STRESS, SUCCESS AND EVERYTHING IN-BETWEEN
The Highs and Lows of A Woman’s Journey in the Corporate World
CARE: This is Chapter 18 of my book Stress, Success and Everything In-Between. These are individual anecdotes but to understand the professional journey in totality, I would recommend reading the book from Chapter 01 onwards.
I was going to complete my second branch training when there was
a telephone call from the Personnel Department asking me to come over to
discuss my next posting.
“So considerate of them,” I thought as I kick-started my Vespa
scooter. Soon, I was in the Head Office, sitting in front of the concerned
officer who explained grimly, “Personnel Manager Saheb is a very kind-hearted
person, and he feels that it would be a good idea if I check up on your
preference for the city for your third branch training.”
I did not notice his wry tone. Instead, I was impressed with
this concern and instantly started dreaming of a stay in the lush green
Himalayan mountains under a blue sky. I quickly suggested some of my favourite
places like Dehra Dun, Mussoorie, and Nainital.
“No, no, no. These are not identified branches for third-branch
training. Please suggest some other places,” the officer had broken my reverie.
“Okay, Sir. Allahabad, Varanasi, and Bareilly are equally
suitable as far as I am concerned.”
“I am sorry, but these centres are not available. You can
suggest some other places.”
"How about Meerut or maybe Agra, sir?"
He made a face and shook his head sideways, indicating that this
was also not viable.
“Okay, sir. In that case, can you please tell me the options
available?”
“Anywhere you say, Madam. Please tell me some more centres which
may be convenient to you,” he uttered with a poker face.
“Sir, I have no choice,” I suddenly became uninterested.
“Normally, we do not ask anyone about their posting, but the big
boss is very kind to you. You may choose out of Faizabad, Lakhimpur Kheri or
Sultanpur…any of these branches, and you will get it.”
His anger against the decision of the Personnel Manager to give
the young female officers the choice of selecting a safe and convenient place
in the badlands of Uttar Pradesh was perhaps the reason behind this discussion.
I did not want to make any choice as all these three places,
located in the notorious crime-infested Terai Bhabar area of
Uttar Pradesh, were extremely backward and insecure for a single woman to stay
alone.
By this time, I had realised the game he was playing and said with a straight face, “Sir, it is your decision. Please post me wherever you feel
like. I have no choice.”
“These are all district headquarters branches. What better can you ask for? You are so lucky you are not being posted to a rural branch as most young officers are. Also, you should be happy you are being consulted before posting.” The shades of sarcasm resonated in his tone.
I had understood his malice and told him plainly, “You decide yourself, sir. As all are equally good places, please take a call
yourself. I will go wherever you post me.” I picked up my helmet and the bag
and got up to leave. It was not possible for me to beg and plead for a better place.
“Please do not feel bad, Madam. Why not sit for some time more? Let
us explore some more options. Maybe we can settle down at a mutually agreeable
place.”
Was he deriving some vicarious pleasure at my cost, or did he expect I would come down on my knees and beg for posting at a better place? Can you decipher his intent in asking me repeatedly for my choice and then saying no to every suggestion?
“No, sir. You decide yourself. I have nothing to say.” Saying
this, I walked out of the room, thinking I would cross the bridge when it came.
A few days later, I was not surprised when I got my transfer orders for Faizabad. I thought of the dream that had changed the course of my life. Had the Cheshire Cat not illustrated the difficulties that would come my way if I opted for the challenging path? Thinking of the dream and the poker face of the Cheshire Cat brought a smile to my lips. Had I not myself chosen the difficult path? And I started packing my bags for Faizabad.
The journey on the rough road had just begun.
(To be continued.....)
*****
8 comments:
May it surprise equally interesting transfer / posting of Sushil Ojha as BM of Adi Badri / Gauchar in difficult hills of Chamoli Distt after completion of mandatory comfortable 5 years at Zonal Office DehraDun. The then ferocious Personnel Manager Mr Manohar Lal surprised every body when .......( to be continued, if it creates at least slight curiosity in eager readers unlike sycophancy lover writers )
I unequivocally condemn the desk officer's obnoxious conduct. Having said that, Faizabad is a twin city of Ayodhaya and was very peaceful in the seventies - I have personal knowledge of this; and moreover the incident happened much before the Babri Masjid was destroyed and the saffronites introduced communalism to Faizabad/Ayodhaya. I dont know why you are implying it was a bad posting. I think the Personnel Manager must have overruled the desk officer, since you were a female and the bank had an unwritten policy to avoid posting girls to dacoit infested/Naxal/Bihad areas and the like.
...Kanwal Bir Singh Bedi
Thank you for sharing this! PERSONNEL DEPTT. those days ( as always) was a NO NO Deptt and officers posted therein derived sadistic pleasure in the matter of postings of officers.
I am very eager to read Faizabad chapter.
.....Vijay Gupta
I think ours was better, what with Mr. JS Bhatnagar and AS Bhalla/Agni running the show. I was given a (mutual) Circle transfer during probation - a thing unheard of in those days, at least for males - from Bengal Circle to Delhi. I was asked for three choices for 3rd br. trg, I specified Dehradun, Chandigarh and Jalandher. I got Jalandher. First two branches were Dibrugarh (great posting) and Asansol (good), without any options having been sought or given. ....KBS Bedi
Oh my goodness!!! Ranjana Bharij . That was a sad posting. I was not consulted for any of my postings. My second posting was under a chauvinistic manager, who acted as if I was his slave. When orders came for my third branch posting to Bareilly Can't, he declined to relieve me and said he would give me training in the current branch. I objected, he didn't budge. I too picked up my Vespa scooter and helmet and went to Personnel and complained. When I came back to the branch, Mr. Manager says to me, "Miss Khanna, aap ko aaj hi relieve kar Diya hai. Aap Bareilly chali jaiye". I objected and he said thumping his chest, "Jab dil se nikaal Diya toh nikaal Diya". The gall!
So off I went on my scooter, felt like a witch going about her business. I went back to Personnel and complained, I needed my 5 day joining time, to refresh my spirits by visiting home.
....Sneh Dhingra
Delhi circle was kinder. I got wonderful branches during probation. Chandigarh, Srinagar(J&K), Ambala City and Najafgarh ADB.
In 1984 I took a circle transfer from Chandigarh to Hyderabad Circle. The RM threatened to post me to some remote border town which was Naxal area then.
....Varsha Uke Nagpal
I had much better experience as a PO under training, ie nothing to complain about. Except for difficult in finding a place to stay and food in campus Town of Pantnagar.
....Dinesh Kumar Jain
Wonderful write up. Its hard way up really. One doesn't realise the difficult attitudes n such a distinct gender bias to be so openly flaunted. I love the way you handled the entire situation.Great attitude.
....Divya Sud
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