HDFC BANK

 

The sudden exit of Atanu Chakraborty as non-executive chairman and independent director of HDFC Bank left the common man perplexed. The reason adduced was not the polite euphimism, 'personal reasons or other commitments', but "certain happenings and practices within the bank over the past two years that are not in congruence with my personal values and ethics." 

Here, a few questions  are relevant. Why did the charman wait for two years to act? What did he do when he found 'certain happenings and  practices within the bank not in congruence with his personal values and ethics,' when he observed them in the first place? Did he bring the before the board? And if he did not trust the board, why was not issues placed before the regulator, the RBI? It is an evident fact that the chairman was well experienced in administration. The important positions  he had held earlier in the Government of India are all in the public domain

I feel this was unkind. If his concerns had warranted resignation they did warrant clarity. Ambiguity at the highest level erodes trust. By neither fully disclosing the issue nor remaining silent, the resignation risks the worst of both the worlds, reputational damage without accountability. Stepping down from the board of an important institution is not a decision to be taken lightly. One can easily exit a promoter led enterprise on personal disagreements. But here. the stakes are far higher.

The response  from RBI was swift. It sought to calm the markets. It was assured that there were no material concerns regarding the bank's governance and that its financial position was sound. But regulatory reassurance is not a substitute for transparency. 

It is obvious the chairman had erred in timing his resignation as well as walking off from  his job  making transparency the prime casualty  over the whole  sordid drama and ambiguity his trump card.

HDFC Bank is not merely India's largest private sector bank. It has been the gold standard of governance, prudence and execution. It commands a valuation built not just on performance, but on credibility.

HDFC Bank is among the three major banks identified by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) as Domestic Systemically Important Banks (D-SIBs), often called "too big to fail" institutions --State Bank of India (SBI), HDFC Bank, and ICICI Bank. These institutions are considered vital to the Indian economy due to their size, cross-jurisdictional activities, and interconnectedness. 

Perception is a reality in institutions of systemic importance. But markets are driven as much  by perception as by fact. And perception is shaped by what is said and what is left unsaid. 

When the non executive chairman of the institution flags ethical concerns, it touches confidence in India's financial architecture. 

The role of the independent director is not merely to dissent, but to ensure that dissent is recorded, debated and when necessary escalated. Resignation should be the last resort, not the first visible action.

Boardrooms are meant to be more contested, more accountable and ultimately more transparent. Governance is not just about compliance. It is about culture. If a chairman resigns on ethical grounds, it has to be explained or substantiated.

Perhaps if the chairman had been from the banking sector itself, the situation would have been better managed

A formal review is essential to restore the credibility of the bank that has taken an unfortunate hit over the imbroglio.
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Based in part from an article in Sunday Times of India of 22nd March 2026 by Lloyd Mathias.

EXQUISITE FLOWER FROM BEENA'S GARDEN AT THALAVADY

 

                               EXQUISITE FLOWER  FROM BEENA'S GARDEN AT THALAVADY

                                                                    

Lila brought the seeds from Thalavady. The seeds were sowed here. The seedling was transplanted. Lila looked after it tenderly.9

She was very happy when it blossomed into an exquisite flower.

SAIYD

 

We had watched Saiyd grow up. We were amazed at his perseverance and humility. He now holds a highly responsible position.

He did have his personal tragedies. But he has compartmentalized them.

He does his job conscientiously. He looks after his family well. 

He ensures that he shares with us, the sumptuous delicacies prepared at home on festivals.

From what we have gathered, the preparation of food to commemorate fesivals at his house is itself a festivity. The whole family - his father, his wife, his sister and whoever else are there at home join the collective drive. 

However they ensure, that even before they converge to consume the delicacies, it is shared with their friends and with people they respect.

Saiyd,  brought the gift to our place on 20thMarch2026, and conveyed to us the blessings of the festival. We reciprocated.

The delicacies were excellent. Top class.

I posted two WhatsApp messages to him expressing our gratitude.

They are here:

Huma Qureshi

in 

Trivandrum Times 

21.03.2026

Times of India

Eid is a feeling, not just a festival

It isn't merely a festival. It's a feeing. It's a ritual of togetherness. It's a general reminder of all that truly matters.

It's sharing with friends, family, people around you, your community, and perhaps people who are less privileged than you are. 

Ramzan is a month when we do a lot of things - whether it's iftar or just sharing whatever we're eating and opening our table out to friends and others.

I think it's a very important part of who we are as a family. 

I have a bunch of friends whom I don't even have to invite. If it's  Eid, they'll just come home.

The relationship is not just with me, but also with my family and mother. They want to have my mother's home cooked food.

We often foget to take a moment, pause and be genuinely grateful for what we have in our daily life.

There is so much in life that we have to constantly be grateful for. 

The human mind likes to wander towards negative things. 

But when you have so much abundance around you, please make sure you have a lot of gratitude for the blessings you have been endowed with.
............................

