Customer is King

After the sari shopping episode (see previous post), the next day we went shopping for 'costume jewellery'. The reason I am writing this piece is to tell you the experience we had in three different shops. The first Shop we went to was "Jhilmil" in T. Nagar. The shop was spacious and well lit up. This was the only good thing about this shop. In spite of standing at the counter for more than five minutes, not one of the 'Sales Girls' bothered to ask us what we wanted. They had gathered in a group behind the counter and were having a 'gossip session' and the Customer be damned seemed to be there attitude. After minimal shopping in this shop we went two shops further away to a shop called "Narayana Pearls".

We expected similar treatment here and we were in for a pleasant shock. What a difference in attitude! The 'Sales Girls' were treating each and every customer who walked in as visiting Royalty! They were cheerful, ever smiling and tried their best to see that the Customers got what they wanted. The difference was clearly evident as Customers kept thronging the shop. They realised that the most men who came along with the Ladies for shopping were not a happy lot and ensured their happiness by offering delicious coffee. All in all it was a wonderful experience. Similarly, we went further away to a shop called "City Gold Palace". Here too the Salesman tried his best to please and was prepared for a bit of good natured bargaining. No prizes for guessing which shops had more Customers and sales. In today's world, the Customer is not merely a King, he is an Emperor!

Of Twins and Sari shopping

Shobha, my sister-in-law and my twin Jay came down from USA for a sari shopping binge as my niece was getting married. Shobha insisted that Chhaya and I also join them. So on that fateful morning, we set off to Kumaran Silks in T. Nagar, Chennai. Now if there are any two things on earth that I thoroughly dislike it is Sari and Jewellery shopping.

As soon as we entered, Jayan and I put on the looks of 'two wise Owls' and dutifully sat beside the two ladies as they started looking at the Saris. Within five minutes both of us were bored silly, but discretion being the better part of valour, we kept still. A few minutes more and in spite of our best efforts a fit of 'yawning' started off. Initially, we managed to disguise it as 'Owl hoots', but in due course the 'dirty looks' from the ladies became more murderous. At least in our defence I must say that we sat through the whole ordeal without our usual acidic comments. Around fifty or sixty saris were selected for all and sundry and I must say I was impressed with Shobha's generosity in bestowing saris to all the helpers of the marriage. Our crowning glory came unexpectedly. Shobha was to purchase a sari for her friend in Chicago, Satya. Now Satya is a certified 'Sari Nut'. She loves purchasing Saris, not by the dozen, but by the gross! My twin and I insisted on a particular sari for Satya and after a lot of discussion, modelling and comparison, our sage advice (remember we were owls for the day) was accepted. Yesterday Shobha phoned me and said that Satya simply loved the sari and said that it was fabulous and thanks be to us. In spite of my 'Sari phobia' I must confess I was strangely pleased. Finally in the evening, the women decided to call it a day and we left for our abode. I was dozing off in the car, dreaming of a nice shot of scotch as soon as we reached, when just short of the house we stopped at another exclusive Sari shop called 'Rangoli'. 'Pfft' went my dream, plus two additional hours of life in this shop, with the usual 'whirligig' of shopping. I must say when we reached home I was a nervous wreck and on a short fuse. I once again felt pleased when my sister-in-law told my Aunt that "the twins were on their best behaviour throughout" as this is one compliment I do not ever remember having received!! The next day was devoted to Jewellery shopping........... :( :( :( ................... words fail me and hence I shall stop.

Friends

Friends, true not fairweather, are one of the greatest assets anyone can have. I have a whole lot of friends with whom I can confide, laugh, fight etc. without any pretences. With a good friend one need not be politically correct or needlessly polite. If his butt is looking big you can definitely refer to him as 'Lardass' or some such terms of 'endearment' without offence. When a group of friends meet, conversation generally tends to jump from topic to topic, without structure, and may be inter spaced with periods of silence with no embarrassment. They will be there to console you and share your happiness. How true the saying "Friendship redoubleth joys and cutteth grieves in halves". So I am dedicating this epistle to all my friends, past, present and future just to say thank you for being there.

'Mamtha Mia" - What a Lady!

Of all the obdurate politicians I have seen, Mamtha takes the cake. She has every right to agitate on behalf of the unwilling dispossessed farmers. However, when a large project is in full swing and nearing completion, it is too much to expect that 400 acres of land will be returned from within the project site. She should have negotiated a better compensation deal plus what ever land they could give from within the project area. Instead she painted herself into a corner. Now she is stuck with the "400 acres or else......" situation. Even though she is fast becoming unpopular in Singur, she is unable to climb down without tremendous loss of face and for a politician like Mamtha that is akin to committing political 'harakiri'. In the given situation I doubt if the Tata's would continue with the project. the people of Bengal in general and the people of Singur in particular will be the losers. In future, I doubt if any large Industrial House will touch Bengal with a barge pole.

