5th Column

My dear Nandey,

I am writing to you this week after hearing that you were returning to our little island which was once a Paradise. That is to accept the post of Governor of the big bank, the same bank where you spent almost all of your working life. In this time of doom and gloom that is a rare piece of good news.

Although I do not know you personally, and have only seen you and heard you from afar, I hope you don’t mind me calling you ‘Nandey’ as I am sure your friends do. I am saying that simply because some people who have names similar to you don’t like being called ‘Nandey’ or even their full name!

To be honest, Nandey, we were surprised to hear that you had accepted the invitation to be the boss of the big bank. This is a time when there are no takers even for Cabinet posts, and ministers are resigning by the dozen, in a land where once every politician’s dream was to become a minister.

In desperation, Sabry, a lawyer, whose experience in money matters was probably only slightly better than Basil’s, was appointed Finance Minister. Even that didn’t work. 24 hours later, Sabry sent in his resignation. They say it has not been accepted. So, now it is a case of ‘to Sabry or not to Sabry’!

The other reason why we were surprised, Nandey, was the circumstances in which you retired from the big bank. After spending nearly three decades there and gathering many accolades on the way, you would have been the most qualified and suitable person for the top job, if it was decided on merit.

As we have now regretfully realised, top jobs in what used to be Paradise are rarely decided on merit. So, while you were languishing as Deputy Governor for many years, Governors came and went: Arjuna, Indrajith and Lakshman. Among them perhaps only Indrajith was suited for the job.

We all know what Arjuna did. By the time the ageing Lakshman retired, you had taken an early retirement, disgusted that you weren’t allowed to do an honest job. Cabraal, who was once parachuted into Parliament, was parachuted into the big bank, to occupy the Governor’s seat again.

For someone who gives accountants a bad name because he doesn’t know or doesn’t think that printing money causes inflation, Cabraal fulfilled the most essential criteria to lead the big bank: to say ‘yes, Sir,’ to everything that Sir said. As we can now see, when Cabraal failed, Sir failed too.

We also vividly remember how, almost two years ago Gota maama had all of you, the top officials of the big bank including Lakshman who was then the Governor, seated before him. He then went on to give all of you a severe tongue lashing in full view of the cameras, for the whole nation to see.

All of you were accused of sleeping on the job while drawing millions in salaries, not knowing the ‘basics of economics’, co-operating with those involved in the bond scam and trying to get the government into trouble. Well, now we know who didn’t know much about the ‘basics of economics’!

We do ask why it had to come a point where Gota maama’s own job was at risk for a man of merit to be appointed over someone as incompetent as Cabraal. Still, he has been humble enough to eat his own words and offer you the Governor’s job, and you have been magnanimous enough to accept.

It is indeed ironic that you returned from overseas at the same time that the other fellow, Cabraal, was banned by a court from travelling overseas. It just shows that what goes around, comes around. I’m sure your concerns are not who did what before you, but getting all of us out of the mess we are in.

You have already said that before our situation gets better, it will get worse, and that there is no quick fix. We appreciate your honesty but beware that those in power who are being asked to ‘go home’ want just that: a solution to tide over the gas, fuel and electricity crises, so that the protests will stop.

So, Nandey, if you can’t deliver that and the cries for them to ‘go home’ become louder, you may be forced to ‘go home’ as well. I am sure you were aware of those risks when you took up the offer. These are uncertain times when even ‘kaputas’ are forced to leave the Cabinet against their wishes.

It doesn’t take a genius to predict that a lot will happen soon politically and economically. We hope, Nandey, that you will have the courage to cope with those changes. Although one man alone can cause the ship of State to sink, we know it takes more than one man to save it. We wish you well!

Yours truly,

Punchi Putha

PS: Nandey, seeing you this week, in suit and tie, wearing glasses and with a moustache, you looked somewhat like a younger version of the other ‘Nandey’. The difference is, you can honestly say, “may arbudaya maa visin nirmaanaya karana laddak nowey” or “this is not a crisis created by me”.