My Blog turns ONE...and counting

WISIR - another example!!!

I feel terribile about the fact that every now and then I come across examples of WISIR (what I say is right) practitioners...it is our politicians calling women "adventurous" when they want to come home from work alone late in the night; it is some minister announcing "let this incident be a warning to all companies who sack their employees" when a mob of fired labourers killed their MD; it is when a media house slaps a fellow-blogger with legal notice on expressing his views; it is when we have the self-proclaimed moral police taking over and police becoming helpless; it is when we have a group of seemingly educated and smart women decide to send 'chaddis' to the moral police to show that they don't care...

Welcome to the 21st Century India!!!

11 years and counting...

Is it not clear yet... LOVE = LIFE. And I am happy to turn eleven 'love-years' tomorrow...

Customer Service - Is India the hub?

Hi,

 

Last weekend was very interesting for me - met a few of my school friends, some of them I hadn't met since school days got over (12 years). All of us are doing different things in different parts of the world...that was the interesting part.

 

This group brought along a wide range of experience and knowledge to the table and somehow during our reliving the "good-old" days - we approached the subject of Customer Service. I do not remember the incident that must have prompted this discussion - the main point of discussion was that it is observed by globetrotters that Indians have a higher customer service quotient vis-a-vis developed countries, i.e. we are better in providing service. 

 

Though I do not dispute the statement that service levels in India are good, but in my experience there is no consistency. Quality of service is certainly not directly proportional to price of service.  It will be foolhardy to think that quality of service will be poorer at a dhaba than a five star hotel or that the local kiryana store owner will be any less respectful of your business than a shop in a mall. Also, I cannot say with confidence that service levels across same price-bands will be consistent (e.g. service of all five stars will be equally good) - rather I can prove it that this is not the case.

 

I wonder why my friends feel pampered when they seek service, while in India. Few thoughts come out - one, they are back in their "own country" and this would make them feel good about everything; two, service in certain sections is certainly top-class; third, probably customer service is really poor in their part of the world and lastly probably they can see-n-feel this difference and may be actually correct in their assessment.

 

What do you guys think? Is India that lonely planet where customer service is the way of life, where customer is the king...where the words "Atithi Devo Bhava" actually come out in action?

 

Do let me know what you think of this, leave a comment and share some experiences to elaborate on this.

 

Thanks...take care and keep smiling.

We Deserve Us...

Hi,

In past, I have written about how all of us just love to put the blame on the system, how easy it has become for us to point fingers at the government, how blind have we become to our responsibilities towards the society that we live in. Today a comment from a friend made me realise that we actually deserve every bit of it.

When we don't vote - Yes, we deserve it...

When we don't follow law / rules - Yes, we deserve it...

When we don't even know the law / rules - Yes, we deserve it...

When we don't want to contribute to the system - Yes, we deserve it...

When we learn to live with it, forget it and move on - Yes, we deserve it...

When we stop thinking, stop dreaming, stop caring, stop hoping - Yes, we deserve it...

Come to think of it - when I just want to write about it and do nothing further - Yes, I deserve it!!!

Speciality Restaurant Group...My latest favourite!

Hi,

My experience of eating at three restaurants of Speciality Restaurant group has been exactly opposite of the cartoon put up...I loved the food so much that I must post it on my blog.

In my knowledge, this group has three brands operational in Delhi - Oh! Calcutta, Mainland China and Sigree (this is just a few days old in Delhi and is not even updated on their website). I am sure you can assume the cuisines offered in these three restaurants...

I had first eaten @ Oh! Calcutta sometime last year and in past one year - I have been there at-least half a dozen times. It is a place where one can safely take guests as well - knowing very well that there shall be no mishaps, nothing would go wrong with your order and most importantly - you will get the most authentic bengali food, without a doubt! Do make a reservation in advance - there is a chance that you may have to wait to be seated.

My favourite dish is a mutton-dish that is to be eaten with 'luchi' (or as I understand puri). Other than mutton - if you like or would like to try authentic bengali food - just lean on the well-mannered and extremely knowledgeable team of waiters - who will gladly assist you in deciding what to order. As for desserts, do try the malpua and the lychee vanilla ice-cream.

Mainland China (MLC) - there are 2 in Delhi now. The older one is in Masjid Moth, GK and the recent-most restaurant has opened in Rajouri Garden. MLC @ RG is on the ground and first floor, while the second floor has the first and only Sigree in Delhi.

Senior staff at these two new outlets has been brought in from Oh! Calcutta team - and it was pleasantly surprising to be welcomed at these restaurants as a regular of Oh! Calcutta. Once our patronage was recognized and appreciated - it was only but-natural for us to be pampered (literally) by food and service. The only thing I can say about it all is - I cannot recall any better eating-out experience than the four meals I have had across these three restaurants in last three weeks.

I wish the best to the entire team of Speciality Restaurant...they have done a fabulous job so far!

Most Memorable Moment - 2008

Hi,

In a family gathering yesterday, all were asked to think about the "Most-memorable-moment of 2008"...this was indeed a thought provoking question. Each one of us took sometime to think about this and came out with meaningful answers...

For me, the MMM of 2008 has to be when I visited the Taj Mahal with Tina, on our wedding anniversary. I was completely awe-struck, mesmerised by the sheer beauty of the Taj. Having heard so much about the Taj and having seen zillion photographs in past did not dilute the pleasure of being there in person!

To be there, at the monument of love...with the love of my life...on our wedding anniversary...well all this was divine.

Happy New Year - 2009

Smile Please - Awesome Video...Needs time!

This is a great video, please see! 

It talks about happiness from within, it talks about love, it talks about the beautiful part of our lives and most importantly, it talks about the power of smile...a MUST watch.

Hope all of you will like it as much as I did.

Take care and keep smiling.

The BLACK Days - Nov 26th to 28th 2008

There are no words for what happened in Mumbai...it has scarred and angered every person, irrespective of sex, caste, creed, colour...as what ever happened, it certainly wasn't human!

This black badge has been put on to show anger and protest against such acts...now and forever.