DRIVING DOWN BANIHAL SLOPES ON NATIONAL HIGHWAY IN JAMMU AND KASHMIR .
Photo Autar Mota Dec 2010.
MY SHORT STORY "BANK LOAN GUARANTOR "
Bank Loan Guarantor
“Sir! Question does not arise ; Perhaps you then don’t know Dhar family . Dhar family is known for their word.. So are their children .Atul Ji shall complete his MBA 2006 and the loan shall be cleared Upto 2007 or at the most by June 2008 from his earnings .” said Ram Krishen .
Ram krishen had come to the Bank along with his brother in law seeking an Education loan of 4.30 Lakhs for MBA degree of his nephew. He had actually been made to accompany Father and son duo by his own sister . He had casually gone to his sister’s house where he came to know about the selection of Atul ji in a Mumbai College . His sister had told him
“ Yiman Gusstaa Bankuss Saaet . Bemunn Chaaen Chhunay Taapuss Muss Chhetarrovmut. Amiss Chhaa Tagaan Kaanh Kuthh Karein”
“ Accompany them to the bank please. Your brother in law has just wasted life. He can not even speak for himself ”
Obviously Ram Krishen had to initiate the conversation in the Bank now. Listening to this conversation , Atul’s father Bushan lal Dhar also nodded approvingly to the commitment demonstrated by Ram Krishen with regard to total repayment of the loan by the boy from his future earnings . After listening all this ,I handed over the list of formalities required to be completed for sanction of the loan. Ram Krishen put forth his hand to receive the list and started reading the paper.
“ This is done . This is also done . O! all this is done .Sir who can be the Guarantor ?Father can also give the Guarantee of his son. No problem from our side . ” said Ram Krishen .
“ Let me make things clear . Father can not be a Guarantor . Father has to be a co borrower or Co- Obligant in this type of loan. Guarantor has to be a different person . “ I clarified .
“ No problem sir . Why you worry ? I have signed many papers as Witness in Banks. As many as 50 Savings Bank Accounts have been opened under my signatures in your Bank. If I can sign for strangers why not for our own child. We come tomorrow with complete formalities . We should be made free in two hours .” he continued .
“ No! No! It is not a witness that you are supposed to sign . It is an Agreement of Guarantee. By virtue of signing this deed , the Guarantor undertakes to bind himself for repayment of the loan and interest thereupon should there be any default from Principal Borrower . Legally the liability of a guarantor is co extensive with the principal Borrower . Things should be clear to you . Witness is nothing but seeing some document being executed . There is no pecuniary liability of a witness .The guarantor remains financially liable and tied to a loan till it is fully repaid by the principal borrower. ” I clarified .
Ram Krishen nodded in agreement , moved his right hand fingers through his hair and rubbed his hands .I felt as if he wanted to smoke a cigarette at that moment . But then he never smoked in presence of his elder sister’s husband. At this point of time Bushan Lal Dhar and Atul looked expectantly towards Ram Krishen .
“Sir , Why you worry ? We are there for Atul ji . What is this 4.30 lakhs ? For this boy I can sign Blank papers and Give guarantee for one crore.” Ram Krishen clarified . He gave the list of formalities to Bushan lal Dhar ,got up from his chair ,shook hands with me and came out of the room along with his nephew and brother in law.
Next day at about 11 AM i found Ram Krishen inside the bank hall and came straight to see me .This time he was alone .
“ So fast in completing the formalities . What is the last date of the admission in the college ? ” I asked
“ What formalities sir ? Can I make some personal request ”He said
“ Sure ! What is the request . ” I replied .
“ Sir sitting on this seat ,You now know all about our community . You also know Chuni Lal Pandita’s son Rahul Pandita and his Education Loan story . He also raised Education loan from this Bank. The boy married a girl from Pune and forgot the Education loan .Chuni Lal is now coming to your Bank every month depositing the loan instalment . Sir do you know that he is repaying from his pension and his tuition Income. Poor old man is doing tuitions in this age and this Bushan Lal ji my brother in law can not even do tuitions . He is still not understanding that managing a Grocery shop in Kashmir was one story and living on Government relief cheques and some bank interest in Jammu is another story. What has he for the rainy day? Just rupees 4 lakhs that he received as sale proceeds of his Natipora colony Plot .See he has to marry his daughter Sonia ji yet. The family has no house. What is Mumbai MBA? I do not understand . MBA from Jammu or Punjab university is also MBA . See every Kashmiri Pandit boy now wants to go to Pune, Mumbai or Banglore for studies . Go if you can afford . What is so great about going by putting all in trouble? I should not have said it but then I care for my sister. And time has also changed. ”Ram krishen said in a non stop voice.
“ There is a world difference in terms of Employment potential for degrees procured in Jammu and Mumbai. We are dealing with these issues through various Education Loans disbursed by the Bank . We know all this difference ” I clarified .
“Sir sixteen boys from Government College of Engineering Jammu have been selected by TCS and WIPRO this year . .It is all luck whether you study in Jammu , Pune or Overseas . Don’t misunderstand me . Atul is my son but then this Guarantee you are asking from me ? Can this not be changed ? Ask for Guarantee of Atul’s uncle Ashok Kumar Dhar. He is a 10+2 Government Lecturer . When there some feast or function in the DHAR family , Ashok kumar is the chief guest and when there is any problem , they catch hold of me. Please do not misunderstand . I have highest respect and regard for my brother in law and his family. But then I am not that rich to become Guarantor for 4.30 lacs. And if he does not pay for say 3 years , the loan amount can go upto 7 lakhs with interest application.I know all Interest calculation methods of the Bank .Even if I sell all my property, I can not clear the debt. Why You want my children to get ruined with this guarantee? I just beg you that Neither Atul nor his Father should know what for I came here again. ” Ram Krishen continued .
