FARE THEE WELL!

I worked in a public sector bank for over three decades. That meant regular transfers. I had a fair share of those – just 15! The best thing about those transfers was that almost every other transfer was to Bangalore.  That also meant no serious dislocation for my children’s schooling. Now, why did I refer to this?

Transfers meant farewell functions and every time I was transferred a function was organized by my colleagues to bid me good-bye. Ando so in 2003, when the last of such functions in the bank was held I assumed that that it was the last farewell function – but God willed otherwise!

My afternoon snooze was disturbed by a phone call from Manipal Universal Learning one day in November 2008. A sweet voice asked me if I could come over for a discussion with MUL officials. I checked to see if she was calling the right person! After confirmation, I did go, met the General Manager HR who found my credentials good enough to be a member of the faculty in their training academy. And that was when I ran into my good friend Dr. T.V.N. Rao (He was my son’s professor and even today my son goes gaga over his teaching skills). After that, as they say, rest is history.

I joined the academy and spent about 15 months when I was given a farewell. Farewell is the time that most of us like because that is when you hear a lot of nice words said about you! The only curious thing about it is that many of us start believing that we really merit those words! Little did I imagine that I will join Manipal again and spend quite some time there!

August 2010, my friend Dr. Rao called me and asked me if I can join him again. I did and what a fine spell has it been!

This time around I did not have to work at the academy but worked at Towers and it was a good experience. Drafting contents for a MBA course was my major task. Alongside I also helped designing some courses which found ready acceptance at the hands of the client banks.

I had not realized then that great times were ahead of me. MUL were able to persuade a giant public sector bank to adopt their training methodology. Dr. Rao suggested that I be involved in that project from the beginning and I had the pleasure and privilege of designing the course structure, drafting the contents and presenting them before the Bank’s senior officials for acceptance. I felt elated when a General manger of the Bank said ‘if this has been prepared by a … Bank official, there is no need for us to scrutinize that. It must be good!’ Such was the brand image of the bank in which I had worked!

And so the design and content were accepted and logically, I became a member of the faculty of the new School. It has been a great experience! The fact that many ambitious youngsters come to you in quest of knowledge is itself an elixir; add to that good words from your bosses – you are on top of Everest or should I say Kanchenjunga!

This spell spread over 20 months saw me foray into hitherto unchartered (for me) territories. From what I hear from the students of the first five batches that I have interacted with, I seem to have connected well with them. They may not have hailed me as a great teacher but they have accepted me as a person to connect with. But one thing every batch conveyed to their juniors was that I am a strict person. This is an image I am unable to live down!

This year my wife and I decided that we visit our daughter, her husband and her children in USA and so I requested MUL to relieve me by end April. As ever, graciously they agreed and yours truly is leaving MUL (now named MaGE).

My colleagues at this school got up a pleasant function to bid me good-bye and our ever affable Director graced the occasion with his presence. How nice of him! I know how busy he is and so for him to spare about half an hour for me is something that I should be proud of! I thought this was the last of the farewells that I was going to have. But ‘no’ said my students!

Today when I went to two classes to bid good-bye they greeted me with loud cheer, gave me a beautiful ‘farewell card’, and persuaded me to cut cakes. And sang! These were moments that would be forever be etched in my hearts. You will have to be my age to realize the importance of this. At my age I should feel happy if youngsters choose to give me the time of the day. But here I was being accorded standing ovation; everyone wanting to have a photo with me! This was sheer bliss. May God bless all these youngsters!

It only brings back to my memory the old saying ‘farewells are not final” and the following quotes:

Good bye may seem forever. Farewell is like the end, but in my heart is the memory and there you will always be - Walt Disney

It's been an incredible ride. Mission accomplished. With that, I have to bid farewell. I'm the happiest person in the world right now. It's better than I ever thought it would be. - Jerome Bettis

The world is round and the place which may seem like the end may also be the beginning.
- Ivy Baker Priest

Goodbyes are not forever. Goodbyes are not the end. They simply mean I'll miss you until we meet again.

Nothing makes the earth seem very spacious as to have friends at a distance; they make the latitudes and longitudes

Don't be dismayed at good-byes. A farewell is necessary before we can meet again and meeting again, after moments or a lifetime, is certain for those who are friends.

Why does it take a minute to say hello and forever to say goodbye?
 

Can anyone please give me an answer to this? 

Sayanora