Of all the large industrial houses in India, Tata's have the best track record in Corporate social responsibility. They would have given jobs to thousands of local people, both directly and indirectly. They would have taken the lead in developing the area. Hospitals, schools, agriculture etc. would have benefited. In a short span, an undeveloped place of West Bengal would have been turned into an island of prosperity.

Except for a lust for power at any cost, no politician has the interest of the nation or the common man at heart. It is a pity that we have such politicians in our country. I also wish to state that the Left Front too should bear part of the blame. They were not transparent in the deal. They should have made the deal public, that would have deflected the criticism to some extent. I hope in future land acquisition deals, the compensation offered is substantially higher than the market value and also they compensate for 'loss of livelihood' with cash or jobs for family members.

I request all Politicians to stop 'grandstanding'. For the country to develop, industrialisation is necessary and for that land is required. Some amount of give and take from all stakeholders is the need of the hour.

The Death Penalty

George, my friend, is a strong proponent for abolishing the Death penalty. I agree with his views for most of the cases. By all means let them sentence those who deserve the death penalty with life imprisonemt. In these cases it should be for Life without possibility of parole. However in the case of Children, I disagree with George, the Death penalty is a must and it should be carried out swiftly and mercilessly. This is one instance in which I feel that an 'eye for an eye' is justified. In India, the present trend is to impose the Death penalty only for the 'rarest of the rare' cases. Murder, rape etc. involving children are being treated as the 'rarest of the rare' and the convict is sentenced to death and rightly so. I feel they have got their 'just deserts'.

Bundhs, Strikes, Hartals and such...

India must have one of the lousiest work cultures in the world. Doing eight hours of honest work seems completely alien to our psyche. However, many of us do take work seriously and slog it out. What upsets and agonizes me is the culture of Bundhs, strikes and hartals etc. In Kerala it is not a 'cottage industry' but a 'Public Sector' behemoth. Can you believe , last year, Kerala had about two hundred hartals, either partial or full. Work comes to a standstill, and the most affected are the daily wage earners and the poor. The Kerala High Court wisely banned 'bundhs' and our ever innovative politicians promptly renamed them 'Hartals' and said they were voluntary. However in practice it was anything but voluntary. Only the foolhardy was stupid enough to attempt to go to work or keep his shop open. Party goons would arrive and give you a friendly warning to shut shop or else....... after all didn't you know you were "voluntarily" participating in the hartal?? Some of the reasons for calling the Hartal are ridiculous, petty and just a case of 'oneupmanship' between political parties. What galls me most is that those who have nothing productive to do prevent those who are trying to earn a living honestly from doing so and the sad fact is that they get away with it in the name of "democracy" and "politics". Why don't they go on a 'fast unto death' for their demands. The public will wholeheartedly support them because if they succeed in the 'death' part it is one less nuisance to tolerate. No politician gives a damn about the crores of lost revenue or production. This revenue would have gone into infrastructure etc. It is high time the High Courts intervene and put an end to this nonsense. The Court should impose exemplary fines on the Party and its Office Bearers. A stiff penalty will cure them of their Hartal fetish. The general public should also add their mite. Walk to work or at least come out of your houses in droves. Write letters of protest to the Political parties. Remind them that they have to get back to the people for votes and this will be held against them. Politicians should be taught a lesson that in a democracy it is the 'People' who are supreme.

The Fledgeling Leaves the Nest

It is indeed a sad but proud day when your Son or Daughter leaves home to take up a job. One more string that ties you to him/her is lost. It shifts from "My Dad is an ATM Machine" to "I am an ATM Machine" thus cutting the financial string that binds parents and children. Now only the strings of love that bind the Parents and Children remain, but this I feel is the strongest and no matter what or how old your child is he will always remain a child in the your eyes (at times much to the annoyance of the Child - imagine being told be "be careful how you drive or cross the road etc. etc." especially when you are in the "know all" age of the twenties!!"). Memories of how a tiny little baby grew up to be the strapping lad he is today will always be fond and evergreen, every moment treasured always. So all I and his mother can say are 'thank you Son', you are well on the path to Manhood and Independence and sad though we are we are proud of you.