In P.G. Wodehouse's early works, which related to school stories, brewing tea at the study used to set nice plots for pleasant chitchats. I wonder, whether brewing tea is that significant in English culture? I have my own list of special tea – Ginger tea, Cardamom Tea, Masala Tea, Paal Chaaya (more Milk than tea), Strong (Kadak) Tea, Black Tea, Black Tea with Lemon … and the list goes on and on. But nothing can beat a hot cup of tea by your bedside when you wake up early in the morning…
Tuesday, December 25
Saturday, June 9
Down the memory lane : Punctuality…
During
my schooldays, the bus stop, from where we boarded the school bus (or Coach), was
right next to Air Force Main Gate. Our buses came at around 7.00 am and
we used to reach the bus stop as early as 6.30 am to keep our bags in line, a
typical ‘First Come - Get Seat’ system. On their
way to work, some Airmen (Uncle Ji) brought their kid’s school bags with them, in order to keep the bags in line. My
dad never did that for me and being a late packer, I couldn’t afford that
luxury. So there were around 40 bags, with no owners, and few of us, ‘early
birds’, standing at the bus stop, busy chit chatting.
The Air
Force siren used to go off exactly at 6.45 am and it lasted for half
a minute. It was fun to watch those 30 seconds high speed cycling. A race
to get inside the Main Gate before the siren ends. I have hardly seen anyone
getting inside those big gates, after the siren gets over. They were real ‘Men in
Blue’, they were all punctual.
Dad
often told me the story of a Japanese guy, who succumbed to heart
attack when he realized that he reached office 5 minutes late. During mock
drills and black outs, Dad told me that he is supposed to leave for
work in whatever state he is and in whatever dress he is, if the siren goes off.
Though I have never seen him going to work in Pajamas, but he literally jumped out of the window whenever he
heard a siren, no matter what time of the day it was.
Thanks
to my dad and thanks to those Men in Blue… I have always
tried be punctual…
Wednesday, April 4
Saturday, March 24
Worried About Blank Surname in Passport ??
Just writing down my experience :-
I went to Trivandrum passport office. There were shops/agents who fill the online form. Even though they say we don't need any address proof for Re-issue of passport, just keep 3 address proofs with you.
The documents I carried :
1. Application stating I want to split my name and the application should be considered for Tatkal
2. Print out of online form.
>I took the token for Tatkal and waited for 4+hrs.
>Submitted my documents at the Tatkal counter.
>The person at the counter asked me to get my application approved from the Passport officer.
>We need to convince the officer that it is a 'Tatkal' case.
>Once he approves your application, submit the money (Rs. 2500 I guess) at the above mentioned counter.
>You will get a tracking number. The new passport will reach your home in 3-4 working days.
At passport offices 'Patience' is the key ... :)
PS: Earlier there was an option where the Passport officer would jolt down on the last page of the passport that XYZ's first name and last name to be considered as XY and Z. I am not sure whether that option is still available at Passport offices. If it is available then the entire proces will take only 1 day as you won't need any new passport.
I went to Trivandrum passport office. There were shops/agents who fill the online form. Even though they say we don't need any address proof for Re-issue of passport, just keep 3 address proofs with you.
The documents I carried :
1. Application stating I want to split my name and the application should be considered for Tatkal
2. Print out of online form.
>I took the token for Tatkal and waited for 4+hrs.
>Submitted my documents at the Tatkal counter.
>The person at the counter asked me to get my application approved from the Passport officer.
>We need to convince the officer that it is a 'Tatkal' case.
>Once he approves your application, submit the money (Rs. 2500 I guess) at the above mentioned counter.
>You will get a tracking number. The new passport will reach your home in 3-4 working days.
At passport offices 'Patience' is the key ... :)
PS: Earlier there was an option where the Passport officer would jolt down on the last page of the passport that XYZ's first name and last name to be considered as XY and Z. I am not sure whether that option is still available at Passport offices. If it is available then the entire proces will take only 1 day as you won't need any new passport.
Sunday, March 18
Wednesday, March 14
Sunday, March 11
Friday, February 17
I know.. 5 years from now, I will read this and laugh.. :)
MS in US....After you get the admits from Universities, you need to submit financial documents in order to release I-20 documents from the college. You need I-20 document for bank loan and VISA interview. Financial documents should be equivalent to I-20 amount. I-20 amount usually covers your tuition fee and other expenses. Financial documents can be - a bank statement, a bank loan approved letter, solvency certificate from bank (liquid + fixed asset), eligible for bank loan letter etc.
Here is my struggle to get the financial documents ready.
Story till now: On Public demand ;)
1. SBT (State bank of Travancore): Tried to convince the manager for half an hour in order to get solvency certificate. He made me listen to his crap fundas. At one point he asked me, ‘From where did you get the information on Banks issuing solvency certificate’? When I told him about Internet & forums, he compared you guys with those who spam mailboxes with 'Won Million Dollar lucky draw' mails and asked me to not to believe you. Phew!!!
