It’s been ages since we first asked the question, “What came first, the egg or the chicken?” Time has passed. Large accounts have been written about our evolution. Many scientists have spent a lifetime doing research. People have discussed, debated and in some cases fought also. But still we are struggling to come to a single conclusion to this question.
There are few questions in our life which how hard we try, we just cannot answer. The questions are paradox with seemingly no possible answer. Ultimately we either resign to our personal beliefs as the actual solutions or stop looking for answer all together.
And one such paradox forms the underlying theme for **“If god was a banker”
If god was a banker is story of **Sundeep Srivastava, the young, charming, intelligent, opportunistic management trainee of New York Bank. The firm believer of saying, ” All is fair in love and war”, after completing his education from IIMB sets out to achieve his dreams. The dream of fame and power. The dream to dominate, to manipulate and to control. The dream to be SOMEONE. And he will do anything to achieve it. There seems to be no stopping, for Sundeep do not believe in stops. No one can come between him and his dreams, i.e. No one except Swami.
If god was a banker is story of Swaminathan, the humble, hardworking, honest, Tamil Brahmin (or Tam –Brahm as Sundeep would call him) management trainee of New York Bank who believes in holding on to his roots. Modest background and a difficult childhood made living a challenge for the IIM-A topper but this instead of deterring him, made him more resolute and focused towards achieving his dreams. The dream to provide his mother with all the comforts in return of her hardships. The dream to rise above the mediocrity which has been part of his life till then. The dream to be SOMEONE. And he wants to do it without compromising on his integrity for which he is willing to stand against anybody, anybody including Sundeep.
If god was a banker is story of two individual with different backgrounds and value systems trying to climb up the corporate ladder. Being as different as they are, they start their career together as friends only to later turn into adversaries. The path each of them takes is very different. But destiny ensures that they cross each other. And when they do, we witness the longstanding clash between ethics and deliverance, between values and success, between DREAMS and OBSESSIONS.
The book questions the values of large corporation. The highly competitive environment with stress on success at any cost seems to promote such practices as dishonesty, deception and adultery. The work reignites the debate “Do end justifies the means?” leaving us questioning our own set of beliefs.
The scope of subject matter being so large, it would have been easy for the writer, Ravi Subramanian, to slip into preaching mode and start generalizing his personal beliefs. But the author avoids this by giving ample opportunity for both the character to develop and justify their value systems. Where ever direct confrontations are involved, he avoids passing comments, leaving all for readers to decide on their own. Though the story is set in the background of a banking organization, the technicalities never supersede the plot demand and the language is kept simple enough to facilitate the same. The transition of story from past to present and back forth is smooth and in accordance with the pace of the work. The supporting characters are well thought off and never overcrowd the book space.
In case you are looking for a classic, this is not the book for you. But otherwise definitely a good read and a must for everyone in corporate environment.