NOSTALGIA
Let me narrate an interesting episode . Once in June 2004, I had to return by 2864 YPR-HWH Exp. I booked the tkt on the morning of the date of journey and it was WL 365. As I was then Chief Manager of SBI, I went to the Local Head Office of SBI in St. Marks Road, Bangalore for help in confirming my tkt.
I saw a bald gentleman there whose face appeared familiar and I approached him. As I had gone to Blore for an emergency operation of my mother, that...
more... gentleman was very helpful and telephoned the PRO of SWR, saying that Mr. Venkatramani is my close friend and you must get him an HO QUOTA tkt for today. The PRO readily obliged him and my tkt was confirmed thro HO quota.
Can you guess the identity of the GOOD SAMARITAN who came to my rescue ? He is a household name to cricket buffs in India. He was then the AGM (Public Relations) in SBI, Bangalore. and has since, like me, retired from the Bank's service. You may have heard of his name.
Well, he was none other than SYED KIRIMANI, former Indian wicket-keeper, and one-time Chairman of the Test Cricket Selection Committee. Although I met him then for the first time, he told the SWR PRO that I was a close friend of his and got my tkt confirmed. May God bless him.