Citizenship as a way of life

I have found my Guru

A Life Transforming Encounter With Citizenship

I feel quite fulfilled in my journey of life. I have reaped sufficient outer fruits, plenty of inner fruits and countless joys of contribution. The only fruit that eluded me is promotion. Of late, I have also started hoodwinking it as a return gesture! I have a well located house, a decent lifestyle, cheerful health (touch wood!), a loving family, good friends of both sexes (much to the envy of some of my dear friends!), some publications to my credit, a steady growth, an understanding of human behaviour, taste for arts and culture, satisfaction of contributing significantly to my extended family and an ever growing pool of well wishers.

Though I always felt at peace with myself, I had no one to look up to in intriguing times. My friends went to temples and prayed, some of them pursued yoga and meditation and others had their own ways of finding solace. I do not believe in any rituals though I don’t mind going to temples etc. During times of crisis, I felt a sense of void. May be it was because I had a predominantly scientific view of life.

I have been a sincere student of human psychology and a behavioural science trainer (minus the eccentricities, of course). I delved in to positive psychology and was for a while thinking of designing a programme on authentic happiness (based on the work of Martin Seligman and others on the subject) as my mission in life is to make people happy. The school of thought I was following laid down various components of happiness beautifully and, in the end, stipulated that all these would bring happiness but you should also do something worthwhile and meaningful in your life. Making a positive contribution was just one of the building blocks of authentic happiness among so many others.

Beginning of my citizenship journey

It was sometime in June 2009 when all the Circle Development Officers and Intervention Leaders gathered for the first workshop on Project Citizen-SBI at the Corporate Centre, Mumbai. This was the first time we saw and heard Mr V Srinivas – half-sleeved white shirt, curly hair and the glow of conviction. He propounded the concept well but most of the audience at that time felt that it was too abstract. I remember interacting with him during the lunch break to share with him my experience with Parivartan and the need for Hindi and vernacular versions of the programme. I extended an invitation to conduct pilots in Bhopal Circle and also complimented him for his outstanding oratory skills, knowing little then about his deep conviction and intense engagement with the subject.

Then we had a longish workshop and pilots at Taj Banjara, Hyderabad during August where I found time to go through the foundation notes on various dimensions of citizenship. This was followed by pilots at State Bank Academy, Gurgaon where we had a solid apprenticeship in all nuances of Citizenship and also the art of facilitation. Here, I would like to add that this programme has given us a rich pool of well equipped facilitators and prompted our Training System to take a giant paradigm leap forward. Later on, the facilitator gym back home was a unique experience. We shuttled many a times to the multi purpose hall at the Bandra-Kurla complex to fine tune the programme versions and our own understanding of citizenship.

A new way of life

As the citizenship orientation programmes progressed, I found myself deeply immersed in citizenship – classes, travel, talking with participants over phone, contributing for the Google groups of Intervention Leaders and Facilitators, setting up and propagating the CitizenSBI blog, answering all the queries from across the country (as if I was an expert in citizenship!) and developing a real as well as a virtual citizen community. I found that I was working and thinking citizenship 24x7 and felt charged up all through with no traces of fatigue. Some friends started saying that I have internalized citizenship and was becoming more and more citizenized with each passing day. All put together, we looked at 101 dimensions of citizenship from 1001 different angles. Don’t believe? Just go through the groups and the blog!

It then dawned upon me that I have discovered a new way of life. I had started contributing positively on a regular and continuous basis in so many spheres and was in a state of flow. In my college days I had adopted cricket as a view of life. Cricket helps you to develop sportsman spirit, accept defeat as well as victory and is a gentleman’s game. The citizenship philosophy gives a lot of fulfilment as we continuously get opportunities to touch lives of others. It is not just something swantah sukhai, it caters to the welfare of others.

