About the Blog

This is my diary....what I make sense of, around me. You'll find short prose on contemporary topics that interest me. What can you expect - Best adjectives? …. hmm occasionally, tossed around flowery verbs ?…. Nope, haiku-like super-brevity? … I try to. Thanks for dropping by & hope to see you again

January 23, 2011

Banking by design. Architectural Tales of India's Banking Bastions

Embark with me on a journey through the bustling streets of Bangalore and Mangalore, where the facades of financial fortresses tell tales of contrast and character. This isn't just a tale of my recent visits to various bank headquarters; it's a story of how architecture and design whisper the silent yet potent language of brand identity.

Let's start with the public sector banks, where time seems to have paused, holding on to the charm of yesteryears. Public sector banks have this - no frill, sedate & dull almost to the point of boring you to death types of receptions. One (Canara Bank) resembled a check-in counter at the airport, complete with uniformed staff manning a X-ray baggage checking machine next to the receptionist. Another (Vijaya Bank) had large showcases of what appeared to be several large trophies & awards around its reception area. I don’t know where & how they won so many but it certainly reminded me of my school & college receptions. Corporation Bank had this wooden box like reception area that resembled a ticketing counter of a 70 era cinema theater.

In stark contrast, the private sector banks were like stepping into the future. ING Vysya's entrance boasted revolving glass doors that ushered me into a world where art and commerce met—a giant steel sculpture hanging like a modern chandelier, a testament to the bank's sophistication and contemporary vision.

Essentially the style and substance in presentation speaks a lot of the banks, and it seems only the private sector banks used it as a calling card and a sophisticated way of differentiating from peers. Given the bad reputation and some stigma facing the industry it made a lot of sense for banks to trade goodwill and reputations through their corporate front offices.

Years back when I was working with ICICI Bank I used to marvel at its BKC headquarters, a place for our frequent visits and meetings. It appeared as jewel-de-paragon on the Bandra-kurla complex which during the initial years of its completion stood out against the monolithic blocks of concrete buildings as one entered the complex from Bandra side. I couldn’t differentiate these buildings from the fort (some called it residence named Matoshree) of the rabble rouser politician Bal Thackeray) who lived on the other side of the road. Several other organizations sprung around ICICI Bank later each trying to outdo the other in architectural splendor.

Magnificent as was it from outside contrast the reception where loud and bawdy Marathi speaking manoos’es who many a times doubled up as security and receptionists undid most of sophistication that Kamath had tried to portray as a dynamic universal Bank.

Years later, I found myself at Centurion Bank of Punjab in Mahalakshmi, where an old mill had been transformed into a corporate haven. Staying in Belvedre Court and walking to the office next door was the envy of my colleagues who knew a thing or two about Mumbai commuting. While on the exterior, the building exuded some charm of a heritage building the interiors were all glass and gloss. There was one small glitch though, a secretarial college rubbed shoulders with CBoP as its neighbor in the same complex.

Finally to understand how size can be one’s own undoing one can visit the head offices of NABARD in Mumbai. You will be reminded of how it would have been like while being swallowed by a 10000 pound dinosaur.

January 5, 2011

Journeying Through Nature and Serendipity: Reflections on a Memorable Break

I'm sharing my thoughts with you after a refreshing two-week break that took me to some fantastic natural destinations: a stunning nature park near Madikeri and the crystal-clear Maravanthe beach in the Karavali district. During this time, I managed to blend a bit of business with pleasure. I addressed a gathering of government officials in Mysore, made a few business calls in Mangalore, and followed up on some matters in Dharwar. The journey covered a total of 1650 kilometers, and despite the demanding driving and the toll it took on my body, I returned to Bengaluru just yesterday.


Garden view from a colonial bungalow India



It was an eventful trip, but nothing could have prepared me for the unfortunate incident in Mysore where I lost my mobile phone. I mistakenly believed I was in a secure location - a sprawling old government bungalow that serves as the official guest house of the Forest Department, complete with high walls and a security post at the gates. While enjoying the evening on the vast veranda overlooking a well-manicured garden, I left my mobile phone on a chair, only to discover it missing the next morning. I'll spare you the details of my frustrating experience with Vodafone customer service after the incident, as that could fill another article.

Following my schedule in Mysore, I drove to Kushalnagar, where I spent a day at Nisargadhama, a nature park managed by the Karnataka Forest Department. The Forest Officer of Mercara had kindly invited me to stay there before my visit to their Mercara offices. Nisargadhama, located on an island in the heart of the Cauvery River, is a tranquil and picturesque place. Tourists can also stay in one of the few cottages at a very reasonable price (I stayed for free as the official guest of the Karnataka Forest Department). To access the island, you cross a rope bridge, and once there, we were led to the "Kannika" cottage. After a brief nap in the afternoon amid the distant sounds of visitors, the park fell into a serene silence after closing time at 6 in the evening. This is when Nisargadhama truly comes to life. Sitting by the riverside, surrounded by a symphony of natural sounds, I composed the following lines to capture the experience:

Nisargadhama Kushalnagar India



A  drooping  cottage by the river
Stands high on a pile of bamboo pillars
Perched on its banks, its small veranda
Reaching out to kiss the river
Water by the side , in a haze of light green
Whispers as she flows through the rocks
Bamboo stocks, aplenty
Crackle  sporadically  in mystified voices
In between the  chitter chatter of the thickly wooded park
Telling us something , about  nature’s  benign voice
As do the fishes, playfully  whipping up  the surface of the river
Birds in the surrounding woods , do the real tweets
Oh!....Nature trails are so sweet.

On Christmas Eve, I found myself in Udupi, where we managed to visit one of the town's churches on the 25th. However, all the grand celebrations had already concluded the previous evening, leaving the church empty on Christmas Day.

As for New Year's, it greeted us at the historic Deccan Gymkhana Club in Dharwar town. Right next to it, the sprawling KC (Kittur Channamma) Park featured two colorful water fountains that randomly sprung to life, displaying shades of green, blue, and red, symbolically reminding us of the hope, joys, and challenges that lay ahead in 2011.

I extend my warmest wishes to all my readers for a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

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