Rashtrapathi Bhavan Delhi

Some bare facts - 

The Rashtrapathi Bhavan in Delhi is the largest Presidential palace of any Head of State in the world. 

To give a comparison, let us compare it with other Presidential residences.

The Rashtrapathi Bhavan building is three times (3x) size of White House, US Presidential residence. Its garden is twenty times (20x) the size of the garden in the White House.

The US economy (second largest in the World) is double the Indian economy (third largest) ..

George..

Man's tryst with space and India's successful missions ..

On the fourth of October 1957, Russia for the first time (USSR) sent the 86 kg satellite Sputnik 1 to space. US launched its first satellite only after 4 months in 1958.

In 1962, then Indian visionary PM Jawaharlal Nehru asked Vikram Sarabhai to explore space and the rest is history. Aryabhata India's first satellite went to space in 1975.

Sputnik 1, the world first satellite from Russia, 1957, (USSR)

India now launches satellites for US. 60 US satellites among 83, will be launched by India on Jan 15, 2017.

Additionally, India landed on moon (the world waited patiently for 39 years from 1969  till 2008, for innovative and brilliant Indian brains to establish the presence of water vapour in lunar atmosphere).

India also was the fourth country in the world to do a 650 million km  interplanetary expedition to Mars and the first in the world to undertake it flawlessly in the very first attempt itself, perfectly and most efficiently, that the unspent fuel onboard for the six month Mars orbiting mission in all likelihood, will help it orbit Mars for another 18 years .. 

See the Sputnik here ..   

 george..

My paternal grandparents Mathai Easaw and Saramma Mathai ..

1971 photo ..

My paternal grandparents - Mathai Easaw and Saramma Mathai.

Idavoor Puthen Veedu, Chennithala, Mavelikara, Kerala, India.

My grandfather was a scholar and Malayalam Vidwan at Bishop Bodge's HS, Mavelikara and my grandmother was a high school teacher at MG School, Chennithala.

They can rest really proud of their grandchildren as all of them have done well in life academically and professionally.

George ..

Greatest Indian leaders .. ..

India is going through a great time leading the world in many areas. Were it not for the great leadership, democratic thoughts,  statesmanship and foresight of this great architects of Modern India, Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, the writer, thinker, philosopher, statesman, intellectual, freedom fighter and what not, India would have gone the way of the failed state of Pakistan, down the drain.

There is a concerted effort by a radical and communal organisation to downplay the efforts of these two great leaders who gave their lives in shaping a modern India.  Today's petty politicians out of total ignorance of world history and Indian history, abuse them much but sadly, they are not in a position to come out of the grave to defend themselves.  Sadly there is nobody in the contemporary Indian political system to match Gandhi's foresight and Nehru's intelligence and statesmanship. Nobody in India can claim to have the respect Gandhi and Nehru commanded globally then.

Were it not for them and their policies followed by successive governments, we would not have had our great public sector enterprises, the civil service, the great hydel power projects, our prestigious space program and ISRO, our nuclear establishments, the white dairy revolution which ensured self suficiency in milk production in the country, the green revolution bringing self-sufficiency in food grains, the world's pride IITs, the prestigious IIMs, transportation infrastructure, ports, public sector enterprises and what not !

The great contemporary historian Ramachandra Guha had great respect for Nehru and his global appeal and writes thus -  http://m.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/the-commanding-heights-of-nehru/article4091296.ece

Proud sons of India who are being demeaned by petty, ignorant and silly politicians, both will rise from the ashes yet again ..

While Gandhi gave ethical leadership for India to come out of the yoke of colonial rule, Nehru gave modern outlook and vision to the Indian dream to be a great nation.

The petty minds who point fingers at these great souls are doing a great disservice to the country. I can only pray that God give them sanity and ability to think clearly other than through a tinted glass.

Even if you cannot do any good to the country, please do not damage the country's reputation and past glory ! We need your help and cooperation in continuing with the incomplete agenda for the country set by our former national leaders.

As true patriotic Indians, we should not be satisfied with excellence handed over by great leaders from the past, it is just part of India's growth story. Instead of pointing fingers at our great leaders of the past, please be part of India's great growth story, this time with our current PM, Modi. Let us help Modi to contribute to making a great India.

George..

Seeking one's roots !

*Seeking one's roots*

Being in Bangalore, India, I can feel how alienated our children are with Malayali and native Indian culture, missing the finer nuances and vibrations, blaming myself for my selfish professional ambitions and growth, I can understand how people who have migrated to other countries feel pained, if they are sincere to their own self, about the simple pleasures of their native culture that is denied to their children and grand children.

I understand culture, that has stood the test of time, is much deeper than development or intelligence ! Being able to go back to our roots and culture (knowing that it is the oldest and most peaceful in the world at 6000 years and the richest too) is one of the greatest satisfaction a human being has during his last moments.

My desire in life is to convince at least one of my friends of the ignorance and folly of migration and settling abroad, seeking momentary materialistic pursuits (and occasionally short-lived intellectual pursuits too) in an inferior cultural setting and instead *seeking one's roots* , being able to return and being one with earlier generations .. 🙏

George..

Worst carbon footprint individual ..

Even though heading the world's second largest economy, the President of the United States of America is the most secured and protected person in the world (ensuring protection from the large numbers of global and domestic enemies made over past decades). 

The President is also the worst global polluter individual as he is  the person with the largest Carbon footprint too !

George ..

Leaders of modern Kerala ..

The leaders who paved the way to unite Malayalis . .

TM Varghese (home), Pattom Thanu Pillai (CM) and C Kesavan (food), 1948 at formation of Tirukochi. 

george..