Moments so Far ...

We have made 300 crores and we need 50 crores more. Both use the same sentence. One is six months out of MBA from Ramya College and is management trainee with ICICI Securities. Other is an engineering graduate, converted and dons orange color clothes and works for ISKON temple/trust. One is selling Pinnacle II, an ULIP which has 5 years outflow of 50k per annum and assured returns after 10 years at the highest NAV. Other is selling a mammoth temple construction which will be one the largest of its kinds with amusement parks and thematic studios. One promised 5 times the value of investment as life insurance. Other promises car park passes, books, and special pujas on your birthdays and anniversaries. One promises financial prosperity. Other promises spiritual progress and सुकृति . The instrument of investment is Unit linked Insurance policy. The instrument of investment is a step that will lead on to the temple. Your name could be somewhere on side of the steps in gold...

The lady ended the call with "Congratulations Sir!. Maybe we can contact after baby is delivered." A few days back I had chance visit to ICICI bank branch in Jayanagar to deposit money on behalf of Art of living foundation. I was beyond their time limits but the manager and the staff cooperated and considered my request and served me well. There I enquired about the coverage of maternity in any of their health plan. The lady across the counter who was done for the day and was helping out the other guy who was serving my request said she could help. She went to few places within the branch and placed a call on her mobile phone to their health agent who had left for the day. He patiently answered my queries. Yesterday, I got a call from one of their agent (from number starting with std code 040) in chaste Hindi. He was putting ji after my name very frequently. He considerately explained the benefits of health card. He did not mention the word insurance till I prodded him but we...