Since this is my first blog post and I am a banker, I thought of talking about the plight of my fellow community. After all, generosity begins at home. So, today I am going to put some (just a little bit, because we bankers aren't used to all the attention) on the recent note-bandi.
It was the fateful night of 8th November, 2016 when suddenly at around 9pm, our beloved prime minister, Mr. Narendra Modi decided that the country has been too ignorant towards the issue of black money and that something needs to be done. So, by the virtue of his great mind, we had to bid good-bye to the root cause of black money. Yes, the 1000 and 500 rupee notes!
The whole nation sprung into action. Everyone was now worried about their fortune collected over the decades. Even my maid took the next day off, citing that she needs to plan and strategize how she will convert the not-anymore-legal-tender she has stored in her one room home from all the hard work she has done in cleaning our house over the past 15 years on a monthly pay of 8000 for herself and her five young children. I had made a mental note of not believing in any of her emotional drama she does every now and then stating she has got no money to even have food.
Almost everyone in the country had sleepless nights, twisting and turning in the bed in fear of this note-ban. While the concerns of the general public was very much genuine and talked about, not much was thought of the bankers who were given the huge responsibility of making this promise of ache-din-in-50days-plan, a success.
But worry not you bankers! Here, I have tried to list down a few (Mind you! Only a few) of all the miseries you had to face with a smile.
1. Bankers in demand or really?
I remember how one of those days, my neighbor's aunt's daughter's second cousin had paid me visit with a box of chocolates. I was overwhelmed until she asked if she could get a certain amount of her old currency exchanged at my branch. Of course! through me. I had very politely handed her the forms and told her the timings for the note swap. I also remember, how equally politely she ate half the chocolates before leaving! She was just one of the long distant relations who refreshed their contacts with me during those days.
2. The 24*7 Banking?
The good old dream of the public to have banks open forever had now become true. Not because the banking industry had experienced some sort of technological advancement, but due to the immense amount of manual work required to be done. Many of us didn't go home on a lot of days as our branches had become our homes. After all, what's the point in leaving for home around 1 at night to again leave home at 7 in the morning? Ab 6 ghante toh bank mein guzar hi jayenge!
3. Personal life, what's that?
Mr. Sharma came with a sad face the other day. When asked, he complained "wife has gone to her parent's home." This is actually good news but on prodding further he confessed, he is sad because all these years he used to wait for this day to come. Now, when it is finally here, he himself is rarely home. What to celebrate? Hearing this, another young colleague had tears in his eyes. Why? The poor guy wasn't getting time to look for a prospective life partner, there being 2 reasons. Number 1- He was working even on Sundays. The only good thing is, it brought all of us together as another family. Oh! you are wondering what's the second reason? Well, isn't being a banker a reason in itself???
4. Mental Counsellors- the second profession?
Yes, you heard it right. The whole episode of note-ban had made each one of us the mini versions of full time agony-aunts. We heard and sympathized with all sorts of problems that our customers faced. From, let me enter first because "Bete ki tabiyat theek nahi" to "Subah se bhooke hain beta", we have heard it all. From, "Mera hi paisa hai, main line me kyun lagu?" to "Bank wale kuchh nahi karte.", we have smiled through all the accusations and made peace with everyone although inside, wishing to punch the person straight in the face. If not anything else, this ban at least made us realize how much patient we can be. Except for a few verbal spats on alternate day basis, there wasn't much scene.
Couple the above with a lot of mental stress, physical exhaustion, emotional imbalance and you will get the perfect banker of today. I cannot say about the "Ache-Din" but the worst days have definitely gone by (at least for now)!
I hope a lot of you bankers would be able to relate to the above. And for the public, who still can't see the hard work we have put in and will be putting for your comfort- "May you get the pride of working in a bank soon."
I wished to write more but then I realized I am a banker and there are two big files pending for financial scrutiny at my desk. I will be back with my next article once I get time again. Till then- Happy Banking!!!
Don't forget to comment below if you liked the article or if you know of ways you and me can make the next one even better. Also, share ideas for the next article (I am too lazy to think by myself and if ever I do, it would again take a turn towards banking)
Taking a deep breathe, smiling and eagerly waiting to hear from you all!
Pragati Gupta
