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I know the pieces fit 'cause I watched them fall away and I've done the math enuf to know the danger's of a second guessing.


Skiing Mantra

The Northeast got its share of December snow just after Christmas - close to 20 inches. New year started off with cold air and winds that would blow your nose off. As we await another storm this weekend I couldn't help but think - how about some skiing? Having done it once, I think its going to be fun; though the last attempt was a couple of years ago. Would I have forgotten what I learned in the 3-4 hours we spent in the hills? Don't know, but then lets find out .... Pizza Franch Fries anyone?

Gearing up for an interesting winter season.

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Posted by Rajesh @ 8:44 PM; PERMALINK, ,

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The [Re]public of India

The 26th day of the year does mean something for folks who hail from India; the country celebrates its Republic day. Many things come to my mind when I think about how things used to be this very day some 10-15 years ago, celebrations if you may call it.

Schooldays was fun - we never thought of it as just another off (chutti) day, rather there was an eagerness to get up early and participate in the activities organized at the school. Feeling proud looking at the fluttering flag, hoisted way up in the sky and a bright sun rising in the east, shining in the sky was how the day used to start. The chill in the January air just gave it a special feeling making the walk to the school a special one.

Now, the parade that's organized at the capital is something special too. The parade that troops down from Raisina Hill to Rajpath every 26th Jan is simply amazing and now matter how cold it is at the capital, you would see scores and scores of people gathered to watch the spectacular display of our military pageantry and the state tableaux.

The very meaning of this day, I'm afraid though, has been put to test quite a lot of times over a period of these 58 years. What used to be a celebration, an occasion to pay homage to the often forgotten martyrs, is being looked by many as just another day in the year to catch up on some ZZZs or party the night before to make use of another off day :). Little do they know that the world has changed their perception of the country, the world is taking notice of India and all this - while they were asleep.

Not only have we taken the bull by its horns, we are trying to change the fear many have when it comes to facing the bull itself. But there's lots to be accomplished, lots to be thought about for the present and for the future generations. A world class infrastructure, consistent growth in the tough times that we could face in the future are a few things to be kept in mind as we open up the gates to enthusiastic onlookers who consider the Republic as the next place to invest and to expand.

May this symbol of national integration stay alive in the years to come and may the 'Unity in diversity' that we boast about - live up to its expectation.

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Posted by Rajesh @ 8:38 PM; PERMALINK, ,

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