मनमोहन सा बढ़ना है

सिटिज़न एस बी आई

सिखलाता है हम सबको
टीस किसी को मत देना

जब भी मौका मिले हमें
नयनों में खुशियाँ भर देना

एक - एक का मूल्य बहुत है
सबकी बातें छोडें हम

बीत गया सो बीत गया
आगे की सुधि अब लेलें हम

ईश्वर ने हमको जन्म दिया
प्रयास प्रगति का करना है

थकना थमना छोड़ हमें
मनमोहन सा बढ़ना है

राम मोहन गुप्त अमर
विशेष सहायक
गोला गोकर्णनाथ
खीरी
उत्तर प्रदेश

THEY HAD EMPTIED THEIR CUPS……..

...AND WERE VERY RECEPTIVE

Just as we were to begin the programme of Citizen SBI for messengers at our SBLC, we were given to believe that it may prove tough explaining the concepts to them.

During my career, since I had come across a number of messengers whom I felt could have easily gone in for higher education and jobs of a higher order, but for their weak financial background, I already had a soft corner for them. In fact, I had learnt a lot from the messenger class, practically and gained much from their knowledge of local environment, as I climbed the ladder of success but, unfortunately, most of them continued where they were due to family and financial constraints.

I was, therefore, hardly surprised to watch them interpret the new concepts so exceedingly well and absorbing the ideas so easily, adding their experiences and finally appreciating the programme that this has been the best they had attended in their career.

Such active involvement of the messenger participants, with a sincere desire to learn and change and high regards for the facilitators was simply, overwhelming for us.

It moved my heart when, one of the participant, stood up and took a vow to give up drinking after understanding the need for inner fruits and positive contribution. One more followed to give up eating of tobacco. Some of them admitted that they were whiling away their time in office before, but now vowed to work honestly and do their best for customers and the bank. A few agreed that they had never paid attention to their family members and henceforth would take greater care of them. Some more decided to educate their children to the best of their capability and make them good citizens, thus achieving greater fulfillment.

All said and done, the experience of being a facilitator for Citizen SBI for messengers has not only been very fulfilling but has given me an additional insight about life.

Contributed by HARINA SHARMA, FACILITATOR, SBLC, INDORE
reena.sharma@sbi.co.in

The Joy Of Flying First Time

A Unique ThanksGiving Gesture



Three Citizenship Orientation Programmes for GMs / DGMs have been conducted last week at State Bank Academy, Gurgaon and State Bank Staff College, Hyderabad. This moment was shared in the just concluded programme at the Academy.



There is a boy named Venkatappa working at the staff cooperative store at the Local Head Office, Bangalore. He is very helpful to all staff and tirelessly runs errands for them even on holidays without expecting anything in return.



When I got promoted as DGM, along with thanking my family and friends, a thought occurred to my mind that I should also thank Venkatappa. Quietly I booked an air ticket for him from Bangalore to Goa and then told him to be ready to fly on the next sunday. He was absolutely thrilled.



He was dressed to his best that morning and glee was clearly visible on his face when he boarded the aircraft. I took him to the temple of my family deity in Ponda and then drove him to my sister's place at Karwar. I saw to it that he thoroughly enjoyed his trip.



Making him and seeing him happy, I experienced immense joy. Even today when I look back, I feel good.....



Shared by GIRIDHAR KINI, DGM
Mumbai Main branch

giridhara.kini@sbi.co.in

I decided to marry a widow

(Here is a citizen story narrated by one of the participants in a programme attended by me.
- B.K.Dash, IL-I, Bhubaneswar)

My sister Vijaya married at Hinjilicut, a small town near Berhampur. Her husband died in an accident with in a year of marriage i.e. in the year 1983. I could feel the sentiments of a widow to live in this restricted manner. In the year 1986 my sister re-married at Srikakulam and now leading a successful life. After my sisters` marriage I mentally decided to marry a widow. On 21st June 1987 I married to a widow as promised earlier. This fact was strongly opposed by our community. Then I started mobilizing the friends and relatives, caste persons etc those who are opposing the fact of remarriage of widow and the conservative nature of the community. After a lot of struggle for 4 years finally the community accepted our marriage and passed the resolution to the effect that hence forth there will be no restriction for remarriage of a widow in that community. Now there are a number of marriages in our caste and the widows live their life happily. This act of mine gives me immense happiness when I look back.

