Page 168 - A Banker Down the Rabbit Hole

The items were normally contributed by our bank customers as usual
every year. Then buffet dinner would have food for Indians and also for
Chinese with good range of menu. So, Diwali was celebrated by the staff
with gusto.

The first Diwali looked very special and attractive to us when each one
of us got some electronic item, big or small, in the lucky draw, free of
cost. Such items were not easily available in India but most of them were
made in China. Nevertheless the first Diwali in Hong Kong could give us
a warm feeling of India, thanks to the Bank.

Diwali with the Customers
Indians celebrated all the festivals in Hong Kong. Diwali was celebrated
with great fervor. Most of the corporate customers used to invite us to
their office on the eve of Diwali. We could not visit all offices but tried
to cover as many as we could, of course, looking to customer's value and
long relationship with the bank. We were four Expatriate Managers and
used to move together in corporate circles.

The customers were happy to treat us with soft drinks and sweets mostly
homemade. Most of us were nostalgic of everything native: the great
taste of Indian Sweets in particular. We found that they used to feel
pleased and honored on our paying a visit to them even though they were
far richer businessmen living in Hong Kong as compared to salaried people
like us.

They used to light earthen lamps filled with oil brought from India in sheer
Indian tradition. Pooja was done in a very traditional manner. They were
very particular in colorfully decorating and lighting their offices also where
we were invited to visit. In India, we had not seen this custom of inviting
bankers by our customers as all of them would be very busy either in
corporate meets or in family celebrations.

We used to talk to our customers about other customers. They would

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