If God Was A Banker Read Free

Tamilian Brahmins—upper-caste people from the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, belonging to the Brahmin community. Tam-Brahms were known to be highly intelligent, honest, and not so aggressive.
    'Sundeep. My name is Sundeep Srivastava. Am joining NYB today as a management trainee. I can see from your letter that you have also come in to join today. Have you been waiting here for too long?' Sundeep's tone had mellowed down the moment he realised that the guy on the bench was a fellow NYB employee.
    'Hi. My name is Swaminathan. I am also joining NYB as an MT today,' said the man sitting on the bench. The tone was typically South Indian. Now Sundeep was sure that here was a southie.
    'This is my first time in Mumbai. I do not know anyone here. I had no idea how long it would take to reach this place. So I left the hotel at 6.30 a.m. Didn't want to be late on day one.'
    And they continued to chat.
    'IIM Ahmedabad. Passed out this year,' said Swaminathan.
    'IIM-B, same batch,' said Sundeep.
    'Where are you from?'
    'Delhi. And you?'
    'Chennai. Have lived my life there.'
    'I can see that.' Sundeep smiled.
    Swaminathan didn't mind and smiled back. He was used to people commenting on his appearance when they met him for the first time.
    Thus began a legendary partnership in NYB—the fast and aggressive Sundeep versus the mature and sensible Swami.

 
6
    S waminathan was a merit student at the Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad and was acknowledged as 'the brain' of the campus. Swami was also the eldest son in a family of modest means. He was barely two-years old when he lost his father. His father, a clerk in the rural development ministry, had struggled to feed a family of four with his measly salary. With no savings, the small pension was just not enough, and the retirement benefits went into paying off the mortgage on their one-bedroom house in Mylapore, a middle-income locality in Chennai.
    Bringing up Swami and his sister was not easy. Their mother struggled hard to put them through school. She would cook at various Brahmin households and marriages to raise money for their education. Both the children never made her feel that what they had was not enough. Swami was an intelligent and hard working student who always topped his class. When he reached college, he was lucky to get a scholarship. That was a big relief for his mother, because her earnings were just not enough to manage the expenses for both the children.
    Swami was quick to realise that his mother would not be able to manage the ever-increasing expenses, despite his scholarship. He got himself transferred to an evening college. This gave him an opportunity to work for a few hours during the day and supplement his family income.
    He started off by keeping accounts for Nalli's, a large chain of sari stores in Chennai. He would spend 9.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. everyday at the Chettiars' office and then would attend college from four to nine in the evening. The salary that he earned from Nalli's was just enough to ensure a normal life for the three of them.
    Graduation completed, Swami was faced with a dilemma. Should he continue his studies, or should he give it all up and take up a full-time job to provide for his family. His mother made the decision easier. She insisted that he should study further. She had somehow managed for 19 years, with occasional support from Swami. She didn't want to stumble at the final milestone. She knew that another two years and Swami would make it. She had great faith in Swami's commitment and intellect, and was hopeful of him getting a scholarship.
    True to her expectations, Swami got into the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, the best management institute in the country. At the end of his first term there, when the scholarship list was announced, Swami's name was right on top. He won a full waiver of his tuition fees. When he broke the news to his mother, she couldn't hold back her tears. She wept continuously that whole