Innings in PNB 1977-2013

Dear Friends,

As per PNB (Officers) Service Regulations 1979 20 (3) (I)  I will cease to be in the service of the bank wef 31.03.2013 on attaining the age of superannuation. But I continue to be in the service of the Bank for limited purpose. The relationship with the bank which started with my grand father Late  Lala Amar Nath Kalra in Lahore in 1927 and continued by my father Shri Rattan Lal Kalra since 1947, Chacha ji Shri Krishan Lal Kalra since 1946 my cousin Mr Rakesh Kalra since 1972 and brother Mr Dinesh Kalra since 1976 is not severed immediately. I wish someone in the next generation takes the baton forward.

PNB is an institution to grow with. It gives livelihood to its employees. It gives loans to millions for their self employment. PNB has been Kamdhenu for three generations of Kalra's & six members. May this great institution continue to grow & provide employment to many more generations of not only Kalra's but also to many of my colleagues and other meritorious people.

This week on my superannuation I am r,eceiving many phone calls, SMS & posts on my facebook/linked in accounts. The good wishes are pouring in from all four corners of the country where this great bank gave me an opportunity to work & truly become an Indian with pan India experience. I am receiving good wishes from colleagues, clients, stake holders, Govt officials, NGO's and all kind of constituents in Micro, medium & corporate sectors which this great bank of ours gave me opportunity to interact & network with. It is indeed a noble profession to be a banker & more so in PNB.

I recall with nostalgia that I joined this bank with a batch of about 100 + colleagues as Management Trainee on 28.11.1977. This added so many permanent friends to life. Joining as a batch builds cadre loyalty and a kind of bonding which continues till date. I feel proudly privileged that two of our batch mates have risen to become Chairperson & Managing Directors: Mr RK Debey in Canara Bank & Ms Archana Bhargava in United Bank. The galaxy of General Managers since 2010 have been in the key Management positions in the bank.  

I personally was  honoured with empanelment as GM in 2010 but a lending decision taken by me put my promotion on hold & the pain continues. But I am honoured that this great bank of ours gave me opportunity to hold responsible positions as Vice Principal CSC (2001-02), as Regional Manager in Bathinda (2002-04), as Sr Regional Manager in Sriganganagar (2004-07), as Zonal Manager/ Circle Head in Northeast in Guwahti (2007-09) and as Circle Head Karnatka in Bangalore (2009-11). Posting as DGM Financial Inclusion gave opportunity to remain involved in policy making for this new ecosystem. I am also honoured that the bank recognised my performance and gave performance linked cash incentives for outstanding performance on four occasions ever since the launch of the scheme in 2008-09. 

I am beholden to the mentors I had in this bank. I recall with grateful ness Mr AN Mukherjee, Mr VS Vasan, Mr HO Parkash, Mr SK Uppal, Mr LD Adlakha, Mr Ramesh Lal, Mr RG Puri, MR SK Chawla,   Mr VN Saxena, Mr GS Asthana, Mr US Bhargava & Mr PL Khurana & Mr BP Chopra.  I have not worked directly with many Sr Officers but they have been Icons in the bank. Some of them I have ventured to emulate by studying their Management styles. Mr RV Shastri, Mr Prithvi Raj, Mr SK Awasthi, Mr RIS Sidhu, Mr BM Mittal,  Mr PK Mitra & Mr VK Sood just to  name a few. 

Posting as Zonal Manager gave opportunity to interact with the CMD's & ED's directly. Till that time I had only indirectly been observing the Management styles of top Management. Three CMD's had made landmark contributions to the bank to make it what it is today. Mr Parksh Tandon, Mr VS Varshney & Mr SS Kohli. Dr KC Chakrabarty gave it a vision & direction which he could not implement before he was elevated to become Deputy Governor RBI. The dream of the present CMD that Together we can Together we Will is taking its time to percolate down to the ground. But time will tell his contribution of making this bank neat & clean. As regards ED's I feel that they keep low profiles to tide over the period to become CMD's. Except that I found Mr DK Gupta, Mr Ramesh Lal & Mr Tanksale & Mr Nagehsh Payda to be gentlemen of metal. It will not be appropriate for me to comment on present team since my case is with them. I have all & profound respects for them. 

The professional journey in the bank gave ample opportunity to have peers who became life time friends: The list is really long but just to name a few Mr SK Arora, DGM CAD, Mr Anil Bhan, DGM Recovery HO, MR SK Popli, DGM GAD, Mr YP Issar, Ex GM, Mr SR Sharma, FGM Delhi, Mr Bl Patheja Mr Rajinder Mahajan, Mr GS Bhatia Mr SK Goyal Mr Ved Parkash . Many colleagues treat me as their mentor and have elated me time & again. The list is rather long. May be my skills as faculty member has helped them to have my perception as their Friend Philopspher & guide. I have personally recommended the names of many for their promotions & postings. Many of them have proved to be assets. Mr VK Sardana, DGM ZAO Jalandhar, Mr Lavleen Malhotra, DGM South Delhi, Mr PS Chauhan, DGM Bulandshar just to name a few. 

I have also remained closely associated with stalwarts in the trade union movement of the bank. Mr PR Mehta stood against the tide of time to make AIBEA a very strong force to reckon with. Our association happened to get cultivated when we worked sitting at desks next to each other in BO Chaura Bazar Ludhiana. Mr KD Khera has rejuvenated AIPNBOA from hibernation in 1976 and he has his own style to get the things done. He nurtured regional leaders but did not let anyone supersede him at the centre till recently. Mr AS Krishanan became personal friend when I inspected FEO Chennai in 90's. 

Lifelong association with spiritual organisations has been relished by me. inspire by my Spiritual Guru I got this inclination. My salute to that great soul. Then I remained associated with the Divine Life Society Rishikesh & Ramakrishna Mission to read Swami Vivekananda. Post superannuation I plan to remain closely associated with Art of Living. I am as of now going to settle in Bangalore next to the Art of Living Ashram on Kanakpura Road.This association is brought to me by my son Mr Himanshu Kalra who is an Investment Banker with Deutch Bank in London. I will also remain closely associated with a project with my son-in-law Mr Gaurav Batra who is involved in digitisation  of Education. His innovative skills has made it possible to make digital publications to learn the difficult lessons of Science easily with animation.  Shortly his company Nylytn Learning Systems Pvt Ltd will make mark in the sector. I am also planning to Start a Centre of Banking Excellance which I will like all to contribute. For this I will like to get associated with the Institute of Finance & international Management, Bangalore.

Should  you find me fit for anything it will be a great honour. My respected father Shri Rattan Lal Kalra (86), my wife Ms Rita Bajaj, my Son & daughter-in-law Supreetha & Himanshu Kalra, my daughter & son in law Mansi & Gaurav Bajaj join me in conveying our profound regards to all and place on record our thanx to this great organisation Punjab National Bank for what we are today.

Pl do remain in touch.