“ If you are so sure about the intentions and sincerity of the boy , there is hardly any worry in being a surety for the education loan. “ I retorted .
“ Manager Sahib , I am also a father . I have two small children . And then if my wife comes to know about all this Guarantee , there shall be a Mahabharat in my family. She is also right . I have to keep this Guarantee issue for my own children . Now sir I request you to tell my brother in law that I have already given Guarantee in some other loan case and I can not give another guarantee. If you do not say it then I am finished .Your words can only save this poor man. ” He added
I said nothing . Ram Krishen sank into the chair opposite my table. I wanted him to leave the room. I observed that he kept looking towards the floor and the ceiling of the room and also kept biting his finger nails . I pressed the bell and sought two glasses of water. Offering one to Ram krishen I said
“ Shall You have tea? ”
“ My tea is only your help for this guarantee issue. ” he replied
He was in no mood to leave my room. Suddenly he received a call on his mobile phone and I heard him saying
“ Do not wait for me and I do not feel like having food today. You are only worried about my food and not my worries . ”
Then Mr Keshav Singh Incharge Loans section of the branch entered the room and noticing Ram Krishen , He said
“Pandit ji ! What happened ! Was my solution not acceptable to you? ”
Ram Krishen looked in such a way so as to give an impression as if Keshav was not addressing him. I asked Keshav how he knew Ram Krishen .
“ Sir he came to my residence yesterday and explained everything to me . I gave him a solution . Let them raise a loan of 4 Lacs only and in that event the father shall be a co-borrower and the Bank does not need a Guarantor.” Keshav clarified and left the room taking my signatures on some papers ..
“Manager Sahib if you can save the poor man I shall give you a solution. Tell them I have already given guarantee in one loan case which is now in defaulter category .Tell them that I am not reliable and I have no credit worthiness. Tell them anything but save me.” Added Ram Krishen .
“ But yesterday you volunteered to be a guarantor . And then the boy is your close relation , if you also run away who else shall come to their rescue at this critical juncture. You should not panic so much .And then it is your own decision. Tell your brother in law plainly that you do not want to be a guarantor and he shall immediately find some one else suitable to the bank or decide what he has to do . ”I clarified .
Ram Krishen kept silent and started reading HINDU Newspaper lying on my table.
Then to my surprise I found Bushan Lal Dhar also entering the room in a hurry with another person possibly a Kashmiri.
“ Manager Sahib i have a cheque for 2.47 Lakhs in my name but the cheque is drawn on State Bank of India Residency Road srinagar .This cheque has been issued by an Insurance company. This is the fire claim of my gutted house in kashmir. My friend Bashir Ahmed Wani took personal pains and brought the cheque today only . He came straight to my residence in Tata Sumo from Srinagar. The cheque was delivered to him only yesterday. In case I get just 40 thousand within three four days to enable me to Pay admission fee of Atul ji I need only a loan of 2 Lakhs then and I may need this loan next year only. God comes to rescue but man has to go through the torture also ”
“Let me see the cheque” I said . and Bushan Lal Delivered the cheque to me .
“ No issue . You can take the entire amount of 2.47 Lakhs right now. You have to pay some nominal charges and we shall purchase the cheque and get the amount from SBI Srinagar at our own level. That is a normal job for the Bank. Now that you need Loan of 2 Lakhs only, no guarantor is needed.” I clarified.
Ram krishen was listening to these sudden developments carefully and I could feel that my words had brought a refreshing smile on his face. He now threw the news paper on my table and looking towards his brother in law he said
“Namaskar Mahraa . Baa Ossus Loan Chee Kuthh Karaan. Ishtaam Anivaah guarantee Baaput ”
( Namakar Sir ! I was just discussing the Loan case Only . Have you bought the Non Judicial stamp papers for my Guarantee ? )
Turning to me Ram krishen said
“ Now Manager Sahib please release our loan in hassle free manner . I may have to go to Jaipur for Marriage of my wife’s sister . If you desire I can sign in advance on any paper I have to sign. Atul ji must get the loan. I have already given my consent to sign any paper anywhere in any capacity .”
He got up and went to Bank’s canteen room and paid the waiter Rs30= ordering 4 cups of tea and biscuits for all guests in the room. He also brought two glasses of water and offered one to his brother in law and the other to Mr Wani. Then coming close to my table he said
“ Baa Gouss Nokraa Manager Saahb ”
“Manager sahib , treat me as humble servant ”
From his breath I could feel that he had smoked a cigarette in the canteen room .He then went to “ May I Help You Counter” and brought a New Account Opening Form . He now asked his brother in law to immediately go back to his residence and bring 3 photographs , photo copy of his ration card and copy of the scooter driving license . He ensured that his brother in law and Mr Wani leave immediately for bringing the papers to open a new account. He then turned towards me and said
“ Sir do you believe in God ? God is great . . Let us not talk about the education loan now.” .
Now he picked up the land line telephone lying on my table and dialed some number and said
“I am coming for the Lunch . Has Pinkoo Ji come back from his school ? We have to go to Bagh e Bahu Garden in the evening . I shall be bringing half Kg of mutton for Rogan Josh and ask Pinkoo ji to collect ten special Ghee Roti ( Bread ) from Roshan lal ’s kashmiri Bakery shop . ”I looked at Ram Krishen and kept noticing the sudden change in his behaviour .
(AUTAR MOTA )
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