Contributed by E.T.RAO
KHODASINGI ADB, Berhampur, ORISSA.

Meditation / Total Introspection

Maybe we should include a session of Meditation / Total introspection in programmes like SBI Citizen. Just loud thinking Sir.

Thanks to your Blog I do go through most of the mails that I receive.

With warm regards for the severe winter !

Murli Krishnan Mukundan
Kerala Circle

murlisbi@yahoo.com

DEATH, BE NOT PROUD!

Sunil Jankilal Gaud, Messenger at Industrial Estate Branch, Indore , lost his father on the fateful day of 25/5/96 . The next day, on 26/5/96 , the 17 year old Sunil, being the eldest son in the poor family, with a heavy heart, completed all the funeral rites and was returning home carrying the remnants of his father.

He was walking his way home, all alone, when he suddenly heard loud cries of a woman to save her child who was drowning in the nearby pond. Sunil rushed to the pond, jumped into the water and pulled out the boy, who was about eight years old. The boy had taken in a lot of water and was breathless. Sunil, as much as he could, pushed out water from the boy’s stomach, but realizing that the boy will need immediate medical attention, rushed to the main road and feverishly waved out to the speeding vehicles to stop and take the boy to the hospital.

Luckily for Sunil, a car stopped and the owner agreed to take the boy and his parents to the nearby hospital. Sunil, later on checked up to find that the boy survived.

For, Sunil, this was his Citizen moment, which he cherishes till date.

Despite suffering the loss of his father at just 17, which also meant carrying the responsibility of the entire family, henceforth, on his not so matured shoulders, it is heartening to note that Sunil, could set aside his sorrows and instantly rush on a call for help and save a life!

Sunil has emerged victorious! He could successfully overcome the pain and debacle that death can cause and even became a savior to a poor little boy. Death in the family could not daunt his spirits for being useful for others. A Citizen SBI indeed!

Contributed by Harina Sharma, Facilitator, SBLC, Indore

TRUE STORY WITHOUT ANY COMPENSATION FROM BANK

This is the Moments of Inner Fullness shared by one of the participants in Citizen SBI programme held at SBLC, Guwahati.

I was promoted as Cash Officer from LHO in the year 1988. Thereafter, I have reported to Songsak Branch, a branch in a hilly terrain. After few months, I had availed leave and reported back for duty at 4.30 p.m. I saw my Branch Manager was seriously ill and could not talk/walk properly. There was no medical facility, telephone or proper transport. Considering the sittuation, I immediately opted to move to William Nagar. But, no verhicle was there. We had no alternative too at that time. At night, I managed a scooter under reequest to go to Willigm Nagar. Next morning, I left for William Nagar and reported to the Branch Manager there. I explained the situation prevailing at our branch and requested to provide an Officer for our Branch. But, the Branch Manager did not accede and advised me to contact Tura branch which is 40 kms from William Nagar. Through unknown road, I left for Tura. On the way, I met with an accident as the scooter skid from the road and got injured in my legs and hands.

In the injured condition, I went to Tura branch and met the Branch Manager thereat. I explained to him about the purpose of my visit and my injuries due to the accident. The branch manager called a clerical staff and advised him to take me to a nearby pharmacy. At the same time, the Branch Manager informed that there is no staff to spare and none will volunteer to go to Songsak which is about 85/90 kms away. Further, he advised me to take charge at the Branch in such a situation. After getting myself treated for my injuries I proceeded back to my branch.

Next day when I reached the branch, I found that the Branch Manager had arranged a vehcile for him to move out and was waiting for me. Within 1 hour, the BM left the station giving branch charge to me. As the area was prone for malarial deaths, had I not taken charge of the Branch in time and allowed the Branch Manager to go, it could have been a serious matter.

This gives me a great satisfaction and comfort that I could help someone at the right time which saved his life.

S.N. Mallick
Deputy Manager
Goalpara Branch