IF YOU CAN LAUGH, YOU CAN LIVE

The prolific Harina Sharma reports from the class in the State Bank of Indore, Staff Academy, Indore

The stage was set and we had to formally train the officers of State Bank of Indore , selected as Facilitators, for two days on Citizen SBI, at their Training Academy in Indore . There were mixed feelings on both sides with the expectation of merger looming large. It was a bright group of 27 senior officers with years of experience of life and depth of wisdom. Life, as it is, may not have been very good at all times to all, yet most of them knew how to laugh.

The role plays performed by the groups were simply superb and very hilarious, with brilliant performances by most of them displaying positive contribution with excellence and a sense of service. Performance of routine duty vis a vis positive contribution was well brought out with a good dose of humor while driving the point home. This programme stands out as the one where the spirit of laughter emerged as a powerful energizer, creating a sense of instant belonging, generating interest to participate and rediscover the self in an atmosphere of joy, which was unmistakable!


Mr. I.S.Sisodia, AGM, Inspection, recollected those days when a senior staff on the verge of retirement was sent to his branch. He was warned by others that he is not good for anything, yet, Mr. Sisodia accepted him wholeheartedly, used to call him ‘dada’ and even drop him home many times. Once while, Mr. Sisodia dropped him home, the senior staff’s wife commented, “he never used to come home as happy as he does now” to which the senior staff added, “I also never used to work as hard as I do now”.


Mr. B.L.Paneri, Manager (Training), took a loan from the bank to construct his house and on completion of the same; there were remnants of construction material like bricks, cement, iron rods, etc. which were put to use creatively to build a ‘chabutra’ around a pippal tree. It carried no importance then, but as on date is being used by travelers, vegetable vendors, children and old people alike who take comfort in the shade of the pippal tree, while sitting on the chabutra and take a few moments of rest, enroute, in their journey of life. He says he has reaped the benefits of doing a good job, as the municipal authorities have placed a huge halogen bulb near the chabutra which lights up his house and does away with the need of having to keep a dog to drive away thieves.


Mr. M.P.S.Anand, CM (RACPC) was posted at a place near Guna, where he saw Adivasi women walking 15 kms carrying wood to sell to enable them to feed their children and also their husband. They were the bread earners in the family. He taught them to make bidis, which at first he had to learn himself, thus helping them to earn Rs. 20-25 per day. The transformation was such that people, who had barely anything to eat, could now store grains for the full year! His work was also recognized and appreciated by RBI.


Mr. Sharad Naik, CM (CCC) HO, in a village inhabited by 1001 people where 700 of them were illiterates, could successfully do the mammoth job of making more than 300 people, literates! Shri Arjun Singh and Shri S.S.Patwa highly appreciated his efforts.


Mr. Praveen Jaltare, Chief Manager (Inspection) still recollects the look of acknowledgement and thanksgiving in the eyes of two children, who while on their motorcycle on a deadly night were hit by a speeding truck and left bleeding and unattended on the road. Mr. Jaltare carried them to the hospital in his car as he spotted them while passing that way and they survived. He says he cannot exchange the world for those moments of gratitude expressed by those innocent eyes of the children.


Mr. Nitin Kulkarni, CM (Training), while on his way to pay a bill saw a man drop his purse, unaware of it. Mr.Kulkarni picked it up, followed the man and saw him nearly in tears as he realised the loss. After verification when Mr. Nitin handed over the purse intact to him, he cried, as he wondered what he could have fed his children if the purse was lost for it carried his month long salary!


Life has its own thrills and it swirls us around in waves of laughter and tears. If only we could laugh, even when the shadows of sorrow hover around us, will not life be worth living? When we give a smile, it is great charity, for we have made the receiver’s day and who knows, may be our smile may lit up his whole life! The growing intention to do good and the capacity to laugh despite adversities will ease life and never will it appear as a burden. Let the world laugh with you, this is the only way to live and let live.


CONTRIBUTED BY Ms. HARINA SHARMA, FACULTY,SBLC, INDORE .