IF GOD WAS A BANKER [2007] – Ravi Subramaniam

This review may contain spoilers.   LINK TO BOOK 

The book starts off with a flair for mystery. An attempt is made to impress upon the reader the brands and the opulence of the protagonist Sundeep srivastava. The story goes through a ritual – introduction flashbacks for the more important characters. Our protagonist is an arrogant, sleazy but clever and overly ambitious individual, Sundeep Srivastava, from IIM Bangalore, Batch of 1986. He befriends a simple, smart and dedicated individual from IIM A – Swaminathan. The story compares the careers of these two individuals who had very similar educational profiles in New York International Bank [NYB]

Sundeep is an extremely brash, overconfident and charming individual who has no control over his libido. He takes all the wrong decisions, pushed by his overachieving mentality. He holds no morals and considers nothing sacrosanct. Yet, there is a slight attempt to paint him as an individual who has certain good qualities too. Note that this attempt is very slight, and might even go unnoticed. There is a grey area with regards to his character that remains unknown. Perhaps there is an attempt by the author to highlight his good side subtly, but all this is lost in the straightforward simplicity of the plot. Nothing is conveyed with certainty except the fact that Sundeep is an extremely competent banker in his own right, and someone who will do anything to taste victory and satisfy his own ego.

This is amply illustrated various times throughout the narrative. His first attempt at flirting with a colleague, Kalpana – someone after whom he lusts throughout the story, may be understood as a quirk of his character. But that is not to be, as later it is revealed that he has no compunctions in claiming someone else’s thoughts and analysis as his own! Indeed, he does not hesitate in presenting Swami’s analysis of how NYB should enter the Indian market as his own. He has no hesitation in leading Natasha on, and marries her on the rebound after realising that Kalpana has chosen Swami as her life partner. Shamelessly taking advantage of Natasha in the office , he does not hesitate to reveal the same to Ram Naresh, a practical and truly despicable character who should be talked about later on.

The first turning point in the story is when he fails to control his lust and falls into Ram Naresh’s trap.

Ram Naresh is a Calcutta Gujarati. He is extremely cunning, practical, and an expert at exploiting human failings. He doesn’t hesitate to use the basest of human needs -sex, as a means to control executives at various levels throughout the NYB Indian organisation. Once Sundeep falls into Naresh’s clutches, the story takes a viciously dislikable turn. Sundeep falls into a cycle of illicit sex, powerplays and jealousy. In all this, it is his wife Natasha who suffers.

Swami is presented as someone who has seen the hardships in life and knows what he wants to do. This is amply presented again and again by the author when he writes about Swami arriving for the induction programme with a borrowed suit, when he can’t pay for the 3 cups of coffee with Kalpana at Cafe Independent, when he goes on a honeymoon with her to Kodaikanal. But it is this honesty that allows him to maintain a calm and cool demeanour. His honesty and straight talk do not make him a flashy leader, but an able administrator. He proves one important lesson: One need not be sauve and flashy to be a leader, being honest and intelligent is enough. He is trusting and provides support to his family whenever they need it. This is interestingly established in the following scene in the story. Natasha is being taken advantage of by her new boss Suneel Dutt, another despicable person. When he leaves office, it is Kalpana and Swami who provide her support and understanding. At the same time, her husband Sundeep is at Calcutta, quenching his lust and in turn falling into Naresh’s clutches. Such a sad turn of events. He will later on turn out to be the same as Suneel Dutt, maybe even worse.

In all this, is Aditya Rao, Sundeep and Swami’s mentor, their first boss. It is he who guides Swami through the trials and tribulations that Swami faces. Whether it be getting Kalpana out of Suneel’s sights, or getting Swami to settle into leading a call centre, Aditya is their guardian angel. He is their God. And nothing can change this fact, it seems.

Eventually, Sundeep’s deeds catch up with him when an Audit is conducted. It is during this audit do you truly realise the devastating effects Sundeep’s actions have had on the personal lives of his employees. The Karuna-Nitin arc of this narrative will leave you wondering whether Sundeep is a leader or simply a devil in pinstripes. His ‘negative confirmation’ ploy for KIA insurance, his mutual funds transfer approval to Nidhi Aggarwal do not feel you leaving safe with your funds parked in a bank. But it is the Karuna-Nitin arc that truly shows just how libido-controlled Sundeep is.

However, throughout the narrative, there has been an attempt to overly simplify the story between good and evil. The author seems to believe there is a right way to be a professional and this shows in his repetitive highlighting of Swami as good, and Sundeep as bad.

When events finally catch up to Sundeep, there is a feeling of bitterness left in the audience. For such a morally bankrupt individual, the end seems to be too kind. Too simple. Why should it be so? Swami and Aditya seem to be under the mistaken idea that Sundeep only fell into this cycle because of Naresh. How can that be? After all, they don’t know that the first time Aditya met Sundeep and was impressed by him, was based on a lie.

But then again, the story was never about Sundeep. It was about Swami. And how it is simply honesty and dedicated sincerity that can help one be a leader.

The first in the Banking trilogy, this book leaves a bittersweet taste in my mouth. It introduces a superb filmy story, but that’s exactly what it ends up being. Filmy. And unbalanced.

A great first attempt, it’s worth a one-time read. Average reading time would be 4 hrs. However, don’t expect to learn much about banking. Banking is just the backdrop here.
Main Characters:

Swami -married to – Kalpana
Sundeep -marrried to- Natasha -parents of- Ajay,Alka
Aditya Rao
Suneel Dutt
Ram Naresh
Brian Cloze
Monica
Karuna -married to- Nitin