Opinion

If God Was A Banker by Ravi Subramanian

If God Was A Banker, the story revolves around two management graduates in the rat race for success. Sundeep is ambitious and selfish, which leads him to achieve his goals through unscrupulous means. Swami is the exact opposite as he sticks to his morals and ethics to ensure success in his career. Swami's ideal and ethics keeps him behind Sundeep in terms of performance at the New York International Bank where they both work. Sundeep's rapid rise up the corporate ladder and his popularity with colleagues disguises his real motives and cunning mind. The story also has a main character, who is a friend and counsellor to both of them and he has his own philosophy which is based on his experience and is genuine. He always taught what he deemed right. In spite of all the facts, the temptation of untold riches was too strong for Sundeep and he continued on his quest for more ill-gotten financial gain. All through the novel, the backdrop is the corporate bank environment, which is so polluted that the characters are portrayed as people who are ready to deviate from the righteous path at the drop of a hat.

The book reads like a film, but gives you an insight on the probable follies, exploits, games played within the corporate foreign banking environment. Sometimes they say, too much intelligence is a bad thing, it makes you do deviant things. The character of Naresh, a uniquely Indian character. Shrewd manipulator, crafty exploiter of weakness for his own self-gain.

The book ends with a message to be honest, genuine and ethical in whatever you do. The wrong ways may give you intermediate success and pleasure, but ultimately leads you to the wrong destination. And, it can even ruin your life along with your family’s.

Sometimes the truth can only be told through fiction….