Romantically & Truly Yours

After fifteen years and four months, I took a bow from Tata AIG to pad up again to begin a new innings. This long tenure saw me take on multiple roles and so it was difficult to write a farewell note to all the people who had given me so much joy. Sharing with you, the last mail set in four parts for each of my four major stints in Marine Insurance, Business Head for Mumbai Zone, Agency Head and finally setting up the Tata AIG Academy & CSR functions.

Romantically & Truly Yours

A decade and half ago

I was young and she was younger

And we fell in love

Madly, head over heels.

But I was just a sailor then

And she was one with a great parentage

But love’s blind and so were we

Every day I would rush early morn

To meet her, to be with her as long as I could

Every night, I would dream of her.

Slowly the lowly sailor rose up the ranks

The small flotilla became big

Reaching out from brown waters into the blue ocean

And I became the Admiral of her formidable armada

Always on Her Majesty’s Service.

In my diary wrote, Happiness is on the move.

They grounded the admiral to command the sea fortress

Bom’ hai, safe harbor it was to Portuguese

T’was a beautiful place

With even more beautiful people

Every day my love grew stronger

As I did my Experiments with Truth

That Happy People Work Harder for Better Results

Started writing Postes to her

Sending them through Pigeons

Giants in America collapsed

The Taj was put on fire

But we stood firm

Went from strength to strength

Our romance peaked

We celebrated Jalsa, Town Halls and more

Wrote down in my diary, Life’s Truly Beautiful.

War was in the air

And I got to lead the famous 300 Spartans

Braver than the bravest

Fighting day and night

On coldest climes of north

To the wettest parts of west and east

To the southernmost parts of the country

We fought battles every day and every hour

Won some, lost some

But came back again to win back lost grounds

Found many a Hum Mein Hai Hero

Took many a Giant Step

She watched me fight, battered and scarred

The spirit still remained high

She too stood by me in lows and highs.

Wrote a war cry in my diary, Hulla Bol.

A new chapter began in our lives

She wanted me to don a new robe

She wanted me to reach out to people who needed help

She also wanted me to be a Sensei

And so I walked into a new life

Brick by brick, program by program

We built the school at home

Soon became the best in land

And we built toilets, hospitals and schools for others

A model village to show, volunteering in numbers

We did it all

But happiest was I sending her posts

Every Budhwaar she would hear from me

Became a Giani to my loving Peeku

And in my diary I wrote, Knowledge Always.

Finally get reminded of a Beatles song…

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away

Now it looks as though they’re here to stay

Suddenly I’m not half the man I used to be…

Now I need a place to hide away

Oh I believe in yesterday….

But I must say it has been a loving experience made better by all the loving people here. All I can say is thank you, thank you and thank you all. Thankful of the love I got, grateful for the support you gave me, value your company and friendship and appreciate all those acts of kindness and forgiveness you showered on me. Couldn’t have come so far, done so much without you. Indebted to you for life. You are the source of what I am today be it knowledge, character or spirit.

Today the saddest of all is me as I walk out of this gate of my love of long one last time.

Accha Chalta Hoon, Duaaon Mein Yaad Rakhna.

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While a lot of employees wrote back, there were two management trainees whose lines are also given below. Hope you enjoy their touching responses.

Pooja & Devki with Giani

Bon Voyage..

A simple man who walks with smile & a cause,

He met young souls one day to greet & talk.

Instant respect earned it was,

Dedication, Passion & Discipline he spoke with a pause.

A man of words he is,

Weaves stories & tales fascinating every heartbeat..

His affair with history is very well known,

His captivating stories are always reread & retold..

Be it the world of Zulfi & Rabya’s  Bamiyan Valley,

or Amina’s romance near the ‘Same Old Tree’..

His writings help you discover Life & human emotions,

‘Ziddi’ or Gum Bahadur’s ‘Rang de Basanti’,

He tells you, “Life is not at all being senti!!”

A robe of humor he wears,

For every soul, he cares.

A master story-teller was a master sailor too,

As captain of many ships, he brilliantly sailed through.

Smile he brings to every soul he interacts,

Humility is a facet of his persona that attracts.

Positivity one finds when he walks around,

In Uncle Giani, a cool dad this Peeku found!

Calmness comes, talking to you when mind & heart aren’t sound,

Chalte, Chalte mera ye geet yaad rakhna.. we’ll meet again because ‘ The World is Round…’

Miss You Sir!

As you set the sails and get hauled away,

These are the few words I would love to say,

“A great teacher, a friend and a guide,

This journey with you was like a wonder ride.

Thank you for your kindness, love and care,

You are a gem ‘so precious and rare’.

Though it’s hard to bid adieu,

Still I wish good luck to you.

May your  journey be filled with more adventure,

As you enjoy your new venture.

Stay blessed Always,

All the best in the coming days!”.

WE WILL MISS YOU SIR!!!!

You will always be remembered in our prayers.

LAST WORD: What is common to Rajni Sir and me? We both have fan clubs….A group of colleagues created a SFC or Sibesh Fan Club and they wrote a beautiful letter to Debi & Mrittika. The letter is very personal and so will not inflict pain upon you to read it, just sharing a small paragraph which makes  me feel blessed.

Envelope with thumb impressions of Club Members & the Cover

The Letter

“I think it would be nigh impossible to find a person in Tata AIG whose life has not been touched by Sibesh in some way. There are good leaders and then there are great leaders. Sibesh belongs to the latter tribe and it has been a pleasure to see him lead the teams he was responsible for ……his teams know that he is right there with them, giving them space to grow unhindered …..that is why teams under him are happy teams and come to work with a smile. Today when he steps out of Tata AIG, he leaves behind a legacy of goodness and positivity…”

SS