Fifteen Years

This one is going to be some memories down the line...... my friend Karticayen used to say - sontha kathai soga kathai (own story - sad story). But it need not always be a sad one.

This is regarding my professional story. 09/13/2008 marked my fifteen years on service. I am in my second Organization right now. My career started on 09/13/1993 when I joined a mighty Organization called LIC. When I rewind back and see that period - what I see is the state of a hazy man, yet to be out of College, does not know what a job meant, what it would unfold ......etc etc

Of course, I knew about LIC because my cousin was working there before me and I have made many visits to the local Office. But into a job and what really will I be doing - I never thought. I could not have made to the job if my lecturers had not assured me that I can complete my final year B.Sc. Physics. Mr. H. Krishnan (who was my Lecturer) was the first and foremost in this and I was shocked to learn that he passed away on 08/28/2008. Sir, I owe my entire career to you.

It all happened like a well-enacted play. I got the news that I am through in the open competitive exam, got selected for the personal Interview - interview was through and Medical exam went off well and one day, I got the Appointment Letter to report to Vellore Voorhees College (http://www.voorheescollege.in/)for the Induction training of two weeks. Hey I am in a job and it starts on 09/13/1993.

I was introduced to one Mr. Pari by my cousin just one week before joining that he is also joining along with me. Also I met one Mr. Vivekanandan from Salem who planned with me regarding the accomodation for the two weeks during induction training. Apart from these I was not knowing any body.

On the D day - 09/13/1993 morning I started to Vellore early in the morning along with my father. I joined the Organization along with 240 others who joined the Division at that time. We were separated to three groups and since it was a big group, three concurrent sessions happened. Luckily I had Pari and few others with my group. We used to have lot of sessions and nothing went to my head. There were lot of acronyms, processes - but who cared. We used to sit in the back and chat something else. We used to have tea breaks along with Mary biscuits . Two weeks went in a jiffy. On the last day we came to know that we are posted to Tindivanam Branch. Tindivanam is 40 kms west of my place - Pondicherry. By this time I had some new friends - S. Muthukumaran, Harikumar, Suresh apart from Pari.

We joined on 27th Sep at Tindivanam Branch. We were 13 in number. At 19.5 years I am into a Office. Around two years later we got our lucky transfer to Pondicherry Branch. Around 5 years later I got promoted and moved to Chidambaram Branch which is 72 Kms from Pondicherry. Again as a repeat - I moved to Tindivanam Branch after a span of 14 months on request transfer. Tindivanam became an important spot in my career where I resigned from LIC to join my current Organization.

Interestingly 09/13 is celebrated in CSC India as it was the day the Organization was formed. What a coincidence?

All the fifteen years have been filled with so much to tell and at this point everything runs like a movie in my head. As I look ahead I am not sure whats much ahead. Another 15, 20?

Lets see........ Life ahead is always like a mysterious novel unfolding so many things. My only wish and attempt in life is make and keep present lively. If we live pleasant at the present moment.........later your history itself will be pleasant.

I owe my pleasant memories of 15 years in entirety to my friends and mentors. What I am now is because of these people. This clay from college was crafted by these good people and I am indebted forever to them. To name a few from LIC - Pari, SMK, Gopinath, Duraiswamy,Venkatesh, Selvam,Sridharan, Sai Jayaraman, CN Krishnan, Soundararaj, LSV, KS Parameswaran, EK Ravikumar and Manicammal.

Cheers,

Sankar Babu