterity will be in real jeopardy. 

Nature may not give another opportunity.

KN Krishnan.     31.03.2020

The Corona the challenges and the options.

The Corona virus has engulfed the entire globe at an alarming pace. It has sent the administration and governments to their kneels. And the governments are grappling and gasping with the enormity of the situation. The situation is so collosal and humongous that it makes the people who are fighting it clueless and blank. It is natural. The worst example is before us. Italy - one of the most advanced country in the world has given up. Ours is not so much infrastructurally equipped and added to this is one of the most populous countries in the world. So the problem here at home is himalayan. The situation is extraordinary and there is emergency. So facing extraordinary situation with mundane and normal methods is like taking a knife to a gunfight.  It requires extraordinary methods, innovative strategies and out of box thinking. 

Keeping this in mind, Indian government would do well, will be in a better position to fight the war against Corona should it adopt the following measures.

1. Make a war room at central government level consisting of

A. Social scientists (Sociologists) 

B. Eminent doctors

C. Scientists 

D. Planners

E. Administrators 

F. Health administrators

G.Economists

H. Police

This Committee should discuss, deliberate and devise the appropriate measures and swing into action swiftly without loss of precious time. 

This Committee should not hesitate to approach and seek guidance and help from the countries who have successfully tackled the virus.

This Committee should be vested with absolute discretionary powers to take the decisions it deem fit and the government should implement it in all seriousness.

Why this committee is because as I have already noted the usual administrative composition may not have the required competency, technological edge and above all a single command ( a single window type) is very convenient and effective at this juncture. Multiple departments giving multiple directons will only add to the confusion.

Other possible options in addition to the already announced CARES program, government may consider are

A. Introducing tax amnesty scheme to generate the funds. 

B. Let political parties also contribute from their party fund as they are sitting on huge pile of funds. 

C. Let the ruling party set an example as it has collected huge party fund.

D. Let the funds lying with world's richest Gods like Tirupati, Ananthapadmanabha, Shirdi Saibaba, Ayyappaswamy, Mathura, Ayodhya Udupi etc. to name a few be confiscated and used for this emergency.

E. Various religious maths also have huge unaccounted black money. Explore how it can be channelized.

F. Tax amnesty at this time can be 

simplified and limited. For example government can straightaway provide tax amnesty to whoever donates to CARES.

These are all my thoughts. They may sound outlandish but definitely doable. What it requires a will of iron and nerves of steel. And none other than Modiji fits the bill well. He is capable of pulling the rabbit out of the hat.

All the best Modiji in your efforts. The whole nation is with you in this hour of crisis. 

KN Krishnan. 29.03.2020

The Corona calamity

The Corona virus ie COVID-19 has engaged the attention of the entire world. It has created havoc on human lives. The most advanced countries have lost human lives in thousands. Their medical infrastructure is much more sophisticated and well equipped to handle the crisis than ours. When such is the case they could not contain the virus the way they wanted. And it took the lives in thousands. Italy has just given up conceding defeat in the war against Covid. The super power ie America is struggling in its fight against the virus. China is one country which is able to contain Corona in quick time of course after taking a heavy toll of human lives. The dangerous dimension to this pandemic is that there is no vaccine that can contain or cure the infection. We are way behind as far as our medical preparedness is concerned. On top of it we are the populous country with poor governmental health infrastructure. 

When such is the case, our response should be quick and decisive. The State should act with great alacrity and on a war footing. The government has clamped 21 day lockdown effective from midnight of 24th on entire country followed by a single day janata curfew on Sunday. This is the first and most important step in the war against the pandemic. This assumes importance against the fact that there is no vaccine available to fight the menace and prevention is the only tool available for us till now. We have an advantage too. Corona is a late entrant to India. We have the advantage of hindsight. We have the experience of other countries before us. We should therefore not fritter away the lead time we have. Urgent, effective and tough decisions have to be taken without resorting to wait and watch mode. We don't have that luxury. 

Therefore the compliance of the citizens to the advisories of the state in this regard is of utmost importance and an absolute and paramount necessity. When such is the case, the  sporadic incidents of citizens rebelling against the police while enforcing lockdown is most unpardonable and unthinkable. This resistance to law should be dealt with a heavy hand. It should be curbed immediately. It should be nipped in the bud. Zero tolerance to such anti social attitude should be the aim of the government.

