BOOK RELEASE, 7TH FLOOR CLUB LOUNGE OF THE TAJ RESORT & CONVENTION CENTRE, DONA PAULA….doing the honors were (L to R) marketing man Suhel Seth, Goa Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar Goel, SBI banker-author Rajnish Kumar. All bankers as well as bank account holders must read `The Custodian of Trust, A Banker’s Memoir.’
WHAT ARE the values of old? Not the values of today for sure! The week leading up the Goa assembly elections have some kind of a roller coaster ride for media folk. They were running around like crazy folk trying to catch back to back press conferences and yes, hoping that some merciful party would offer a decent breakfast, lunch or dinner to fuel energy levels…otherwise in this profession there’s little time to do even catch a glass of water or a bite or some R & R.
And our politicians of course think nothing of calling press conferences at short notice at near mid-night hours! Given the nature of lowly duties and increasingly journalism is becoming video journalism seeking fake news sensations — only seniors seek far more black and white honest newspapers to read in hand.
It is no longer my familiar world of journalism when reading a good book was fundamental to staying alive – fiction, non-fiction, for me cookbooks are still a passion although Google libraries online are an easy way to go, not 100% satisfying though like a cookbook in hand! Talking of books I’m happy books are still being written and the other day I couldn’t resist going along for a crème de la crème book event in praise of a banker’s biography — “The Custodian of Trust, A Banker’s Memoir” by Rajnish Kumar.
DESPITE the political drama-baazi buzzing around town I managed to make it to the high powered book release at the 7th floor Taj Club Lounge of the Taj Resort & Convention Centre on February 15, 2022. The book release was done in the presence of guest of honor Chief Secretary of Goa Puneet Kumar Goel and the Gurgaon-based Counselage Managing Director Suhel Seth — who apparently talked the now retired State Bank of India Rajnish Kumar to write his memoirs.
There was some brief talk of how Goa is now the place to do book releases – it’s got a cosmopolitan which the rest of India seeks! Then the book release followed and Suhel Seth conducted an interesting In Conversation interaction with Rajnish Kumar, who waxed lyrical about how SBI is over 200 years old and the first real bank of India, it’s great bank, you cannot survive without have some value system…forget whatever happened! The author spoke about SBI being such a large banking institution, the oldest, and it has evergreen values, he sounded quite nostalgic given his own his own humble beginnings with the bank…the rest of it you may read in the book.
At the socializing further up on the terrace of the super luxurious Taj Hotel & Convention Centre later it was an experience of highs – happy hours all around with grandstand views in the fading evening turning into a starry sky. I asked the debonair Suhel Seth why in this country today we tend to hero worship our criminals and turn them into some kind of heroes? He smiled broadly and quipped, “It’s human nature!” And quoted William Shakespeare from Julius Caeser, “The evil that men do lives after them; the good is oft interred with their bones…” One of Shakespeare’s timeless and often quoted famous quotes, that’s Mark Antony saying it if I’m not wrong.
WELL, the quote is timeless and…er…if you want to be remembered forever, go do some evil like killing of a train load of pilgrims or trigger off a genocide. The world has seen plenty of criminal heroes come and go in history. Do real evil and you may be a real hero of our times! Sorry, I don’t mean to be glib, my dears, but so much evil rubbish is being white-washed these days, swept under the carpet, condoned over and over again…that I’m feeling quite sick in mind and body, heart and soul. Kalayug is taking a long, long time to go away and make way for Satyayug!
After that I treated myself to the tinkling refreshing orangeade being served around and the fading sunset views of Goa sprawled far, far down below and said hello to the fairly new Chief Secretary of Goa Puneet Kumar Goel. Like me he was seeking some veggie bites but only sea-food kept appearing and we waved the serving boys away! Puneet Kumar wanted me to give him the political lowdown but I told him I’m not the right person to ask. But can he stop all the evil political defections happening? He said the law allows them!
My tryst with upper crust moments got over quickly and feeling totally deflated, I said goodbye to the gorgeous, well-appointed terrace (yes, an infinity swimming pool is up here right under a starry night sky, you must visit some time) and took the sleek, smooth lift down to earth. On my way out looking I noticed how the lush green hedges of insulin plants were blooming with exquisite golden flowers and couldn’t resist plucking one fat flower, to pop in my mouth! Since I know these flowers are edible fare…they taste refreshingly delicious, releasing tart notes on my tongue. So many flowers, some Taj chef should take harvest them at dawn and use them to pretty up and tart up a salad dish, or even omlet with insulin plant blooms!
On that note it’s avjo, poiteverem, selamat datang, au revoir, arrivedecci and vachun yeta here for now.
—Mme Butterfly
BIRD’S EYE VIEWS FROM HIGH UP… from the piece de resistance terrace of the Taj Hotel & Convention Centre, a treat of an experience!
