I, ME & MYSELF

Circa 1939:
A tumultuous year in global history. A year that was the beginning of the Second World War, a war that would see the entire world, as it were, immerse itself in the biggest destructive exercise mankind has ever known. At this same time, in another city, in another country, in another part of the world, a simple man pledged to do just the opposite -- make lives better, more secure, giving people new ways to plan their financial future. That man was Mr Jyoti Prasad, my father, who started his career in the Insurance industry, working for Norwich Union Life Assurance Society and Crown Life Assurance. Later, not to be left behind, when majority of women in India adhered to staying behind the purdah, my mother, Ms Kamala Devi, decided she too wanted to become part of this same industry and started by representing Gresham Life Assurance- a bold step.

Circa 1956:
The Insurance Industry is nationalised. Not ones to be outdone, the couple join the already instituted nationalised insurance company we all today know as L.I.C.

The family grew with three of the toddler bothers (Narendra Prasad, Lajpat Prasad and Yatish Prasad) occupying their pride of place in natural course of time. Schooling started at Scindia School, Gwalior, a place where equality was not only part of the school philosophy but a practice. Even alumnus, like the Late H.H. Madhav Rao Scindia, was considered just another student. My years in the school like everyone's were not only memorable but also eventful where we learnt the rights from wrongs, developed ourselves as honourable and responsible men, learnt to play and develop team spirit and also forge life-long friendships. My interest in sports was well known.

My next stop, St.Xaviers College, Calcutta.

My father, the man who was considered an institution unto himself and known to his clients as Mr L.I.C., always presented to his clients, an image, that assured them of his service through their lifetime and through future generations as well. In keeping with a promise as tall as this, it was only logical that he taught us to follow in his footsteps. All three of us, siblings, soon became a part of the insurance industry, which by now had become a family trade. Our years in college were not only years of studying but also training to learn the ropes of this trade under my father's guidance. The years in college were tough as we had to work hard, but it has stood us in good stead in the years to come.

Around Circa 1968:
We brothers are inducted as agents of LIC, one by one, as soon as we turned adults (18 yrs).

My father's endearing personality created a special bond with his clients and who still remember him fondly with respect. Between 1950s to 1990s he had developed a list of clientele, which is proof enough of his untiring professional dedication. He had by then won the respect of the crème-de-la-crème of the corporate world and the social hierarchy -- Chairmen and Directors of blue chip companies in the city of Kolkata as well as in other metros. Clients like Mr B K Nehru, Former Governor of Assam, Mr Amitabh Bachchan and Mr Arun Singh (former Minister of State for Defence) were part of that hallowed group who put their savings in my father's care.

Circa April 1985:
LIC had sponsored me for a residential course to obtain a Diploma in Life Insurance Marketing at the Institute of Management and Development Research where I stood second in order of merit.

I decide on two additional, very specialised courses at the UTI Institute of Capital Markets in Navi Mumbai. Securities Trading and Stock Market Operations in 1992 & Technical Analysis in 1993.

Continuous training and workshops, has helped me enhance my knowledge, besides Insurance, as a Personal Finance Counsellor encompassing all products, financial, for individual clients.

Circa 1996:
My father, a beacon of the industry, a legend for us, passed away but his spirit ever-guided us. His vision, experience and dedication had worked its magic on his clientele. Not only did they continue to retain their faith in our family, now only the three brothers, as their financial advisers but it was an achievement to retain clients across three generations - my father's clients' children and their children as well. Very early on, from my father's time we put in place effective management information systems, which helped us to retain relationships and provide the most efficient services. This dedication and experience helped us brothers, to occupy the top three positions in the LIC branch. We also are members of the Chairmen's Club, a pedigreed club where corporate mergers and fallouts are decided over croissants and kebabs. This club has brought us in proximity to new, hallowed clients with whom we have forged new professional relationships and are today part of our family.

Circa 2004:
My mother's sudden demise due to cancer was a personal tragedy, which reinforced in me the philosophy of life being transient. Man has some control over disease but not death. Making my area of work relevant to the above philosophy, I feel that individuals need to understand the importance of saving the fruits of their labour, as life / future can change suddenly and financial security gives you confidence.

SPORTS, AN EARLY LOVE

Circa 1983 to 1990:
Since school sports was an early love which later on culminated in my keen interest in squash and horse-riding and till today a game of squash or a riding stint relaxes my grey cells. Sports made way for sports management and soon I became the founding Honorary Secretary of the Equestrian Federation of Eastern India and the Honorary Secretary of West Bengal Squash Rackets Association , two posts which I held through this period. I was also the Honorary Secretary of the The Calcutta Racket Club, the oldest squash club in India.

An all-encompassing need for social development and environmental conservation opened up a new vista to do some meaningful work towards the aforesaid. 1985 saw me becoming the Honorary Secretary of Consumer Action Forum in Kolkata.

If society and environment were a recent repertoire could culture be far behind?

Projects of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage, which had at one time elected Rajiv Gandhi as its first Chairman, gave me the impetus to contribute by identifying projects for restoration. For some years, I was nominated as the Co-convenor of the Calcutta Chapter. CRY (Child Relief & You) a regular beneficiary of my financial contributions in addition to other charities, which I believe is a small effort towards community building, are efforts that are and will remain close to my heart. However, the daily extensive client meetings and regular travel to other cities to service my outstation clientele keeps me on a choc- a- bloc schedule. I love my work as much as my clients love its results --- shaping financial guidelines, providing the most optimum savings' advices, maximizing profits. In short etching out the best possible financial dreams gives me the deepest sense of satisfaction and professional fulfillment.