3D printing is growing by leaps and bounds as a technique used by many industries across the globe. Day by day, the usage of this technology is increasing, and the array of applications is widening. Right from manufacturing and medical industry, 3D printing technology is used in space, food, and even commercial sector involving various products.

Very lately, fashion designers have experimenting by creating 3D printed clothes and shoes of various shapes and uses. Prototyping in various industries already used 3D or additive manufacturing was already used, but now it is becoming popular for the mainstream processes as well.

Very recently, I heard an Indian student group got their 3D-printed satellite sent into the space by NASA–it seems, if you can envision it, you can 3D-print it. There is virtually no limit to the sector for which this technology could not be implemented.

One another application area that I find particularly attractive is cultural heritage—this technology is used for preservation and restoration of monuments, museums, and historical sites etc.

A lot of youngsters have their own personal 3D printers so that they could experiment for school and college projects. If you search for the most affordable 3D printer on Google, you will see ecommerce sites listing quite a number of such printers available for affordable prices. You will find even guides telling you how to pick up the best suitable 3D printer. This is all made possible just because of the vast utilization and prospective application of 3D printing technology.

As the application and utilization of 3D printing technology increases, I am sure the use of 3D printers will increase from industrial to commercial and then to domestic usage, where just like the normal paper printers, you will start seeing 3D printers in the rooms where there is a computer.

3 D printing is an advanced technology also popularly known as additive manufacturing. In this process, three dimensional solid objects are evolved from a digital file. Employing additive processes. In other words the object is created by laying down the given material in successive layers until the object is created in full. These layers when separated will look like the thin layer of horizontal cross-section of the object. There are other gadgets too that evolved along with printers that include 3D scanners and 3D printing pens, etc.

How 3D printers work

The process of 3D printing begins when you create the virtual design of the object you will make. The kind of design that will be useful for this purpose is like a CAD (computer aided design) file. You can create this CAD file with the help of a 3D modeling application or using a 3D scanner in order to copy an object that already exists. For instance, a 3D scanner can create a 3D digital copy of a given object.

How 3D scanners work

3D scanners deploy a variety of technologies to create a 3D model. Some of the technologies we can think of in these lines are modulated or structured light, volumetric scanning and time-of-flight. During the recent years, Microsoft and Google have manufactured hardware to do 3D scanning. For instance, the Kinect is Microsoft’s offering meant for this purpose. In future, we can easily digitalize real objects into 3D models.

About 3D modeling software

3D modeling software is available in several forms. You can get access to both industrial grade software that is available for a heavy price as well as many open source software like Blender for example. Before 3D printing an object, it has to be made as a 3D model also known as slicing. In this process, the given 3D model is sliced into hundreds and thousands of horizontal layers with the help of software. Once the 3D model is sliced, you can feed it into 3D printer. The 3D printer in turn reads every single slice of the 2D image and creates a three dimensional object.

3D printers

Venturing into 3D printing has to be approached based on your goals. In the first place, you must decide whether you look forward to the hardware or want to focus on creating 3D objects. You can either go for a 3D printer or a 3D printer kit. Cheap 3D printers can provide a smart starting point. There are seven types of 3D printing technologies.

Desktop 3D printers can support the 3D printing technologies like FFF or FDM and SLA. The former technology uses strings of plastic filaments as the printing material while SLA 3D printers make use of liquid resin. Though both these 3D printing technologies are almost the same, everyone cannot make use of the term FDM since it is trademarked by Stratasys.

SLA can otherwise be known as Stereolithography. Notably, this is the first ever 3D printing technique. SLA 3D printers can assure high resolution output. These printers are very popular among those who wish to print scale models and with minute details and can also be used for jewelry designers.

India is a country of youngsters who are looking to explore entrepreneurship more than getting jobs—almost every premium B-school has a full-flourished entrepreneurship cell where incubation and mentorship are provided. With some startups ripening up to the exit-stage too, the scenario is getting abuzz with questions and queries about the issues and problems faced by many entrepreneurs. Unfortunately, not every startup is successful in India—the main thing, as the experts have found out, is the mentorship that entrepreneurs lack, along with the wrong focus that they have on solely making money.

To cater to these needs, a webinar is being organized to quell the doubts of young minds and early-entrepreneurs who are not sure how to market their ideas and create a buzz around it.

About the webinar

Get the inside scoop from experts—yes, this is what the gist of the business webinar especially designed for startups and entrepreneurs who want to learn first-hand from the people who have done it. People like Kaeya Majmundar, who have pitched themselves on the prestigious show ‘Shark Tank,’ and gotten deals, will talk to on various issues concerning the entrepreneurial journey that every new startup has to undergo.