Government should not hesitate to declare a state of emergency if the situation doesn't come under control in quick time. People should understand that the fight against the Corona pandemic is not only a national challenge and a national emergency but a global emergency too. It is not only a health emergency but has a serious global economic implications. It has crippled many a strong economies including America. It has set the global economy into recession India not excluding. India already reeling under low GDP growth, job losses, and serious crises in financial sector is in for another big jolt in the form of Corona. It is a double whammy for India. 

What is required urgently is Education followed by Action. Government has to explain to the public in a very clear and lucid manner in a layman's language step by step - of how it spreads, how it can be controlled, what precautions one has to take in the direction etc. For this, government has to appoint a single window governmental agency to disseminate the information. Government has to stop the TV channels from broadcasting anything of their own. Because umpteen no of channels each giving its own account of the story will confuse the public and the public tend to ignore an otherwise important message. These channels, of late have lost credibility. They make noise instead of news. Therefore, governmental agency should periodically air the information along with the latest updates in all the channels. This will be taken seriously by the public. 

Regarding action, government has already announced some measures in the form of package. This will be an ongoing process. Government should rope in corporates, industrial houses, NGOs and tap all possible sources of assistance and help. Especially the corporate hospitals should come forward to join hands with the government by providing their services, infrastructure etc. Opposition parties should also come on board in this hour of national crisis. One redeeming news is that Sonia gandhi has extended her support to the government in all its endeavours in the fight against Corona. Rahul gandhi has donated 5 crores to PM relief fund. Others should follow suit. I only hope and wish that Corona provide an opportunity for the government and the opposition to work in tandem as their relationship is strained and bruised by vendetta politics persued the Modi government. (Of course, where is the opposition? It has been decimated. That is an altogether different subject.) 

Let us all join together in this national task setting aside our affiliations, caste, colour creed religion etc., in the fight against this deadly menace. It is a threat to humanity itself transcending all barriers. 

Let us all give a big salute to all those warriors the Police, the Doctors, the paramedics, the bankers, the municipality workers, the delivery boys, the drivers and all those who are out there to keep the supply of essentials unhindered to make our lives comfortable when we are indoors. 

K. N. Krishnan           26.03.2020

The suicide of Anilkumar and its takeaway.

The suicide of Anilkumar, Branch manager of Jog falls branch on 19.10.2019 is the most tragic one. Most tragic because he is just 29years and has a small kid and wife who is young and just started the married life. What a heartbreaking, calamitous, unwarranted and stupid act by this young officer whatever may be the compelling circumstances. Life is most precious and it cannot be traded for anything else in this world.

The reason for Anil kumar to take that extreme step is according to various newspaper reports quoting his devastated wife is ubiquitous unbearable work pressure. His wife screaming under agonizing pain, thumping her chest in devastation and extreme shock was seen shouting that her husband has succumbed to unbearable work pressure in the bank. The severity of the shock she has undergone, the mental trauma she has suffered can be gauged from her refusal to believe that her husband is dead.

This Suicide is not an isolated incident in the bank. We are hearing such news from across the country with alarming frequency.

What is the takeaway for the bank as well as for the staff from this from these kind of incidents? He should not have resorted this extreme step no doubt. What thoughts could have passed through his mind just before the suicide? Probably the overwhelmingness of work and no hope of help or guidance would have driven him to this act. Psychologists say that it is invariably the HOPE that keeps a person going. When one does not see hope and the problem is too overwhelming and insurmountable, and there being no help from any quarter a person resorts to this kind of act. Here point to be noted is, it is a single man branch. 

There are many such hope less persons/staff in the bank. There may be many Anilkumars in the making. It is high time Bank has to sit up and take notice of the problem. 

Single man branch is a bane and a curse in SBI. We serve the multitudes unlike our counterparts in other PSBs or in private banks. We end up in doing mass banking. Added to this is the all pervasive pressure of cross selling which has spread like a cancer. The greed of incentives of cross selling has put enormous pressure on the operatives. This greed has robbed the humane element in all the transactions /interaction of the controllers with the branch level operatives. This greed has made them monstrous and mad. It is time that they realize the harm they are causing to the beleaguered and vulnerable staff.

