It happens only in INDIA!!

India is a country that leaves one spellbound with its alluring contrasts and striking features in all that it beholds! One is sure to get intermingled with the plaited knots of customary and contemporary ingredients of India. It is full of beautiful contrasts.


Take a look on some funny sign, people, cars, situations and many more.

15 Hilarious Pics of India:

40 Interesting Facts about INDIA! “India never fails to surprise”!

India!

India’s astounding diversity of religions, languages and cultures is unique and unparalleled.

The vast diversities cannot seek an end but flow into the vast sea “Unity”. Yes, the land where unity rises and discrimination sets, that's the land — India.

As a citizen of this beautiful country, I am so proud to list down some amazing facts about it.

A glance of some interesting facts about India:


1. India is the world's largest, oldest, continuous civilization.

2. India is the world's largest democracy.

3. Martial Arts were first created in India, and later spread to Asia by Buddhist missionaries.

4. Yoga has its origins in India and has existed for over 5,000 years.

5. When many cultures were only nomadic forest dwellers over 5000 years ago, Indians established Harappan culture in Sindhu Valley (Indus Valley Civilization).

6. India never invaded any country in her last 1000 years of history.

7. India invented the number system. Zero was invented by Aryabhatta.

8. The largest flag is at the Central Park, Connaught Place in New Delhi. (measuring 90 feet in length, 60 feet in width and weighing 35 kilograms)

9. There are 300,000 active mosques in India , more than in any other country, including the Muslim world.

10. Sanskrit is the mother of all the European Languages . Chess (Shataranja or AshtaPada) was invented in India.

11. India has the second largest pool of Scientist and Engineers in the World.

12. India has the largest number of Post Offices in the world.

13. One of the largest employer in the world is the Indian Railways , employing over a million people.

14. The Baily Bridge is the highest bridge in the world. It is located in the Ladakh valley between the Dras and Suru rivers in the Himalayan mountains. It was built by the Indian Army in August 1982.

15. The Vishnu Temple in the city of Tirupathi built in the 10th century, is the world's largest religious pilgrimagedestination. Larger than either Rome or Mecca, an average of 30,000 visitors donate $6 million (US) to the temple everyday.

16. Varanasi, also known as Benaras, was called "the Ancient City" when Lord Buddha visited it in 500 B.C., and is the oldest, continuously inhabited city in the world today.

17. The name 'India' is derived from the River Indus, the valleys around which were the home of the early settlers. The Aryan worshippers referred to the river Indus as the Sindhu.

18. Chess was invented in India.

19. Algebra, Trigonometry and Calculus are studies, which originated in India.

20. The 'Place Value System' and the 'Decimal System' were developed in India in 100 B.C.

21. The world's highest cricket ground is in Chail, Himachal Pradesh. Built in 1893 after leveling a hilltop, this cricket pitch is 2444 meters above sea level.

22. The world's first university was established in Takshila in 700 BC. More than 10,500 students from all over the world studied more than 60 subjects. The University of Nalanda built in the 4th century was one of the greatest achievements of ancient India in the field of education.

23. The Art of Navigation & Navigating was born in the river Sindh over 6000 years ago. The very word Navigation is derived from the Sanskrit word 'NAVGATIH'. The word navy is also derived from the Sanskrit word 'Nou'.

24. Bhaskaracharya rightly calculated the time taken by the earth to orbit the Sun hundreds of years before the astronomer Smart. According to his calculation, the time taken by the Earth to orbit the Sun was 365.258756484 days.

25. The value of "pi" was first calculated by the Indian Mathematician Budhayana, and he explained the concept of what is known as the Pythagorean Theorem. He discovered this in the 6th century, long before the European mathematicians.

26. Until 1896, India was the only source of diamonds in the world.

27. Usage of anaesthesia was well known in ancient Indian medicine. Detailed knowledge of anatomy, embryology, digestion, metabolism,physiology, etiology, genetics and immunity is also found in many ancient Indian texts.

28. India exports software to 90 countries.

29. The four religions born in India - Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism, are followed by 25% of the world's population.

30. Jainism and Buddhism were founded in India in 600 B.C. and 500 B.C. respectively.

31. The oldest European church and synagogue in India are in the city of Cochin. They were built in 1503 and 1568 respectively.

32. India provides safety for more than 300,000 refugees originally from Sri Lanka, Tibet, Bhutan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, who escaped to flee religious and political persecution.

33. His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, the exiled spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists, runs his government in exile from Dharmashala in northern India.

34. India is about 1/3 the size of the United States, yet it is the second most populous country in the world, with a population of 1,166,079,217. India is the seventh largest country in the world, at 1.27 million square miles.

35. The earliest cotton in the world was spun and woven in India. Roman emperors would wear delicate cotton from India that they would call “woven winds.”

36. The Himalayas—from the Sanskrit hima, meaning “snow,” and alaya, meaning “abode”—are found in the north of India. They extend 1,500 miles and are slowly growing taller, by almost an inch (2.5 cm) a year.

