One thing that came to my mind was, how does one describe a collective of retired executives of an organization especially when once retired, you get consigned to a category of ‘those who also ran’? Well, I believe, the larger ethos of such a group if primarily grasped, would say it all. For the retired executives of Indian Bank, their collective is best described by its very name, the acronym FIBRE, which implies a strong bonding, a well knit strength in purpose. Today, as FIBRE is completing ten years, I as the privileged President of this Body, wish the group long years of purposeful initiatives carried to fruition.
The idea of forming an association of retired executives germinated at a sixtieth birthday function of a retiring executive, ten summers ago. I had the pleasure of having been part of a small group that wholeheartedly supported the proposal. And thus, without much further ado, we were reborn. Through FIBRE, I like to think that an invisible umbilical cord continues to keep us tied with our mother institution Indian Bank.
Today, FIBRE consists of not just ‘senior citizens’ but also ‘super senior citizens’ who still retain a sprightly outlook! It is such a wonder that our ‘younger’ members have reinvented themselves and slid into, easily, a world beyond their erstwhile careers which afforded them little or no time for relaxed pursuits. The kind of skills they have developed; ranging from becoming highly computer savvy, to quoting authoritatively from religious texts, to confidently discussing the technical intricacies of photography, to doing their bit for the less privileged, it is indeed marvelous. Most of them are on social media; use it responsibly and in the process, experience cerebral enrichment that is therapeutic too. Indeed, reengineering at its very best! And why not? In the early and mid seventies, they were recruited by the Bank from the ‘cream of the cream’; scientists, engineers, chartered accountants, agriculture specialists and other academic- toppers! They straddled all kinds of responsibilities that came with the ‘new wave’ banking post nationalization of banks, with grit and gumption! Fire in the belly, you may say. Yes they had the emotional stamina and the inner drive to succeed.
The members of FIBRE meet mostly once in a quarter at IMAGE, courtesy the kind hospitality of our parent bank. And significantly, sub groups also meet periodically at other centres in India. We usually have an eminent speaker who addresses the gathering on a subject pertinent to senior citizens. On a happy note I can say our membership is rapidly rising thanks to a large number of continuing retirements every month. Simultaneously, we have, sadly, been witness to some of our veterans who had a significant role to play in the history and growth of our bank, leaving us forever to traverse a journey beyond.
All of us have, what we call, a defining moment in our respective lives. I wish our members many more joyful defining moments. And I wish the decadal celebrations of FIBRE, a great success.