I showed him the solvency certificate template and pointed out the statement, which says, ‘However, the certificate does not amount to a commitment on our part of release of exchange from India and does not constitute statement of liability on the part of the bank.’ He said, 'Even a cigarette packet comes with ‘Warning’ message, but that doesn’t mean that cigarette companies are not liable for the harmful effect on human body'.
PS: If you are trying to make out any sense here, I would suggest - Just leave it and continue reading.
2. ICICI Bank: Really liked the way they treated an old customer. They tried their best. At one point they even said, ‘Oh!! You folks only designed Finacle. Don’t you have any menu option for Solvency certificate’. I gave a sheepish smile.
Crux: ICICI won't give solvency certificate. They said they could give something similar to a bank statement.
3. I went to HDFC to enquire about bank loan, so that I can at least get a letter from them saying 'XYZ is eligible for educational loan for USDXXX, if he gets admission from university in US'. But that was in vain.
Stupid Kerala govt. policy - One can get educational loan only from banks in his/her ‘ward’. And there is only one State Bank of Travancore (SBT) in my ward. And no prizes for guessing which is that 'my precious' SBT…
Yes!!! You read it right… No other banks – Public or Pvt. can give me loan.
4. Went back to SBT (same place... same manager… same chair... same table.. err.. Wait a minute… Yeah-New Fundas!!!)
Hold on to your seats as this is going to be a long ride….
A summary of our conversation:
Me (with a smiling face under stress, something your learn while working at client location): I am not here for solvency certificate Sir. I heard about the Kerala Govt. policy: Ward – Bank mapping, and it seems only this SBT can issue educational loan to the ward where I live.
Manager: Ok
Me: I am looking for a loan of Rs.20 Lakh for higher studies in US
Manager: But the maximum limit is 10 Lakh
Me: Sir, I enquired with HDFC and Federal bank, they said their maximum limit is 20 Lakh for abroad education. I don't know why it Rs. 10 Lakh for State Bank.
Manager: Rubbish!! All the banks follow same RBI rules. It is 10 Lakh.
Me: Can you please check? As far as I know HDFC and Federal bank's upper limit is 20 Lakh.
Manager types something on his computer system for 5 minutes. He then looks at me and smirks, ‘I guess you would have already checked State Bank Loan limit on Internet’.
I don’t know whether that was a pun, poking old wound or not. But I didn’t mind it. I just let it go.
Still keeping my WTH CRR2!!! smiling face, ’No sir, I didn’t check State bank’s rate on internet’.
The manager leaves his desk and checks with his assistant, and comes back to confirms that I was right, ‘I think the policy changed in last couple of months. It is Rs.20 Lakhs now’.
Me: Oh, that’s great (my ‘WTH On The SPOT Award’ Pseudo Surprised/excited face). Can you give me an eligibility letter, stating, ‘I am eligible for Rs.20 Lakh bank loan if I get admission from university in US’.
Manager: I can’t do that straight away. First you need to submit an application for educational loan. I need to check your collateral (fair point). If you are keeping your property as collateral, then you need to give me the plan/sketches of your land and house, your land papers, details of the university where you are applying, the fees structure and many such things. We will then send it to regional office, as we don’t verify these documents here. Someone from regional office will come and visit you to verify the details. A lawyer will be appointed to check the validity of your papers. And if they find any smudge, then they will reject your educational loan application.
So NO WAY!! I can say you are eligible for educational loan now!!!
Me: Sir, you said with the application I need to submit college admission documents and fees structure of the course. But I will get those documents only after I submit the financial documents to the university. For which I need the eligibility letter.
Manager: Sorry I can’t give you that.
*After a while
Manager: Don’t we have good colleges offering MIS course in India.
Me (with expression similar to the one which you settles into, when after two hours of marathon WTH-WTF conversation with your teammates in a meeting, your PM gets up and starts talking bullshit. And you need to show that you are really interested) I guess we do. But most colleges cover the topics under MBA curriculum.
*I understand some of you might disagree with me here. But I am more interested in the functional/management topics of MIS.
Manager : Ahh!! There is one good college in Bangalore.. I don’t remember the name..
Me : IIM?
Manager : No no.. this one is famous
Me : IISc
Manager : Naah… Chris…..
Me: Chris* **llege?
Manager: Yeah.. That’s the one. Heard they have 5 rounds of selection itself. My relative’s son got admission there.
Me : Oh ok. Even my (retard) cousin got admission there. Heard all they need is a huge donation/fees ..around 8 lakhs Rs…
Anyway, there was no point in talking to him further. And no point in showing my frustration as ‘that is the only BANK in Kerala which can give me educational Loan. And I will have to meet him a thousand times, before I get a penny!!!’
----------
PS: HDFC Credilla (outside Kerala) is willing to give Education loan without any collateral. The amount depends on the college. It is easy to get 'Loan Sanction Letter' from them and you can show that to get I-20.
Here is my struggle to get the financial documents ready.
Story till now: On Public demand ;)
1. SBT (State bank of Travancore): Tried to convince the manager for half an hour in order to get solvency certificate. He made me listen to his crap fundas. At one point he asked me, ‘From where did you get the information on Banks issuing solvency certificate’? When I told him about Internet & forums, he compared you guys with those who spam mailboxes with 'Won Million Dollar lucky draw' mails and asked me to not to believe you. Phew!!!
