Shots Fired !

As usual, i've been a bit busy with work and other assorted things. I really dont want to make it a habit to write when someone urges me to write, but somehow that is how it turns out !

This time i have something really interesting to write. And i hope everyone (read : Indians) will take it in good spirit. Something i thought was very normal 2 years back, but now i am completely shocked by it.

Allow me introduce Timothee. A Frenchman, colleague and most importantly a very good friend. Timothee is now in Bangalore for 3 months as part of an internship that he needs to execute in a foreign country, to obtain his degree. He arrived in Bangalore about 10 days ago.

Last night, frantic call from Tim at 2:30 am (yes, ungodly hour). He sounds really disturbed, and says he hears gunshots in his building, and i can hear the same over the telephone. The stray dogs are whining on the street outside, and he thinks someone is shooting them. I called Hashir, who lives in Indiranagar, and asked him if he could check out the neighbourhood and see if all is well.

Hashir calls me back in 10 minutes and tells me that there is a huge crowd of people taking out a procession from a temple nearby. The procession included an idol, a truck and lots of firecrackers. I'm not surprised that someone who was a stranger to these sounds would mistake this to be gunshots.... We called Tim, explained the situation and personally, i was very embarassed !

Which brings me to my point of view on the matter. There is a lot i can say, but i will keep it short and sweet....

Firstly, we seems to think worship is effective only when it is done at the expense of someone else's peace of mind. What happened to privacy and personal space?

Secondly, what is the whole fuss about? Are our gods asleep? Is that why we go "Hey, listen, we're worshipping you now, so you better wake up" ??