Getting Senti(mental)

So recently, I've realized that I'm not Religious. At all. No, I'm not an Atheist either. But all the strong emotions that people of my country (& the neighboring country) attach to religion, I Don't have those. Like not even 5 % of that. and guess what.. i feel "blessed" for that.. ! hahahah :P

So, like a day back, a 21 year old got arrested for hurting "religious sentiments" of people in Maharashtra (post Bal thakeray's death ) read it here  . What exactly are religious sentiments?!?.. sentiments that i would attach to my religion?..or to god?..or both?..But why would my religion have "sentimental" value to me (or to anyone) anyway.. i mean what is religion?..its Faith..Its Belief...Its compassion.right.. Its just accepting that there is a power much higher than any of us humans..thats it.. PERIOD. And as far as sentimental value is concerned..I would probably attach that to something much more close to me..like maybe my grandmother's ring, or something i bought from my first pay check, or how people save their children's first shoes, toothbrush etc. THOSE & many like them are things with "sentimental value"..you cherish them or feel grateful for them or want to keep them safe..I don't understand how that works with religion.. (but that could be just my problem)

So, why attach "feelings" & "sentiments" to religion/ god..? why go out of your way and be head over heels over something that is not in our control. Whats the point?..Buttering the god does not help..believing in him does and even not believing will help as long as THAT gives you peace of mind. I see people, Hindus mostly, going out of their way to please the gods. Mata ki chowkis, fire crackers, and thousand & lakhs of money spent on arrangements for the same. Its a WASTE. How?--noise pollution, air pollution and what about people of other religions who are made to hear your "jai mata di" over the 10 loudspeakers you have installed all over your neighborhood..what about their "religious sentiments"..?.. not very secular..are we then?

Example..Today..its "chhat puja" ..now I don't know what that is. Frankly i can't care less. But I'm made to care ..as people somewhere near my house are praising this deity over weird songs through loudspeakers and also bursting crackers. And all I can think about is the exam tomorrow, which i clearly can't study for..Now, my parents have very nicely taught me to be religiously tolerant and thats why i tolerate the 5 time namaaz everyday coming out of the 2 mosques.. near my house. but when all this other religiousness accompanies it..i go MAD..yes..i hate it... Interestingly, I live in a posh neighborhood of South Delhi, and when you live in such areas you tend to not expect all this, but over the years..well, I've just become used to it..my tolerance is decreasing.. (as you can see from this Post) but as a civilized, non violent human being i'm sadly not gonna do anything about it (my declining tolerance & the events that are responsible for it), maybe except, write this post.

So basically, Hindus & Muslims in India at least,.. PLEASE keep your religion to yourself and don't go around arresting people who don't share your religious views. Learn something from other religions..like Sikhism & Budhhism. Also, stay true to your faith but let others stay true to theirs..Think of pleasing your god through helping others who are less fortunate & in need instead of disturbing your neighbors!. 

Lastly, I'm sorry if i offended you from what i've said above, that was not the intention. This is purely my point of view.

Peace

TM

Got Any Talking Skills Call Centre Boy??

Half of this country's youth is employed in call centres.. BPO or whatever..I don't particularly care about the whole situation ( i know neither do you, so don't pretend !) except when I call somewhere and I'm put on hold by an answering machine to talk to a  "customer CARE representative".

I've always had to call either Airtel, Just Dial, Tata sky or Sony etc and needless to say people on these lines have been really nice..i say a big THANKS to their HR departments who have taken out the time to give their phone people good training sessions. Seriously, they  BREATHE courtesy ! Its  their job to "care"..or well at least to pretend to care..I'm kool even if the customer "care" dude is  pretending ..but just till the time I DON'T find out about it. Because the thing is, if I know you are pretending that means obviously you suck at your job which in turn means that you won't be able to resolve my problem..WHICH my dear call centre boy, would mean that I wasted time, money and energy on someone who is well lets say..useless!..and if that won't make me ( or any other customer) angry then I wonder what would.. :o

So well, I experienced a similar situation today. I got my laptop fixed yesterday from this very professional firm in Gurgaon, (not taking any names)...and today the the problem in my laptop recurred..so obviously I was like WTF! I called their toll free number and complained. But this idiot is answering me with HMMMs and asking really dumb question like "did you restart your computer?"..i mean.. HELLO!!..who won't!??!?!

NOT once did he say " I'm sorry for the inconvenience" or "we will resolve your problem asap" or anything of that sort.. didn't even pretend that the company he works for is responsible for distressing me..  he had totally forgotten the golden rule of sales "the customer is ALWAYS right"..instead he was blaming me for the fact that his techie screwd up my laptop further!!.. GOD!!..I HAD to gave him a good piece of my mind
(still no sorry)..then, before hanging up I casually asked him " as a representative shouldn't you atleast apologise for the inconvenience your company is causing me? " and hes lyk " OK.." and hung up !..can you imagine?!?!

well..some customer "CARE" I tell you..Basic Ps & Qs.. not so difficult!!..I'm sure he bunked all employee improvement classes & training that these BPO chaps have to go through..or maybe his supervisor was screwd up in the head to hire an idiot like him!..two words--PURELY PATHETIC!..

I didn't wanna defame the company as other people working their have not forgotten their courtesy and the service is mostly satisfactory. Do share if you've had any such experience or just have something on your mind !

Love
TM