The best part is that the timing is most suitable for Indian entrepreneurs. The webinar will be attended more than 100 entrepreneurs from India alone. These attendees will be able to ask specific questions and get real-time advice from the experts.

The webinar is free of cost; can be accessed from any mobile or any other device connected to internet. Only a few such events happen for entrepreneurs in India particular free of cost and focusing on the most important part of any business strategy—sales.

Who will do it?

Viral marketing expert Kaeya Majmundar, who herself has pitched on the 5th season of ABC’s show ‘Shark Tank’ and secured a deal, would lead the webinar. She is Forbes’ “Most Promising Women Entrepreneurs;” a TEDx Speaker, and SXSW Startup Village Expert. She would be taking the Q&A session with the attendee entrepreneurs.

About her own entrepreneurial instinct, she said: “I wouldn’t be surprised if I came out of my mother’s womb trying to sell something! My first “startup” was at the ripe age of 7 when I decided I was going to offer a diamond cleaning service to my family members. I would collect all their diamond rings, take them to my bathroom, and clean them with toothpaste and my mother’s toothbrush. In return, they could either pay me in cash or a trip to the ice cream store after dinner…I preferred the latter.”

What you can expect

The main focus of the webinar would be creating the “Shark Tank Effect” for inventions in the first 90 days. You can expect to get answers on the following topics:

• How to make an invention profitable in the first 90 Days?
• How to create media feeding frenzies?
• How to ignite sales explosions?
• No-budget marketing tricks for lean invention launches?
• Growth hacking from ground zero?
• Getting your invention on SHARK TANK?

For more details, check these links:

http://askinventionstartupexpertkm.pagedemo.co/

http://www.fox8live.com/story/35928022/8-successful-shark-tank-entrepreneurs-to-give-free-expert-startup-advice-online#.WXDvzZpxeps.twitter

If you have ever wondered that the escalating cost of web hosting and the unreliability of the free hosting services have mercilessly put down your goal of having a website, here is the good news. iPage is offering the cheapest hosting services at not more than $1.99 per month. When that can certainly thrill you and let you see some light at the end of the tunnel, there is lot more to the good news. The most exciting features of the hosting services offered by iPage are really compelling to any site owner. Apart from highlights listed below, you should read some other iPage hosting reviews to make an informed choice.

Highlights of iPage Hosting Services

• iPage hosting is very fast and crisp. The single package offers you everything you might expect in a hosting service. This makes it the cheapest hosting plan you can find today. The deal is applicable both on one year and three year plans.
• At present iPage has a solid customer base of 1 million subscribed members with the number rapidly growing.
• The platform offers a great customer support enabled via phone, email and live chat.
• The hosting service comes with amazing security options combined with SiteLock security. This program can offer periodical scans, removal of malicious stuff, deployment of a firewall to prevent security threats, daily backs ups and the ability to roll back to the previous version once you spot something wrong.
• In line with the leading hosting platforms, iPage can connect well with Google Apps, PayPal and others which is a great feature for ecommerce websites.
• While many hosting services allure the visitors with low price or free hosting options but will reveal their hidden charges gradually, iPage works with an upfront and transparent plan letting the clients benefit the most from this service. Since most good things of a web hosting service come in a small package, iPage is worth considering amidst the prevailing scenario today.

Human emotions and feelings are part of daily life. A life, or a person, without these emotions or feelings will be considered inanimate or not up to the ideal of the human birth.

Every story, a film, poetry, art forms try to depict these human feelings and emotions through myriad ways and depiction.

In this post, we are presenting the Hindi names of common human emotions and feelings. If you would like to know the Hindi name of any other feeling or emotion, you can ask us though the comment section.

It is very complex, they say, to understand human emotions and feelings completely. How they stem out of our psyche and how they model our personality, are few questions that psychologists and thinkers of the world have ruminated upon for several millennia.

These emotions and feelings are indispensable–you will encounter them in your daily life right from the time you get up from your bed till you fall asleep.

In this post, we will be providing the Punjabi names of human emotions and feelings from English. If you would like to know the Punjabi name of any other feeling or emotion, you can ask us through the comment section.

The gaming zone of today brings together people of all ages for an involved and sophisticated entertainment. The plethora of games you can find under any category makes it easy for people to get something for every taste and expectation. The sophisticated technology underlying games does not mean gaming cannot be affordable. With a stiff competition around in the gaming zone, a lot of companies both old and new are coming out with revolutionary kind of gaming gadgets at unbelievable prices. Therefore gaming on a budget is never an infeasible dream. At the same time, cheap prices of these devices do not mean you have to compromise on the quality or performance. Here we have compiled together a few top selling but affordable gaming appliances.