37. Most historians agree that the first recorded account of plastic surgery is found in ancient Indian Sanskrit texts.

38. Hindi and English are the official languages of India. The government also recognizes 17 other languages (Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Nepali, Manipuri, Konkani, Kannada, Kashmiri, Malayalam, Marathi, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu). Apart from these languages, about 1,652 dialects are spoken in the country.

39. All of India is under one time zone.

40. Arabic numericals are in fact Indian numericals.

Bending gender, ending gender- equality for transgender people at workplace!!

“According to a report from the ‘National Transgender Discrimination Survey’ conducted by National Gay & Lesbian Task Force and National Centre for Transgender Equality, transgender are facing double the rate of unemployment of the general population. The survey also indicated that majority of them are experiencing a serious discrimination and are unable to sustain themselves.”

The global scenarios in work place and work environ is changing. While there has been loads of awareness in the rights of Transgender and the like, little has been changed when it comes to their presence and scope on work front.

Although attitudes towards trans people have become more accepting and embracing but they still face prejudice at work place. The stigma associated with being seen with a transgender or with the fact that you are socializing with a transgender is immense. The major problem is rooted in the mind. The work places need to grow beyond the miniscule issues of gossip and “what society says” mindset. Also, the sneers and the jeering comments that automatically filter out of most mouths when dealing with a transgender need to be checked.

Most of the private sector companies (including some Fortune 100 Companies) are working towards full acceptance and inclusion and have started to cover gender identity in their non discrimination policies.

Why your company should choose to be transgender inclusive? Some of the basic reasons are-

• To hire and retain top talent
• To position the company as diverse
• To be aligned and compliant with laws and policies
• To enhance cultural competence


“Knowledge is power that can shatter myths and help lift the veil of ignorance.”


The root cause of this problem lies in the mindset and could take time to wipe off. However, it could get erased if genuine efforts are made.

Some of the “recommended policies and practices to foster a more transgender inclusive workplace” are as follows-

• Gender Identity needs to be included in non discrimination and non-harassment policies. Company Policies should be amended to stop ill-treatment towards trans-identified individuals in the workplace.

• Appoint a person who can take care of transgender related issues. It can be in-house or an external employee that has knowledge and training and who can address these concerns.

• While caste-based discrimination are being tackled via reservations and campaigns, the issue of transgender can be handled by raising awareness and creating quotas.

• Remove discriminatory health insurance exclusions.

• Create awareness and provide counselling to other employees by publishing text and video materials on Transgender Equality.

• Address such gender issues in the workplace effectively, and take measures to improve trust and teamwork and to dissipate fear and misunderstanding.

Transgender inclusion creates a respectful and professional work environment. It helps organisation to maximise teamwork and productivity and become a successful and diversity leader in its industry!

ESCAPE TO CHANDIGARH- Better than the Rest!

Chandigarh is one of my favourite cities. It is the most well-planned and organised city in India. During my recent visit to the place, I tried to find out why this city is so different from rest of the states of our country. I spoke to some locals there and researched about its history and found out some interesting facts!

The name ‘Chandigarh’ is derived from an ancient temple called ‘Chandi Mandir’ which was devoted to the Hindu Goddess Chandi and is situated in Panchkula. In 1966, Haryana was carved out from eastern portion of Punjab, since the city of Chandigarh was on the border; it was created into a Union Territory to serve as a capital for both the states.

The city was primarily designed by French Architect Le Corbusier.

One of the structures built by the legendary architect is ‘Open Hand Monument which is located in Sector 1, Capitol Complex. This motif is a sign of peace and represents give and take of ideas and the message that the city gladly receives all without any distinction.

Chandigarh is a destination which can entertain you to the core! It has ample tourist attractions like lakes, parks and gardens, museums, shopping markets, historical places etc.


Some of the must-visit places here are:


Sukhna Lake: I love to take an early morning or an evening stroll here! This place is very quiet and peaceful. Interestingly, unlike other lakes and scenic spots in other states, I could not spot vendors here, which probably explains the absence of litter and remarkable cleanliness of this place. Bird-watching and Boating are two things you can enjoy here!

Rock Garden: The Rock Garden is situated near Sukhna Lake. In 1957, Nek Chand who has a government official was the founder of this place. He started building the garden secretly in his spare time. When you will enter this place, I bet you will be awestruck by the creativity and innovation. Each of the artwork displayed here is made by using industrial and urban waste/scraps. This place is a must visit!

Leisure Valley: If you love gardens and greenery, this place is ideal for you.
I love the place as it’s a great place to be away from the city humdrum and relax. It comprises of several gardens running throughout the city. The famous Rose Garden of Chandigarh is the largest garden of Asia. Other popular gardens of the city are Garden of Tranquillity, Garden of Rare Plants, Garden of Annuals, Bougainvillea Garden, Botanical Garden and Garden of Aromatic Plants.

Sector 17: Sector 17 is truly a shopper’s paradise! This market reminds me of ‘Connaught Place’ in Delhi. This place is generally crowded and is known for its restaurants and shops. You can shop for branded lifestyle products or traditional handicrafts. Also, this place is famous for its nightlife!


