The November 8th
2016 was like any other day for me and I was to travel next day to Hyderabad.
Having worked in Government and coming from a Middle class family, my family
existence was more or less hand to mouth and a little quarterly incentive used
to bring cheer to me and my family. Having said that I hail from middle class
family most of my transaction were through either debit card or Credit card. On
7th I had drawn my travel advance from company to the extent of
Rs15000 and for convenience it was in denomination of mostly 1000 and 500. Out
of the blue came this sudden announcement from our great prime minister that
Rs1000 and Rs500e are withdrawn and we need to exchange it for legal currency.
I had to rush to my Bank to do the needful and understood that I can deposit
any amount I want but will get only Rs2500 for withdrawal. The bank proudly
made me a recipient of one Rs2000 and a
Rs500 currency. Its different matter that I ended up standing in the queue for
over 5 hours without anything to eat, no breakfast nor Lunch. Courtesy my bank
some water dispenser was placed outside but none were ready to go and fetch in
fear of losing their place in the queue. Its not just me who suffered but also
the entire Banking staff trying to cool tempers of senior citizens and angry account
holders. Along with me was Subramanian whose daughter was to get married on the
10th and he had no clue what’s he going to do. He had tied a bag to
his waist and cried over my shoulder about his fate. He borrowed money from a
money lender pledging some gold to pay for the caterer and the flower
arrangement vendors who want only cash. He was impressed that I was well
qualified and was looking up to me to suggest some solution. Guess what in over
20 years for teaching and training several thousands of students who look upto
me as a great friend guide and philosopher, here I was standing in the queue
when I felt my entire education was at loss and totally useless. My MBA did not
have a chapter on Demonetisation and in My Bcom never studied banking in such a
situation. I felt that my education itself paralysed. I could only convince
Subramanian that the bank may have some solution in such an emergency, which
unfortunately the bank did not have it on the 8th of November. In
one day the whole world looked so gloomy and as I reached home I switched on
the TV. I felt like shouting “India Wants to know, how PM will handle this
situation when the Bankers are themselves clueless”. Shockingly Arnab Goswami
was asking the same question with “BREAKING NEWS” showing serpentine queues at
every bank. No ATM’s were working, news of people fainting or having heart
attack made my wife sympathise with me for having been starving all day. I just
narrated my plight to my wife about having only Rs2500, she was not disturbed,
she just smiled and ask me “How much do you need”? I just calculated that for
my auto/taxi/ food / miscellaneous for five days I need at least Rs 5000 in
smaller denomination. She put her hand on my shoulder and told GOD is there
don’t worry. Only women can have this continued faith in god in all
circumstances. She went into the room and came out with her Cadbury chocolate
tine and emptied its content on our dining table. She had carefully saved
Rs100/50/20/10/5 and both of us slowly started counting. She said that this box
was actually meant for our pilgrimage hundi offering and wanted me to promise I
will return back soon. For once my faith in GOD was revived. There was Rs6800 and
she said she will spare Rs5000 and she will put back rest in the box. I just said
om namo Narayana and was glad of my grihamantri who was always cool and
composed and had solution for all problems. I also realised that qualification
makes a person wise but competence makes a person perfect which was my wife. I
also realised that every women would be doing this now and make their men to
have truce with the NAMO DEMO EFFECT.
The next day I hailed a
cab to reach airport, first question asked was cash or OLA currency, he
apologised and said I need cash sir otherwise how do I fill fuel?. From then to
now I don’t trust digital money for cabs, early morning I may be the first customer
digital money will not be a good start to him. The driver Shankar spoke well
and said that OLA has no doubt made him efficient in business but the time they
take to transfer his money after their commission takes longer period. He said
for everything he trusts god but transaction preferably in cash
In the last one year
though no ACHE DIN have been seen but my trust and faith in god has increased.
My erstwhile company has been playing truant in settling my dues but NAMO has
made me a new man. Now I have unlearned all the learning, threw all my MBA
theories to wind and my faith in my wife has increased 100 times because she
had several such Cadbury chocolate boxes which helped me tide over for 6 months
for my petty cash. Its different I owe her and almighty god lot of money and
faithfully looking forward for my IT refund to clear these debts. I hope the IT
commissioner reading my article?
