The world as I see

'Incredible India' campaign has won World Travel Award for the year 2009.Now isn't that something to feel elated about. I mean I understand we have much serious issues still dangling over our heads, in our overly populous and poverty stricken country and have a long way to go but doesn't this give a confidence of an improving, growing India. Well "Incredible India" was an initiative started by Government of India, way back in year 2002, with an effort towards reviving tourism industry, when it was hit by a slump. Attack on World Trade Center, the war on Afghanistan and the attack on the Indian Parliament had hit it badly then. It was Amitabh Kant, the former joint secretary in the ministry of tourism, who realized that India still gave a mixed and confused picture to any foreign visitor.So he along with his colleagues came up with this idea of branding India as Incredible.The work was not over by just making few videos.It had just begun.Apart from a meaningfu

It was a fresh, radiant morning.As I gently placed my toothbrush on the parapet of my terrace and began splashing water on my face, I saw a crow hopping towards my brush.I stood still making sure not to disturb him.It quickly looked around in all directions and then swiftly landed its beak on the brush getting the taste of the toothpaste.As it flew off, I couldn't help smiling to myself. I started brushing my teeth wondering how little I knew about birds.As I looked up in the sky I found some crows flying hither and tither.Looking further higher were some eagles gliding happily. And how could I forget these sparrows all around me, comfortably seated on wires, chirping endlessly, as if they had so much to say and nobody had time to listen.Back home in Delhi, I remembered a cuckoo used to sing so beautifully in the backyard of our quarters during summers but the best I enjoy is watching those huge bunch of gray and white pigeons on old Delhi streets, flying in unison in a pat