17th October 2015 - Four years of the day that ended 'Microsoft torture'

October 17 letter in the year 2011

I still remember the moment. It was afternoon time- I was sitting in my chair, opened yahoo-mail and my life changed in a fraction of second. To appreciate the importance of that moment I must explain what I went through for the year prior to 17th October2011. I didn't have any option; so the question of joining vs not joining didn't come that time. Forget about option, I was dying that time with a 'framed forced resignation notice' on my head. Those were definitely horrible days of my life so far.
I have already clarified in this blog that my current condition is far better than that of year 2011. I am still 'without an option', frustrated, 'desperate for a change' ; but there are two major differences compared to 2011-- a) I am at home and b) the maturity of my thought process post Oxford and post 2011.

The only thing worrying me currently is that I am not doing anything significant that might work as good investment for the future. I keep thinking lot of things, but lack the willpower to drag that thought into concrete output. I wish I have some catalysts here to push me, such as energetic friend, bugging magazine editor, forced obligation etc. I always thought I can pull myself alone- this is again proved to be wrong.

There are a few new thoughts as well-
a) It is not always necessary to be in the government to have work satisfaction. If after so many attempts the government does not want people like me, what else can I do?
b) Like the non-profit, I feel, being in executive role also have arrays of limitations. If I have to do kind of things I imagine, I have to be in legislature.
c) The extent till which people can appreciate 'act locally' endeavor is limited. No matter how much I do at local level, it is limited and outsider also got bored too easily. If that gives you mental peace, fine. But for me, as you know, I dream high; so, limited stuff does not give me slightest satisfaction.
d) Time (which I am defining as the supreme power) always reserves some decisions with it. Maybe there is no need of long-term planning. If someone needs to invest time, he should do it only on short-term goals.

Does that put me in the same line with witch believers cum hunters? May be yes.
Am I expecting a miracle today on 17th October 2015? Definitely no.

7th October 2015 - After spending 30 hours with the World Bank team

The sudden call from Vikram on 5th October morning was rather surprise. But, without asking many questions, I decided to join him on 6th morning at Guwahati. My underlying ambition to work for the bank was definitely the principal reason. Then marathon meetings until 9-00PM and then visit to the Kamrup metro district office on 7th morning- I spent around 30 hours with them, except the sleeping time with Rupak, where I mostly dreamt the WB guys only.

At the Kamrup Metro e-District centre

Although the concrete output was zero, I analyzed and understood many facts. I know more possess the extreme desire to work for the bank now. Here are some thoughts I penned down on 7th October evening , sitting at IITG:

1. World Bank is just like another bank with US playing the role of father with maximum contribution and also attaching some rules with the US congress which even Obama can’t change. The annual profits are shared among the stakeholders.
2.  As a bank they have to search customers and their customers are all public sector entities.
3. Why should country take loan from World Bank- low interest rate, long repayment period, having World Bank portfolio is deemed as the country has transparency etc so credit agencies give more rating, possibility for getting grant, which is a small portion of the bank.
4. How Country decides whether and how much to take loan- for India, it is decided by DEA. Hence every proposal should be made to DEA. See this…very interesting - http://aaad.gov.in/
5. The marketing of the World Bank goes—Vikram will come and talk with different departments and ask them to apply for loan to DEA. On paper, it will be shown the department is applying to DEA for World Bank loan.
6. Ideally, there has to be state share (these days it is 30%). Usually, this 30% is indirectly/secretly adjusted with the 70% of the bank, so that the state needs not to spend any money. There is need to study how this ‘adjustment’ is causing inefficiency compared to central government’s direct funding.
7. The bank feels comfortable to deal with same implementing agency in the name of strict procurement policy etc. The relationship has every possibility of going fishy.
8. The way the initialization the project happens (point 5 above), even if the money is huge (say here $49 million), the politician and the citizens didn’t have single clue. Everything is managed by the bureaucrats and the officers of the departments.
9. From the conversation (say between Vikram and Naimur), it is evident, why the World Bank, UNDP jobs kept circulating among a group of people. As nobody knows much (point 8 above), the recruitment usually confined to a small group except the ones where they need expert people. For this project, Naimur and Shalini are there for years, but they are still not sure who would be the implementing agency for the project. Fuck !
10. The increase of China’s investment in Africa is directly related to the contracts China owned in the minerals of African countries. US, via World Bank, used to do the same thing years back.
11. I got to meet many powerful bureaucrats and got introduced by Vikram with high-flying words. I realized  to control the self obsessed IAS officers and their fishy counterparts like the World Bank ones, Politician is the only profession I should target. I feel like going to Jyotirmoy Sharma now and ask for more involvement. Hmm, I don’t know. What should I do, God?
12. Summery- I feel like  I am not at all interested for a World Bank job now. The experience would be just same as Microsoft type probably.