A SUGGESTION TO RELEASE / FIND SOME TIME FOR THE STAFF:

Close the cash transaction by 2.00pm. When we are moving to alternate channels and digital banking in such a big way, keeping cash counters till 4.30pm is not required. This will release some time for the staff which they can use more gainfully like attending to compliance issues, NPA recovery, scouting new advances etc. I had suggested this long ago in one of my articles in the blog. 

APPEAL TO ALL MY COLLEAGUES :

Life is precious, divine and is created by God. No one has any right to cut short it even if it is his own. Please don't do it. If you come to a conclusion that it is difficult to continue anymore in the bank, please leave the bank not this world. If there is no job in SBI that is not the end of the world. There are umpteen number of avenues available elsewhere. Be bold, be realistic, be sensible. You have no right to put your family in destitution for no fault of theirs.

K N Krishnan. 

A lot can happen over a cup of coffee.

When VG Siddharth founder of Cafe Coffee Day (CCD), designed this tag line - A LOT CAN HAPPEN OVER A CUP OF COFFEE, perhaps nobody has  envisaged that this (his tragic death) could also happen.

When N T RamaRao died in the year 1996, Deccan Chronicle a daily from Hyderabad wrote an editorial on his death which was not so natural. There, the editor had mentioned a quote from - F Scott Fitzgerald, an American fiction writer. His quote was - Show me an hero, I will write a tragedy for him. This quote of Fitzgerald perhaps applies in case of VG Siddharth's death too.

Siddharth was a quiet, unassuming and self-effacing entrepreneur who shunned limelight and publicity. Many don't know the size of the business empire he has built. Only after his death that the world is aware of the scale and size of his operations.

His main grouse in his death note is against the Income Tax authorities. He says in that that IT authorities have harassed him and the raids on his business has caused him enormous damage to his business prospects from which he could not resuscitate himself and finally gave in to the stress in the form of his suicide. There may be other reasons too which at this stage cannot be deciphered. Only thorough investigation can throw some light on  the entire episode. It is said that the simultaneous raids on his premises across twenty two locations has sent the share prices plummeting to new lows thus causing large scale erosion of his asset value. Ever since he was missing and found dead in Nethravathi river there was a hue and cry over the high handedness of IT authorities and many termed it as Tax terrorism unleashed by the ruling dispensation. Also the IT authorities have clarified that they have proceeded as per law. This difference in perception of the issue between IT and rest of world is always debatable, but the fact remains that it has caused irreparable loss to the business, reputational as well as monetary.

This particular charge against IT brings to the surface another most important damage. The raids spree by IT authorities will be a serious jolt to the spirit of entrepreneurship in general. This negative sentiment will make the prospective entrepreneurs not to stick their neck out, there by people not only lose the existing jobs but also creation of new jobs becomes almost impossible because no Entrepreneur/Industrialist will ever come forward to venture into any new business. A negative business sentiment will pervade all through the capitalists who would otherwise have invested. Modi's favorite slogan of - ease of doing business will remain a mere slogan.

Siddharth, despite whatever may be the challenges, difficulties and obstacles should not have resorted to this kind of act. Because according to his own averment, the value of his assets is much more than the loans owed to the creditors. He could have been tenacious and persistent for some more time for the liquidity crunch to get over. He has failed to face the adversity with aplomb. This is most probably due to the fact that he all along kept these things to himself without discussing / sharing atleast with his friends and well wishers who could have given some guidance or shown the way. Life is too precious to be frittered away in the way he did.

The successful person therefore is not the one who is successful but the one who faces adversities, challenge the challenges and still hold his head high when chips are down and hope is distant. 

That's why there is a pressing need for all of us to discuss our failures essentially with our kids so that they should be mentally prepared to accept failures in their lives someday in future if they come across them. We should not make the mistake of always talking about success stories. Because success and failures are the two sides of our lives.

I pray God to give strength to the family of the bereaved and thousands of his staff to bear the loss. May his soul rest in peace.