BUSINESS LOAN TO BUFFALO LOAN-------CHANGE OF BANKING IN A DECADE

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 Ram never knew that banking could change so much. He left India when banks were just nationalized in 1970 and returned after a decade. When he left India, banking was largely meant for the educated and the elite, more so he thought having worked only in the elite of the then metros, Bombay. He returned to India after five years tenure each in Belgium and Fiji islands, and was posted to Delhi as in charge of ‘Northern Zone’.

What Ram did not realize then was north zone includes Madhya Pradesh and that Madhya Pradesh has many rural branches. It was the time the ministers were busy proclaiming ‘loan melas’ and giving ‘loans in a hurry’ that too to the have nots. The loan of course was to buy utility items by the villagers. Buffalo being more than a utility item was busy getting filled under the column, ‘Loan for:’ in the application forms. Again being an item of a prestigious loan in the village, it also attracted onlookers with the building festive atmosphere adding to the pomp and show that ministers chose to participate and inaugurate.

Ram landed in India not realizing all these intricacies of rural loan portfolio, and being a function attended by the state minister was rushed to the function immediately on landing in Bombay. Tired of jet lag and the midnight train to Bhopal and journey in Indian roads in the rural area, Ram was in a totally confused state and was seeing a different world. As his car arrived along with the minister, the gathered villagers hooted and whistled in excitement, much to his amusement. After the formal introductions over with the village bigwigs, the function started even as the bewildered Ram stared at the rough wooden chairs on a shaking stage quite in contrast to his star hotel meetings.

As the proceedings proceeded in Hindi it added to his confusion, but the frequent clapping and whistling suggested that the bank officer is articulate enough to handle the show. Ram was asked to get down from the stage even as the rousing chorus of joy of the villagers added to his confusion, but he was happy since he was assured by the bank officer that there will be no speech by him. “Bains number eke” (buffalo No1) announced the officer and the seller loosened the rope for the buffalo to march on. It was almost like a parade for about 100 feet even as the villagers clapped in jubilation. The buffalo was made to stop near Ram who squirmed in discomfort as the buffalo looked as if it chose to come out of its bath half way through. The buffalo too was reciprocating discomfort to stand next to a man who was in no way fitting that environment in his suit. Since the cameraman wanted them together both compromised with a grudge. The claps were slowly getting frenzied and the buffalo was on the verge of breaking free. The bank officer commanded to hand over the rope of the buffalo to Ram, who wondered what are they up to?

‘Borrower number 1 Bharat Yadav’ was the announcement that raised the tempo of the clapping. The minister was feeling at home, the villagers in never before enthusiasm, the bank officer in one more “on duty loan mela”, the borrower happy, seller happy, only Ram and the buffalo were not comfortable with each other as well as the atmosphere. After a round of disquieting swing by the buffalo, a chide to the owner to control and a bewilderment to Ram, came the announcement of grant of loan.
With cameras clicking the minister handed over the cheque to the seller and Ram was to hand over the rope to the borrower symbolically granting the loan. The buffalo eased itself and Ram squirmed even more as his suit was getting soiled both by the liquid and solid with some mud as icing. With yet another round of clapping Ram handed over the rope to the borrower even as the officer encouraged the villagers to clap. It was huge celebration in the village for the whole day; a huge immediate relief to Ram as he distanced himself from the buffalo after the rope left his hand.

 Tired and hungry Ram was hugely relieved as he took leave of the minister and the villagers. He introspected the whole day as to what all are in store in the coming days of banking that is nationalized as he returned to his luxurious room in the Bhopal hotel.

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