Today is August 13th. 2 days from now we celebrate 61 years of Indian Independance. India is on top of everyone's mind - be it tourists, media, industrialists. Everyone wants a pie of India. Don't know if I can really compare India today with India of the past, but one thing is for sure - India is going through one of its best phases in the last 61 years.

Indians abroad are looking for jobs back at home, Indians can now buy things that never reached our markets. Cars, gadgets - its all available. Suprisingly India is also giving a tuff fight to China in various segments and that itself is an achievement. Europe, America are helpless as they see the two new emerging superpowers India and China take away the world market they dominate for years.

India's future looks very promising although there are a few dampners like the current inflation. But I am sure all these situations are temporary. It's just the dawn of a bright new India. Maa Tujhe Salaam - Jai Hind!

Tags: india, i-day, independance day, august 15

We've had many great leaders and freedom fighters in India - Tilak, Bose, Nehru, Sarojini Naidu, Lajpat Rai ..... Of all these, there is only one man who cannot be confined to the limits of time and history. Gandhi - a little man who in his own characteristic style and beliefs shook the mighty British empire.

From being an advocate in Africa to realizing the dream of Indian independance, there was an amazing transformation in Gandhi. Wearing Khaadi, with a walking stick in his hand, he was a man obsessed with only one purpose - to see a FREE India.

Unlike Hitler in a military uniform, here was a leader who dressed like a common man. This simple approach of Gandhi won him supporters across India. He literaly took the freedom struggle to the masses. He made the common man realize that freedom was everyone's business and not for a handful of leaders who made big speeches.

Today, we do not have leaders like Gandhi. But in our own way, we can imitate his good work at our schools, colleges, workplace.. everywhere.

Even as we celebrate Gandhi Jayanti tomorrow, let us be truly inspired by one of the greatest leaders of all time.

Tags: gandhi, inspirational, gandhi jayanti, mahatma

Not sure, if one can and should keep count of their pyaars. But ya I think one's first love is very special - a curtain raiser.

Well, i have had my own crush list much before Orkut could assign me one. And the first girl in that list was a pretty girl from my school. It's not that we had a shortage of pretty girls in school, but something made her special. It was kind of a 'serious' crush (albeit one sided) I never even looked at the other 'pretty girls' in my class (ok..ok.. atleast when she was around).

She had an amazin smile, I guess that's what made her special. I would have loved to propose her then, but my friend told that would be a little too early.  I agreed with my friend and chose to wait. And that wait never ended.

Once in college, I added someone else to my crush list and she found some one else. And our story ended even before it began. Things have changed a lot in the past few years, but that smile still lingers in my mind. I can see it as I am writing this post.

Tags: mp3

Destination: Mysore, Coorg & Mangalore

Kind of a place: Long trip (Vacation)

Budget: Rs. 4000/- per person

Tips to fellow travelers:
We (eight friends)  went on a 5 day trip to South Karnataka. We toured Mysore, Coorg and Mangalore. The trip was an amazing experience - Karnataka has beautiful spots unknown to the tourist world.

Share your experience:
To really tour Mysore, one week would not suffice. There's so much to see - Mysore Zoo (largest in Asia I believe), Wadiyar Palace (truly majestic), Vrindavan gardens (it is famous for the musical fountains), Karanji bird park (its the most peaceful spot I have ever been too)....

Tags: travel, holiday, mysore, coorg, mangalore