CORPORATEHUMBUG

SALESMEN AND GENES by Iqbal Sachdeva                                                     ‘Salesmen are born and not made’, I argued with Henry, the regional sales manager of our company in Calcutta. ‘No,’ said Henry, ‘You can make anything out of anybody.’  Henry, a 6'3" tall American with a quarter century of experience in several countries of Asia, was known for his skills,  dress sense and mannerism. As the clock struck 10.30 am, Henry got up from his chair and said:    ‘Excuse me, I have to be with my boys before they leave for the market.’ And he walked out of  the room expecting me to come trailing behind. Out in the main hall, about a dozen city salesmen stood in a row waiting for his inspection. Henry would stop to shake hands with each one, pass a comment or two and get back the nods. ‘You have not shaved your bushy beard today, Bhowmik. Why? I think you need one badly. Take care, my boy. ‘Look at your dirty collars, Puri. Your wi

AUCTION ROYAL SALUTE by Iqbal Sachdeva                                                                                                               Vijaywara, the coastal town of Andhra Pradesh, was abuzz with two news items the day I arrived – one a liquor bottle had been recovered  from a state minister’s car and he was going to be tried under the Prohibition Act, and the second that a bottle of Royal Salute Scotch Whisky had arrived in this stone dry town.      Spectacled and serious looking receptionist at Hotel Amarpali, after making me fill in my check-in card, placed another paper up front and asked me to sign it.  It read; ‘I hereby undertake not to consume any alcoholic drinks or drugs in my room and if caught doing so, I will be solely responsible for the legal action and consequences.  The hotel owns no responsibility, whatsoever.’      I got irritated and asked: ‘What if I don’t sign?’      “I would not be able to give you the room key, Sir!’ said