Retirement!

Retirement Day is a unique occasion in one's life more so if that person happens to be MNRao, my colleague in CIBA. We were both frontline sales managers based in Hyderabad since my promotion to that rank in 1986. MNRao was quite co-operative to me as a colleague since I moved to Hyderabad in 1986 on my promotion. We got along very well with each other which is a rarity among equal ranked employees in field sales jobs. MNRao is a very lively person sporting always a smile on his face. 

Sometime during December 1989, I started to notice that something was worrying him and the trade mark smile on his face was missing. Upon my repeated prodding during our meetings, he disclosed that he had received a communication from the HRD department of our company informing that he was due for retirement from service six months from then on 31St May 1990. He said that as per his S.S.L.C record, his actual retirement date should be one year hence on 31.5.1991. I suggested to him to take a photo copy of his SSLC register and send the same to the HRD department with a request for necessary corrections in our office records and change the retirement date. As per my suggestion, he wrote to our head office. And lo, his SSLC record was accepted and due change in his retirement date was made. 

Finally, it was May 1991. We had a sales meeting for the Southern Regional Area Managers in Chennai. The meeting was in ITC Grand Chola, Chennai. It was a meeting conducted by our RSM (Regional Sales Manager) R.V.Menon and attended by our General Manager, D.S.Nag from our Head Office in Mumbai. This Area Managers meeting was going to be MNRao's last before his retirement. When MNRao rose to make his sales presentation, all the gathered Area Managers clapped as a mark of respect to MNRao since it was his last presentation while in service. Mr.Nag was surprised as he did not know the reason for the respectful claps from the participants of the meeting. He was duly informed the reason for it by R.V.Menon. It was the the turn of our GM to enquire if a farewell party was arranged in the evening in honour of MNRao. A reply in the negative from RSM shocked the GM who then said that a senior employee on the verge of retirement should be honoured with a farewell meeting and a party that should remain in the employee's memory for ever.

During lunch time, the GM called the hotel staff and instructed them to arrange for our gathering in a suitable place for the farewell. Since he was a valued customer, the hotel went out of the way to arrange the evening party in a suite although the request was made at very short notice. As the party started at 7.00 pm, the GM said that he would have to leave the party at 8.00pm since he had a prefixed engagement which he could not skip. He however suggested that we could continue until dinner time. The party began with each of us saying a few words about MNRao, our personal views and relationship with him. There were a few spirited light hearted observations from a few as whiskey started to show its effect. Anecdotes and jokes started to make rounds to the complete enjoyment of all. Our GM also came out with a few sardarji jokes (being a sardar himself) We all were thoroughly enjoying. Suddenly, one of the Area Managers (M.A.Prabhakaran) suddenly started to tell a sardarji joke demeaning the sardarji intelligence. We were all stunned when he narrated the joke particularly in the presence of our GM (a sardarji) And lo, he went on with a non-veg joke which is too indecent even to mention here. We were flabbergasted at this second one. Each one of us tried to signal to him to stop. But all our efforts failed even as our GM's was squirming in his seat and was putting up a face of calmness. But our friend didn't stop and went on to give out one more most inappropriate sardarji joke.

That was the last straw and the GM made his hurried exit from the embarrassing situation. It was quite nice of him not to flare up against MAP. Along with the GM, our RSM also went out as if to apologise for the happenings in the party. After accompanying the GM up to the hotel foyer, RBM returned to the party. We could feel and see the anger in his eyes towards MAP for his foolhardy jokes. He burst out at him with unprintable abusive epithets as only he can. The meeting ended. MNRao used to recollect his farewell vividly for many years and many reasons. First of all for the nice gesture of our GM in going out of the way for arranging an impromptu farewell. Secondly, for all the nice words spoken by all colleagues. Then, also for the not so welcome flutter created by the inappropriate jokes by MAP. Surely, the farewell party will be remembered for ever!