HOBBIES AND ACTIVITIES- Continuation

Within six months of joining the Bank, an homogenous atmosphere with affectionate warmth feeling of colleagues made all the 15 new enterants very happy. On the 5th January,1965,myself, Rajaram and Dhandapani both hailing from Thanjavur appointed and became Lodge mates.One

Mr.S.Natarajan ,2 years senior was also in the same lodge became closer and guiding factor in the bank.After some months,Rajaram decided to come daily from Thanjavur and Dhandapani's family shifted to Trichy. I also shifted to a lodge at Thillainagar for 9 months and changed to Mayavaram Lodge where I was taking meals,near Rock fort Temple.Mr.Balu who knew my interest in the game of cricket and has played league cricket at Madras asked me to form a team in the bank where there are 6 good players. The bank earlier has played some practice matches.

Mr.Balu contacted the Circle Welfare Secretary Mr.P.V.Harinath Babu to allot funds to organise cricket team and whenever I visited Madras, I used to contact him. Finally a cricket team is formed and started playing practice matches. I requested Mr.Balu to have practice twice a week which will improve standards and since the bank had plenty of place, and a residential training centre building under construction. In consultation with Agent, Balu requested the contractor

to make a practice pitch who was reluctant first then agreed to make one and within a month he finished it and we were very happy. In an practice match with the Everest Cricket club,the

bank team fought very well but we lost the match. The everest cricket club had 6 District cricketers in their side. Impressed by our performance, the district players asked us to enter in to TDCA league.TDCA officials were impressed about my interest, asked me to be committee member,which I have accepted.

On my active participation encouraged by Mr.Balu,TDCA secretary asked me to be his Joint Secretary of the district association and I got elected and many colleges and schools and companies joined the league and II divisions created each had 11 teams .On the other side,in the bank union activities as I was popular among the juniors of outspoken nature impressed my colleagues,Mr Balu compelled me not to apply transfer to Madras. I told him it will take atleast two years to get my transfer and reluctantly forwarded the application.But time and again Balu persuaded me to stay in Trichy and as the Bank is building second colony at Crawfordask me to apply for the house allotment.But since my father refuse to come to Trichy I rejected the offer.

TNCA gave an offer to TDCA for hosting a Ranji Trophy match for the first time in the history of Trichy which the committee accepted. A steering committee headed by the Collector Shri K.Hari Bhaskar,D.I.G.,D.R.O., Rajah of Pudukottai and TDCA officials formed the committee. A fornight

before TDCA secretary had an attack of Jaundice and all the co-ordination work has to be done by me.In spite of so many hurdles,by the grace of god the match was conducted in very good manner and witnessed by a large crowd including Makkal Thilakam M.G.R., who was the chairman of Small Savings Scheme.

During these tense moment, my transfer to Nungambakkam Branch was received and was relieved on 30th November,1968.During the span of nearly four years, Many Memorable events has taken place and only some I am mentioning.The kindness shown by my seniors is very great and I salute them for their warmth friendship.,notable among them M/s N.Balasubramaniam, K.B.Krishnamurthy, T.R,Manickavasagam, N.Balakrishnan and S.Natarajan., V.Rajaram,who was appointed on the same dayhas become a part and parcel and I still have contacts with him and we both relishes our friendship for ever. Before my conclusion of Trichy memories, one great

incidence and interaction which made me a stanch unionists I would like to mention.

In the year 1967,Thanjavur State Bank Staff Union Madras Circle conference conducted and I was a volunteer.Mr,S,P,Raman,DY.GEN.Secretary was the Organiser, in which all leaders of chennai circle, and many leaders of the Federation attended.Myself and Rajaram were very fortunate to assist the great Mohanlal Majumdar,the Doyan of the Trade Union Movement from Imperial Bank regime,President of State Bank Staff Federation who wanted to accompany him to the great Big Temple, that too in an Bulluck Cart.While he was narrating the trade union movement history that too non political trade union movement and had the maximum support of madras circle and the very active support of leaders like M/s. C.L.Rajarathinam, T.V. Loganathan, V.Ganesan,P.V.Harinath Babu whose determined efforts made him to strong Federation.

This Humble,Simple man called as MOHAN DADA in bengal circle made a very strong base in my mind and the Vibrant speech of Charlie Coutto,President of Bombay circle gave so much of impression of non political trade union spitit in the GREAT STATE BANK STAFF UNION imbibed in my inner soul.