Dear Saiyd, 

Thank you for sharing with us what you had at home.

They were all excellent.

Our gratitude to all at home who had tirelessly toiled to make it happen.

Apart from filling us, the food had conveyed so much of love and affection

To be frank, we relished everything - the food, the love and the affection.

May God bless you all abundantly

Regards

Uncle and Aunty

YUZVENDRA CHAHAL CRICKETER GOES CANDID

 

BEING BETTER THAN YESTERDAY

Yazvendra Chahal, leg spinner, who has been in the Indian Cricket team goes candid on his ambitions and his resurgence. He admits he had been through a tough previous year marked by injuries and illness. He says, though the time away from cricket had tested him both physically and mentally, he is entering the new season with a renewed purpose.

He reveals, "Last year wasn't easy. But with the support of my family, friends and the Punjab team's management, I've come through it. I'm feeling much better now."

He has revamped himself.

To rebuild himself and to underline his commitment to peak performance, he has made several lifestyle changes.

He has given up alcohol, focussed on better sleep, improved his diet and committed himself to consistent Gym work.

He affirms, "I want to keep improving each year. I may not promise specific results, but I'll give everything I have, on and off the field."

There has been in evidence a mental reset.

At present he goes by, "This is about being better than yesterday."

What matters to him now is, helping the youngsters, supporting his teammates and giving off his best. He bats for collective strength over indvidual brilliance.

Success, according to him, comes through teamwork, where every one contributes to the utmost.

Yazvendra Chahal articulates and solidly emphasises  the most essential features for leading a  successful life

 It is valid for each individual, valid at our homes, valid at  the work front and valid  everywhere.

Yes, when we fail or fall, we have to revamp ourselves. We may have to go in for lifestyle changes. You have to constantly  improve. You will have to give your hundred percent to accomplish the tasks on hand. And please do not refrain from developing the  juniors or those who are not on par. 

Your mantra has to be, you are going to perform  better  today than yesterday. 

You will have to encourage your team members to believe in collective strength.  Here each one performs his part to the utmost. It enables the team to taste success with ease. 

 I believe it is time we paid heed to Yazvendra Chahal because what he has drawn from his own life has credibility.
.............................................

Sourced from an article on Yazvendra Chahal  in Times of India of 20th March 2026 in part.

EVANA THE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS PARTLY FINISHED

                                      EVANA  THE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS  PARTLY FINISHED

                                                   

 

QUACKS

                                                                       

           We have, here, a news clipping from Times of India  of 19th March 2026.

                                                                      

                                                         

Botched tooth extraction kills woman in Bihar

Why are people gullible? Don't people ever learn?

In the good old days, it was ignorance, that had been our bane. In the current context too much awareness causes our downfall.

How can the quacks get away with what they illegally indulge in.  It could only mean they have worthy abettors. The sell off of the gullible is mutually beneficial to the abettors as well as the quacks. People suffer. People die. Unnecessarily. No one bothers.

To counter this callousness, reorientation of the people  from the grassroot level is essential. It would save them from exploitation by the quacks and their abettors. 

ARRESTING PHENOMENAL SLIDES

 

It was a moment to relish, when the Kerala cricket team entered the final of the Ranji Trophy Cricket tournament, last year. It was the first time for them. They had demolished several heavyweights on that journey. In the final, perhaps it might have been nerves, or perhaps the eventual winners, Vidarbha, were far superior. Kerala could finish only as the Runners up.

Historically in the earlier editions, Kerala never had been in contention. In fact they were punching bags for the rest of India.

What is surprising is that a team, that had proved is mettle so well last year, could not cross the league format in this year. They could beat Goa alone. 

Winning and losing are part of life, part of sport and part of the game everywhere. 

The Times of India of 19th March 2026, has presented a deep analysis on the failure of the Kerala Cricket team in the current year.                                                                      

The article sums up that the regression was on several counts.  The preparation was without clarity.  There was no  long term planning.  The domestic journey has never followed a linear trajectory. 

The departure of Jalaj Saxena had created a void that that had stripped the side of control, balance and experience during clutch moments. Although the work ethic of MD Nidheesh was impeccable, there had been no one to back him. 

Kerala did reach the summit last year. But they forgot that once you reach there, you have to stay there, sustain the success and build on the momentum. 

Kerala's task for the future is cut out. They have to build something sturdier to endure the grind of the Ranji season.

Transpose this into our own lives or our own offices or our own work situations.

How or why do we do well? Or how or why do we do badly, is a question we have to ask ourselves. If we keep our eyes open, we have the answer before us.

It is the team effort that brings in success. The departure of a stalwart, though painful, may affect the texture momentarily, but efficiency lies in restoration of the teams's stature at the earliest. A one man show is not enough either. Backing up is crucial. 

Recalibrate ourselves in our journey of life, is the essence.