India

India is a melting pot. People from across the world visit our country but are often here for too fleeting a time to grasp the complex nature of the nation. Some believe that we are not a progressive people, and still call it a third world country. Many foreigners still harbour the illusion that our country is backward, poverty stricken and a land of snake charmers and cart drivers. It is a little disconcerting to think that outsiders may have such a skewed image of a country which is really too diverse to fit into a mould. That is probably why there were many who were not particularly happy when a rather dismal and squalid portrayal of our very own Mumbai slum-dwellers found a global viewership through the Oscar-winning Slumdog Millionaire. Personally however, I was euphoric and over the moon when the movie won accolades from across the world. The riveting and sweeping Slumdog Millionaire is truly a classic.

If you ask me, India is a multi-religious, secular, cosmopolitan and enterprising country. Indians are doing phenomenally well in all areas, be it education, management, business, music, films, science, or even the pageant industry. Any discerning world citizen, irrespective of where he hails from and takes more than a passing interest in world affairs will know that we are ready to join the list of superpowers of this century. Jai ho!