Budget gaming PCs

Ironwing Neutron Gaming PC

Sold at around £369.95, Ironwing Neutron works on Intel Pentium Dual Core G4400 3.3GHz Processor. The top features include 8GB of 1600MHz DDR3 Memory and 1TB SATA3 6Gbps Hard Drive. The maker of the device has installed Microsoft Windows 10 Home 64 Bit. The product comes with 3-year warranty. You get BullGuard Internet Security free of cost with the appliance. Users have given a highly positive review about this versatile gaming PC that supports most leading games. If you are looking for affordable entertainment combining quality, then this can be your best pick.

Custom Ironwing (AM3+ Based) Gaming PC

If you are prepared to spend around £419.95, Custom Ironwing can provide you with several amazing ways to get your gaming PC perfectly custom built for your specific requirements. You can conveniently choose from the latest socket AM3+ AMD Processors that are known for their top performance in the industry today. You can take the complete advantage of the most powerful PC configurator with an overwhelming number of options. You can also choose the cases conveniently. The components have worry-free compatibility, which is a highly encouraging factor for the users. The gaming PC comes with 3-year product warranty and you get BullGuard Internet Security free of cost upon purchase. Providing the best options to get the product customized for your needs, the makers have taken the gaming experience a step higher for the users.

For more such PCs, read this article:
https://www.yourbestpicks.com/best-gaming-laptops-under-500-dollars/

Budget gaming Consoles

Nintendo Switch Gaming Console

Sold at around $355.25 by top stores online and offline, Nintendo Switch is a new release and the latest video game console from Nintendo, the gaming giant. The entire gaming console is no more than a 6.2 inches tablet and therefore very compact for a great gaming experience. We can call this console a sure step forward in the gaming industry due to its various stunning features. The product comes with small controllers called Joy-Cons, which can be attached to the sides of the screen. Alternatively, you can also slide off the controllers to support multiplayer games like 1-2 Switch. Users find this console a great tool to play the two handed motion controlled games like the ‘Arms’. The Joy-Cons can also be attached to controller grip accessory coming with the switch to have a traditional controller like experience. With its ability to support some of the leading games in the market today, this is a popular gaming console coming at a highly affordable price.

Nintendo 3DS XL Gaming Console

Most people are growing tired of seeing gaming as a couch-based activity that robs of all the physical activities altogether encouraging a sedentary life. The one big advantage of the handheld consoles is that they let you play from wherever you are even without a consistent internet connection. These small and lesser expensive consoles make gaming a pleasurable and convenient experience. Sold at $344.94, Nintendo 3DS XL is a top selling gaming console meant for the whole family. The users can escape the world of unique games with the console appealing to adults and children alike. The gadget comes with an updated hardware and enhanced 3D technology to support a wide range of new games. The several advantages of this handheld gaming system include large screens and multiple design plates to accommodate the user’s choice.

For more such gaming consoles, check this: http://www.toptenreviews.com/electronics/gaming/best-video-game-consoles/

Final word

Technology is fast evolving. With the proliferation of gadgets under every category, you also find their prices slashing down with the increasing competition. With a keen search, you can discover some amazing gaming tools at the industry’s best prices enabling a budget gaming experience.

Purchasing from an ecommerce website is never an easy affair—you have to search for a product, check the deals and discount coupons available, make sure the product will be delivered to your address, and also to make sure that the personal details are secure including your payment etc. In India, there are only a few players that are popular among the masses. Amazon, FlipKart, SnapDeal, Jabong, and Myntra are a few that people buy from without much worries about security issues etc.

What drives sales for any ecommerce website is the trust factor and of course the popularity. Return and replacement policy is another major factor that drives customer confidence. PayTM is a good example when it comes to garnering the confidence and then launching the ecommerce business in the market. Their user acquisition was phenomenal because of the mobile wallet that they introduced in the market, but they capitalized on it nicely by launching huge discounts and deals for various products.

Likewise, there are many players, who though are not funded by big conglomerates but they are making good strides in the market making sure they deliver on the promises and get customer support and faith.

In the fashion industry, Kraftly.com is one such player. They have a cool website, featured products and various categories that cater to the daily needs of users. They have more than 600,000 products on offer that users can choose from. Like any other big ecommerce portal, they let small sellers from various cities of India come on board and offer their products to the users.

I am sure as they keep growing their product and user base, they will keep growing as a major ecommerce hub in India and a good option for customers who want to try other websites apart from the traditional ones.

