Picto Diary - 06 May 2016 - V.J.
Above: Metronome sculpture. Prague, Czech Republic. 06 May 2016.
Across Chekov Bridge from near our hotel, Intercontinental Hotel Prague.
The Metronome is a giant, functional metronome in Letná Park, overlooking the Vltava River and the city center of Prague. It was erected in 1991, on the plinth left vacant by the destruction in 1962 of an enormous monument to former Soviet leader Joseph Stalin. The 75-foot-tall (23 m) Metronome is now mostly a scenic vista and a meeting place for young people. It was designed by international artist Vratislav Novak.[1]
The area behind the metronome is also a popular skatespot where skateboarders from Europe and around the world congregate and film throughout the year. Wikipedia
The metronome reminded me of my periodic coaching drum sessions with Buddy Rich, where we use an electronic metronome regularly.
Above: Stalin sculpture extant until 1962 in location where metronome sculpture is located today.
Above: Astronomical Clock. Old Town Square. Prague, Czech Republic. 4 PM. 05 May 2016.
The Prague astronomical clock, or Prague orloj (Czech: Pražský orloj [praʃskiː orloj]), is a medieval astronomical clock located in Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic.
The clock was first installed in 1410, making it the third-oldest astronomical clock in the world and the oldest one still operating. Wikipedia.
Popular Prague attraction. Square was full when I was there today. 12 apostles parade by the two windows at the top of the clock on the hour. At the end of the chime, the gold rooster above the windows flaps its wings. The skeleton to the right of the upper dial yanks a chain.
Above: Watch exhibit at Bulgari store on Paris Avenue. Prague, Czech Republic. 05 May 2016.
Paris Avenue is kind of the Rodeo Drive of Prague. Lots of uppity stores. The street links our hotel to The Old Town Square.
I captured this image for two reasons.
One. I was amazed at the price of the watch most prominent in the image. Circa $50K.
Two. At breakfast at the Murano hotel a few years ago, I sat next to (not with) Bulgari ( Sotirios Bulgarios, born in Greece of Bulgarian parents). He was extremely rude to the wait staff. He is also the owner of the largest collection of Buicks in the world.
Above: Steve Taylor, Margaret Taylor, V.J. Khanna. Intercontinental Hotel, Prague, Czech Republic. 05 May 2016.
Prague is the first stop for Margaret and me on a Danube river boat tour which starts in Nuremburg, day after tomorrow, and ends in Vienna ten or so days later. During our brief Prague stay, It seemed like a good idea for us to reconnect with V. J. Khanna, full time Prague resident and former Citibanker.
Via the Park Citi list and Facebook, V.J. and I have been able to stay in touch. It was great to meet up with him and listen to his fascinating banking career story after all these forty three years of never having seen one another face to face, since our working days in Citi Calcutta, 1973.
I asked V.J. to review his career for the benefit of Park Citi list members.
Note: Note taker is fallible. Mistakes are his. V.J. is welcome to make any corrections/clarifications to these notes.
V. J., with a Masters Degree he earned in Bombay, joined Citi in 1969 and was assigned to Calcutta Branches. In Calcutta he worked, in succession for Calcutta senor branch operations officers (SBO), Mike Callen, Paul Darnal, David Ansell, and me, very briefly (in 1973). V.J. spoke highly of Bruce Brenn, who was Calcutta Branch head, my boss, when I arrived in Calcutta, 1973.
V. J. moved to Citi Delhi in 1973 where he became a trader. 1974... Bombay trader.
From 1977 to 1985 he was SBO, successively, in Madras, Delhi, Calcutta and Bombay.
In 1985 he moved to Thailand where he worked with Tatsuo Kabota at the newly Citi acquired Mercantile Bank.
He moved back to India (Bombay) in 1987, where, working for David Leong, he had a regional Treasury/risk management position.
In 1990 Victor Brunst (Citi's man in Moscow) brought V. J. to Yugoslavia where, where he worked in successive positions in Vienna, Belgrade, and Prague to advance Citi's presence in Central Europe. Carl Svoboda came to Central Europe and became a mentor to V.J. during this period. David Ansell rejoined Citi, after living semi retired in Kenya, and was part of Svoboda's Central European effort.
V. J. left Citi in 1995 and moved to Munich where he took the position of Emerging Markets head with Bayerische Vereinsbank.
In 1996, Carl Svoboda, not longer with Citi, enticed V.J. to move to Saudi where he joined Carl at United Saudi Bank, owned by Prince Wahleed, Citi's largest shareholder. Mike Callen was CEO of Saudi's National Commercial Bank during this period.
V. J. moved to Prague in 1999 where he set up a banking consulting business. He worked on a number of banking projects in the Gulf until 2008, including once, working on a project in the Gulf for Kantic Das Gupta.
In 2003, he married, second marriage, Eva Moravova, a bank executive in Prague.
In 2008, he joined Raiffeisun Bank in Prague as Treasurer.
In 2012 he retired from banking. He and Eva have a home 20 kilometers from downtown Prague and a Prague pied a terre.
V. J. notes he is enjoying retirement. He walks his dog, gardens, manages his investments, and once ever year or two visits his two boys, by a first marriage, who live in the United States. His Bay Area son works for Google and his New York City based boy owns his own software company. V. J. has four grandchildren, two by each of his two sons.
PS. We reminisced about other members of the Indian Citi diaspora... Surinder Singh in Seattle, Chita Gauba, in Vancouver/Oman, Kantic Das Gupta, Dubai, Rana Talwar, Delhi/London, B. M. Rugwani, New York City... and many others. V. J. informed me of Dave Ahuja's passing some three years ago. Both of us also had fond memories of Ajit (deceased) and Royina Grewal and Mehli and Saker Mistri who were our supervisors in the Citi Delhi branch. Margaret and I saw the Mistris and Royina at Rana Talwar's Delhi home earlier this year. Also at Rana's were Chita and Mandira Gauba, Jerry Rao, and Mike and Vickie Callen.
V.J. Sood, S.K. Jain, Manob Chakravarti and Nirendu Dutt Mazumdar are other names I knew well from that period. Also, Victor Menezies joined Citi in India while I was in Calcutta in 1973/74. A lot of important names left out here... .... and I'm the wrong one to chronicle a great era of Citibank, India.
I hope this note jogs some memories, images (photos) and some anecdotes!
Above: Prague Castle, St. Vitus Cathedral. 9:00 PM. Prague, Czech Republic. 05 May 2016 Image taken from roof restaurant, Prague Intercontinental Hotel.
Above: Spago. Prague, Czech Republic. 05 May 2016.
Image looks over Prague from roof of Intercontinental Hotel.
Above: Woodwind Quintet. Tauck Tours welcome dinner. Intercontinental Hotel, Prague, Czech Republic. 05 May 2016.
Addendum:
Very true it was a terrible place for Jew's also in the Budapest area - if you're in that area be sure to visit the synagogues and also the ghetto area / Tony Curtis father started the tree of life in Budapest -Enjoy
Mr. Z3,
Ojai, CA
Bernie Sanders's "coffee" looks remarkably like a beer.
Best regards,
FeeNix,
Phoenix, AZ