Demonetisation as Managing Director was a terrific assignment: Rajnish Kumar, Chairman, SBI
ET Bureau|
Jan 24, 2018, 07.35 AM IST
Best Childhood Memory
Had a wonderful time staying at home since I started school at 6. I was ill and studying at home when peers were going to school. Went straight to 2nd standard
Childhood Dream
Had no idea about life till 12th class. Since I was good at studies, I was quite confident. Those days either you choose IAS or SBI probationary officer
Was SBI the First Choice?
I came to Mumbai for an interview at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, but fled the city terrorised. You get hostel during training, but after that? So, I joined SBI at Etawah in UP
Spiritually Inclined?
Yes. My mother was very spiritual unlike my father. I don't worship the way many people do. My mother's daily Ramayana recital had strong impact on me
First Day at Job
Travelled first class in train because bank paid. That was a lot of money. Reached Etawah at 5 am, but ended up with mosquito bites all over my body in the waiting room after a back breaking three-hour bus travel on pot-holed roads those days
Role Model
I like people who are honest and not arrogant. Love my selfless elder brother, Kanti Prasad, who helped me a lot in childhood when I was suffering
Challenging Assignment
Demonetisation as MD was a terrific assignment. Another learning was to plan before you accept a job. When I was in Toronto, the then CEO felt that he should use my services for migrating from one software system to another. I had nothing to do with it
Hobbies
Badminton, travelling, reading books and, of course, Hindi movies
Travel Spots I Love
Europe, the cities are so beautiful, and Rishikesh
Favourites
MOVIES: Mughal e Azam and Sholay
BOOKS: Hindu mythology: Krishna Udayasankar's books — Govinda, Kaurava and Kurukshetra known as The Aryavarta Chronicles
Recreation
I play chess and my wife's favourite is scrabble. So, I play scrabble, too!
Life After Retirement
It will be genuine retirement. I live a very frugal life. I will do whatever it takes to keep my mind busy
Had a wonderful time staying at home since I started school at 6. I was ill and studying at home when peers were going to school. Went straight to 2nd standard
Childhood Dream
Had no idea about life till 12th class. Since I was good at studies, I was quite confident. Those days either you choose IAS or SBI probationary officer
Was SBI the First Choice?
I came to Mumbai for an interview at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, but fled the city terrorised. You get hostel during training, but after that? So, I joined SBI at Etawah in UP
Spiritually Inclined?
Yes. My mother was very spiritual unlike my father. I don't worship the way many people do. My mother's daily Ramayana recital had strong impact on me
First Day at Job
Travelled first class in train because bank paid. That was a lot of money. Reached Etawah at 5 am, but ended up with mosquito bites all over my body in the waiting room after a back breaking three-hour bus travel on pot-holed roads those days
Role Model
I like people who are honest and not arrogant. Love my selfless elder brother, Kanti Prasad, who helped me a lot in childhood when I was suffering
Challenging Assignment
Demonetisation as MD was a terrific assignment. Another learning was to plan before you accept a job. When I was in Toronto, the then CEO felt that he should use my services for migrating from one software system to another. I had nothing to do with it
Hobbies
Badminton, travelling, reading books and, of course, Hindi movies
Travel Spots I Love
Europe, the cities are so beautiful, and Rishikesh
Favourites
MOVIES: Mughal e Azam and Sholay
BOOKS: Hindu mythology: Krishna Udayasankar's books — Govinda, Kaurava and Kurukshetra known as The Aryavarta Chronicles
Recreation
I play chess and my wife's favourite is scrabble. So, I play scrabble, too!
Life After Retirement
It will be genuine retirement. I live a very frugal life. I will do whatever it takes to keep my mind busy