I showed him the solvency certificate template and pointed out the statement, which says, ‘However, the certificate does not amount to a commitment on our part of release of exchange from India and does not constitute statement of liability on the part of the bank.’ He said, 'Even a cigarette packet comes with ‘Warning’ message, but that doesn’t mean that cigarette companies are not liable for the harmful effect on human body'.
PS: If you are trying to make out any sense here, I would suggest - Just leave it and continue reading.
2. ICICI Bank: Really liked the way they treated an old customer. They tried their best. At one point they even said, ‘Oh!! You folks only designed Finacle. Don’t you have any menu option for Solvency certificate’. I gave a sheepish smile.
Crux: ICICI won't give solvency certificate. They said they could give something similar to a bank statement.
3. I went to HDFC to enquire about bank loan, so that I can at least get a letter from them saying 'XYZ is eligible for educational loan for USDXXX, if he gets admission from university in US'. But that was in vain.
Stupid Kerala govt. policy - One can get educational loan only from banks in his/her ‘ward’. And there is only one State Bank of Travancore (SBT) in my ward. And no prizes for guessing which is that 'my precious' SBT…
Yes!!! You read it right… No other banks – Public or Pvt. can give me loan.
4. Went back to SBT (same place... same manager… same chair... same table.. err.. Wait a minute… Yeah-New Fundas!!!)
Hold on to your seats as this is going to be a long ride….
A summary of our conversation:
Me (with a smiling face under stress, something your learn while working at client location): I am not here for solvency certificate Sir. I heard about the Kerala Govt. policy: Ward – Bank mapping, and it seems only this SBT can issue educational loan to the ward where I live.
Manager: Ok
Me: I am looking for a loan of Rs.20 Lakh for higher studies in US
Manager: But the maximum limit is 10 Lakh
Me: Sir, I enquired with HDFC and Federal bank, they said their maximum limit is 20 Lakh for abroad education. I don't know why it Rs. 10 Lakh for State Bank.
Manager: Rubbish!! All the banks follow same RBI rules. It is 10 Lakh.
Me: Can you please check? As far as I know HDFC and Federal bank's upper limit is 20 Lakh.
Manager types something on his computer system for 5 minutes. He then looks at me and smirks, ‘I guess you would have already checked State Bank Loan limit on Internet’.
I don’t know whether that was a pun, poking old wound or not. But I didn’t mind it. I just let it go.
Still keeping my WTH CRR2!!! smiling face, ’No sir, I didn’t check State bank’s rate on internet’.
The manager leaves his desk and checks with his assistant, and comes back to confirms that I was right, ‘I think the policy changed in last couple of months. It is Rs.20 Lakhs now’.
Me: Oh, that’s great (my ‘WTH On The SPOT Award’ Pseudo Surprised/excited face). Can you give me an eligibility letter, stating, ‘I am eligible for Rs.20 Lakh bank loan if I get admission from university in US’.
Manager: I can’t do that straight away. First you need to submit an application for educational loan. I need to check your collateral (fair point). If you are keeping your property as collateral, then you need to give me the plan/sketches of your land and house, your land papers, details of the university where you are applying, the fees structure and many such things. We will then send it to regional office, as we don’t verify these documents here. Someone from regional office will come and visit you to verify the details. A lawyer will be appointed to check the validity of your papers. And if they find any smudge, then they will reject your educational loan application.
So NO WAY!! I can say you are eligible for educational loan now!!!
Me: Sir, you said with the application I need to submit college admission documents and fees structure of the course. But I will get those documents only after I submit the financial documents to the university. For which I need the eligibility letter.
Manager: Sorry I can’t give you that.
*After a while
Manager: Don’t we have good colleges offering MIS course in India.
Me (with expression similar to the one which you settles into, when after two hours of marathon WTH-WTF conversation with your teammates in a meeting, your PM gets up and starts talking bullshit. And you need to show that you are really interested) I guess we do. But most colleges cover the topics under MBA curriculum.
*I understand some of you might disagree with me here. But I am more interested in the functional/management topics of MIS.
Manager : Ahh!! There is one good college in Bangalore.. I don’t remember the name..
Me : IIM?
Manager : No no.. this one is famous
Me : IISc
Manager : Naah… Chris…..
Me: Chris* **llege?
Manager: Yeah.. That’s the one. Heard they have 5 rounds of selection itself. My relative’s son got admission there.
Me : Oh ok. Even my (retard) cousin got admission there. Heard all they need is a huge donation/fees ..around 8 lakhs Rs…
Anyway, there was no point in talking to him further. And no point in showing my frustration as ‘that is the only BANK in Kerala which can give me educational Loan. And I will have to meet him a thousand times, before I get a penny!!!’
----------
PS: HDFC Credilla (outside Kerala) is willing to give Education loan without any collateral. The amount depends on the college. It is easy to get 'Loan Sanction Letter' from them and you can show that to get I-20.
Tuesday, January 24
Sunday, January 22
Thursday, January 12
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