RBREA HITGUJ AUGUST2014

1)MEETING WITH THE NEW DEPUTY GOVERNOR

A delegation of the Association consisting of Sarvashri R P Donde, T G Nair, M B Talekar, A P Kale, T P Kunhiraman and L R Parab called on the newly appointed Deputy Governor, Shri S S Mundra, who is also in charge of HRMD, and welcomed him with a bouquet on 8th August 2014. The delegation wished him happy and successful tenure in the Bank. Office-bearers recalled that the DG, who was CMD of a nationalized bank and also the Chairman of IBA, had vast experience of the problems of retirees in the banking sector. Reserve Bank had over 19,000 retirees, which number exceeded the total working staff of the Bank. Referring to the issue of updation of pension in the Bank we stated that it has been pending for long in spite of sincere follow-up by three successive Governors, including the present one, viz. Dr. Raghuram G. Rajan with the Finance Ministry. Our Association and also the Forum of R.B. Officers and Employees are vigorously pursuing the matter. Governor had informed the delegation of our Chennai unit on the recent occasion of the Governor's felicitation function that the Bank was engaged in getting a fair deal from the Government and the finality was expected shortly. DG was requested to ensure that the issue is settled without further delay as the entire retiree community of the Bank is anxiously waiting for updation of pension. DG, who appeared to be well acquainted with the issue, gave us patient hearing. He is expected to do the needful in the matter. The issue of opening of option for pension was also raised. DG stated that it was interlinked with updation of pension. - R P Donde, President

2) PPR's MISCELLANY

(One of the finest books to be released in the last ten years is the autobiography of Fali Nariman. Graceful style and great humour are the hallmarks of this self-effacing work. Here are two extracts from the book - “Before Memory Fades”.- PPR)

1. “I recall the story of Sir Dinshaw Mulla, one of 's eminent jurists - a story that has always impressed me with the need to be frank, even if it hurts. When Mulla was in college studying English literature, he used to write poems; worse, he fancied himself a poet. So, after he graduated with a B A (literature), he thought he would write poetry for a living but someone advised him to take up law. Being in two minds, he picked up pen and paper, and quite impetuously wrote to the then poet laureate, Lord Alfred Tennyson (1809-92), enclosing a few of his choicest pieces. Mulla anxiously waited for a reply. In those days, letters to England went only by sea. Then, sure enough, one day he received a frank response from the great man himself, written in his own hand: “Dear Mr. Mulla, I have carefully gone through all your poems. I think you should try the law.” What graciousness - a famous poet replying in his own hand to an unknown fellow way out in India. And what invaluable advice. Imagine if Tennyson had said (just to please the young Mulla) that he should continue writing poetry; India would have lost one of its greatest jurists. Mulla went on to become law member in the Viceroy's Executive Council, and in the early 1930s he was knighted and appointed privy councilor (a member of His Majesty's Privy Council in England). He was the great Indian jurist of pre-Independence days. His commentary on the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, indispensable (even now) to every practicing lawyer, is in its seventeenth edition (2007). It was Sir Dinshaw Mulla, who expounded, in simple elegant prose, the personal laws of Hindu and Muslims in his treatises on Hindu Law (now in its nineteenth edition, 2001). (Page 25).