Other tourist attractions here are:

• Parks and Gardens: Rajendra Park, Rock garden, Hibiscus garden, Zakir rose Garden, Smriti Upavan, Terraced Garden, Topiary Garden, Shanti Kunj etc.

• Historical Place : Capitol Complex.

• Museums : Government Museum and Art Gallery, International Dolls Museum, Museum of Evolution of Life.

• Forests : Kansal and Nepli.

TRAVEL FACTS:


Best Time to Visit- October to March

Major Festivals- Baisakhi, Lohri, Holla Mohalla, Gurupurab, Tika, Teeyan, Karwa Chauth, Dusshera, Diwali, Raksha Bandhan

WE OFTEN TALK ABOUT RACISM IN THE WESTERN COUNTRIES- ARE WE LESS RACISTS?

“Racism is something you learn, not something you are born with”.

As the above saying goes, racism is a universal staple of the human psyche. The existence of this universal phenomenon prevails in almost all parts of the world. Is India an exception? No, it is sad but inescapable truth and a fact which is not very well accepted.

Ironically, Indian society cry foul and believe that they are the victims of the race-based discrimination and oppression by the people of the western countries. However, the prevalence of racist actions, practices and prejudices in Indian society is overlooked.

Even the most cursory look at any daily newspaper can depict our racist attitude. Let’s retrospect the matrimonial column of the newspaper; our prejudices towards caste and obsession with fair-skin can be easily observed. Off late, the front page and headlines are filled with news stories of violence against indigenous minorities from India’s North-East. They have to face jibes and repressing statements in their own country.

The recent murder case of Nido Taniam is an example of such racial assaults. Nido Taniam, was a 19 year student from Arunachal Pradesh. He was mercilessly beaten up by shopkeepers in the South Delhi suburb of Lajpat Nagar when he protested by breaking the glass of the shop as he was racially taunted by them. He just went to the shop for asking a nearby address and was ridiculed for his ‘Chinki’ looks and ‘Korean’ hairstyle. He succumbed to his injuries the day after. Just days after this brutal racist assault, two Manipuri youth were allegedly attacked and abused by few drunken bikers.

Such incidences have brought the issue of racism in the spotlight. But these issues are not raised and talked about as Indians don’t acknowledge their racist attitude and beliefs. They should realise that other countries are atleast taking steps to stop such race-based oppression. However, they are unable to counter the issue of racial discrimination mainly because of their indifference and ignorance towards it.


Nelson Mandela said- “No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite”.


It’s time to change the mindsets of people in our society. Steps should be undertaken and laws should be made to curb the division of people with US and THEM.

“Road Trips aren’t measured by Mile Markers, But by Moments!”

When we reached to Amritsar by our car, at first sight, it seemed like an oversized version of Delhi’s Chandni Chowk to me.

The roads were narrow and crowded. The pavements are taken up by street vendors; the streets are full with rickshaws, cows, cars and people! We headed towards our hotel, Hyatt (Ista) Amritsar which was nestled in the heart of the city, just 10 minutes away from the Golden Temple.

Amritsar is the capital of Punjab. ‘Punjab’ literally means the land of 5 rivers- the Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Sutlej, and Beas. And, the word ‘Amritsar’ is derived from the name ‘Amrit Sarovar’, which means the pool of the holy nectar surrounding the Harmandir Sahib, popular as the Golden Temple. Golden Temple is also called so because the entire upper half of the temple is inlaid with copper covered over by gold plate (over 200 lbs of gold was used).

On the first day of our trip, we visited the holy ‘Golden Temple’ which is the main centre for the Sikh religion. We took a rickshaw from the parking gate as the lane leading to the entrance was very narrow. We were aware of the fact that visitors need to cover their head, so we were carrying our own scarves. On arrival, we submitted our shoes and socks and entered the temple grounds. The marble pavement was very hot against my bare feet. As I walked in, I was amazed by the beautiful mix of colors in the complex. I came across a community kitchen at the temple called Guru-ka-Langar, it was indeed the world’s largest eatery! .

On our way back, we went to Jallianwala Bagh, a memorial park that commemorates the British military's use of gunfire against peaceful protesters in 1919. Jallianwala Bagh stands as the witness of one the most tragic incidents of the Indian history. If you come to Amritsar, this place is a must visit.

On the next day of our trip, we went to visit the Wagah Border to see the flag raising and lowering ceremony. The ceremony was done with great pomp and show. The tall soldiers in massive turbans were high-stepping and slamming gates. The entire event created a patriotic fervour amongst us.

It started raining very heavily the next day, but we left for Delhi by our car on time. Our short road trip came to an end with some beautiful unforgettable memories!

Quick Facts:

Best Time to Visit: October - March

Shopping: Punjabi Jutis, Phulkari (traditional embroidery), lacquered woodwork, Warian etc.

Sight-Seeing: Akal Takth, Ram Tirth etc.

Places to eat: Bharavan the Dhaba, Kanha Sweets, Kesar da Dhaba etc.