2. “Kanhaiya Lal's English was impeccable. One could perhaps outsmart him occasionally on law but never on the English language. Siddharth Shankar Ray has written a moving tribute to Kanhaiya Lal Misra which one can find in 125th Post Centenary Silver Jubilee Volume of the High Court (1866 -1971). He tells us (what I did not know till I read this paper) that Kanhaiya Lal scored 150 out of 150 marks in his English essay paper in the Examination of 1926. He passed. And yet he was not selected for the ICS; others who scored less marks were preferred. This was so irregular that questions were asked about it in the British Parliament. It appears that in the year 1926, Kanhaiya Lal had committed the unpardonable sin of joining the nationalist movement, and there was a black mark against his name. And his obtaining cent per cent marks in his English essay paper had a sequel. It was Sir Arthur Quiller- Couch - the well-known Professor of the English language, and one of the editors of the Oxford Book of Verse - who had examined and marked Kanhaiya Lal's paper. He was so much impressed that he gave him full marks but also took the trouble of writing a personal letter to Kanhaiya Lal's professor in Allahabad University. In his letter to Prof. Dunn, he summarized K. L. Misra's brilliance with a bit of hyperbole: “It is the Englishman who had conquered 'India', but it is only K. L. Misra who conquered English.” That Quiller-Couch should have had the enthusiasm to write to someone in 'India' is reminiscent of the story related by me earlier of Alfred Lord Tennyson (the poet laureate of England) writing to a then unknown graduate in Bombay, Dinshaw Mulla.” (Pages 125-126). Note: “The Art of Writing” by “Q” was the Bible of English Style while we were in school. An excellent guide. - P P Ramachandran, Kalina

3) SENIOR CITIZENS- TIPS FOR SMOOTH-SAILING

Shri P N Limaye, one of our members, is a voracious reader. He is spending his life after retirement for a noble cause to share knowledge and wisdom he has gathered and distilled through his reading, among his readers and more importantly among his retired colleagues. He has brought out another rich addition to his series of 11 compiled volumes, released so far, a new volume - 'Senior Citizens (Tips for Smooth Sailing)'. For the complete list of his books, please see page 3 of the 15th March 2013 issue of HITGUJ.

The list of chapters itself indicates how useful the volume is for elders. The book handles topics in detail, viz. Aging Process, Agonies and Miseries of Elders and Generation Gap. Inclusion of Thought Proving Quotes and Poems of great thinkers has enhanced the utility of the volume to a great height.

One such beautiful quotation - a rudder for guiding boat of life in deep seas when we acquire qualification as 'Elder' - is worth reading. Life..... Life does not provide warranties And guarantees; It only provides possibilities And opportunities. Do not miss them Make the best of your life; Change your thoughts And you change your World.

4)DEARNESS RELIEF FOR AUGUST 2014– JANUARY 2015

The rates of Dearness Relief on Pension / Family Pension / Ex- Gratia for the period August 2014 to January 2015 shall be worked out as under: I. On pension based on the pay scales effective from 1st November 2007 – 102.45% of the basic pension. II. The rates of Dearness Relief in respect of pensioners who retired before November 1, 2007 and Family Pensioners: Pension / Family Pension based on (Pay scales effective from % of Pension / Family Pension November 1, 2002 (CPI = 2288 ) 147.60% November 1, 1997 (CPI = 1684 ) 233.04% November 1, 1992 (CPI = 1148 )

5)Enrol at least one new member as a part of your duty to strengthen the Association. Remember Unity is our Strength.

6)ASSISTANCE TO OUR EX-GRATIA COLLEAGUES In response to the suggestion (made by Shri Ramesh Borkar, oneofourretiredcolleagues)publishedonpage 3of15July 2014 issue ofHitguj, on the captioned issue, one retiree has informed us that he is willing to contribute Rs. 2,000/- every month to one ex-Gratia retiree. While we welcome this gesture on the part of the willing retiree, we request our other retired colleagues to come forward with their suggestions to extend a helping hand to our ex-Gratia Colleagues. - M B Talekar, Gen. Secretary

7)LETTER FROM MEMBERS

A Big Thank you ! Thank you for the endless efforts put in by the Association to protect the interests of retirees! I am enclosing a cheque for Rs. 10,200/- (Rs. 200/- towards the subscription and Rs. 10,000/- as donation to the Association). Sarala Warrier, Mumbai Tel.: 022- 23890235

EXTRACTS FROM MLY RBREA HITGUJ AUGUST2014:R.B.KISHORE, VP, AIRIEF