What intrigues me in any instrumental music CD is the names of the songs that a composer or an artist chooses. What drives them to give words to the music or the feel behind a particular piece or a tune–what sensibility or tinge they feel when they listen to what they have created? Or is it the name of a song that gives birth to a particular tune or rhythm? Well, the magic lies in keep wondering and not decoding this creative process because then you can enjoy the infinite possibilities that a human mind can throw open.

This is what I felt when I heard this album. “Nine Lives,” “Seven Veils,” “Breathing Room,” “Open Door,” “Waves,” and “The Long View”–all of these names have a poetic resound, and the musical content they carry is a liquid joy.

Album Name: In The Company Of Clouds

Artist Name: Erik Scott

Total Time: 40:10

Admittedly, this was the first album that had such beautifully intricate ambient sounds. The subtlety is obvious! There is a definite message that every song carries and you can just float with it.

Remember the scene from movie King Kong when Ann admiring the breathtaking sunrise tells Kong that it is beautiful by placing her hand on her heart, or from spider-monkey scene from Twilight where Edward takes Bella atop a tree and they enjoy the placid view and you feel like it should never end? Well, this music has the power to carry you to those moments of solitudinous bliss.

My favorite track from this album is “Seven Veils”.

I remember I was attending a Sanskrit mantra retreat in a beautiful ashram in Rishikesh, India, when someone asked this question: “Why the third ‘Shanti’ of the mantra ‘Shanti Shanti Shanti’ ends on a higher note than the others?”

Well, I didn’t know the answer!

Hear this audio and at the end of the mantra, you will notice the question:

Being from India and hearing this mantra recited time and again, I was already exposed and accustomed to the way this mantra is recited or chanted; however, I never stopped to think why there is a difference in chanting of the same words within the same mantra.

I didn’t make a conscious effort either to find out the reason till I stumbled upon a ‘sonic realization’. Well, I call is so because the reason came to me when I was reciting this mantra by reading it in a book.

Well, if you are aware of the Sanskrit mantras from Vedas chanted according to some tradition or method, you must notice that there is a lot of intonation given to every vowel and every line. Generally speaking, a vowel can be recited in four different notes.

• The general note is of course which is your normal pitch.
• The underlined note is one lower than your pitch. (अनुदात्त, grave)
• If a letter has one vertical bar over it, it is recited one note higher than the pitch. (उदात्त, acute)
• If a letter has two vertical bars, it is recited one note higher for an elongated time.  (स्वरित, circumflex)

In the above picture of the Shanti mantra, you will notice that the first Shanti words end with the grave sign of the letter, while the third time it ends with the acute sign.

This is the reason why you hear a higher note for the third Shanti in this mantra.

I am sure there could be a better explanation or deeper meanings behind this, but at the surface, this is what looks the reason behind this practice, which became popular among the masses. Now, if you come across this mantra or hear it being recited in the similar fashion, you will know the reason–there are Anudātta and Udātta characteristics of the vowels in play.

Please share any feedback or observation through the comment section. I would love to have more discussion about this.

This is a very confusing question because the whole internet is filled with different spellings of this word Om, and amusingly enough, all the spellings appear correct and pointing to the same thing. Yet, a popular search phrase on Google suggests that users are confused about the veracity of a particular spelling because they want to be consistent in the usage of that very spelling.

On Google, a lot of users search for this phrase: ‘Is it Om or Aum’

Well, in this article, or a discussion, as I would like to call it, we will ponder upon this question. I have an additional spelling ‘Oṁ’, which is also used if you are exposed to the IAST system of writing Sanskrit in roman transliteration. A lot of users from foreign countries prefer reading in IAST system because they are not yet equipped to read Devanāgari.

I must confess in the beginning itself that I am not the authority on this subject–this discussion is based on my personal understanding. I will point out wherever I feel we could use more help by someone knowledgeable in this subject.

Okay, so here are my observations:

To understand the spellings, we need to understand the structure of this word, which is often represented by this symbol: ॐ

We refer to Nārāyaṇopaniṣat (नारायणोपनिषत्), to know the authentic structure of this sound. The Upanishad says:

अकार उकार मकार इति।

The sound of ॐ consists the sounds of ‘A’, ‘U’, and ‘M’.

So, it becomes: A+U+M

Apparently, if you write it as AUM, it looks good.

However, if you refer to the Devanāgari script and read the spelling of this sound instead of its symbolic form, you will notice that it is written as either as ‘ओम्’ or ‘ओं’, the latter is due to the rules of Sandhi (Rules of joining in Sanskrit).

Here, I must point out that I don’t know why it is half ‘M‘ and not full ‘M‘.

So, if you are using, reading, writing the IAST system, you will be writing it like ‘Om’ or ‘Oṁ’.

Why ‘O’?

If you know IAST system, you must have come across the sound of ‘O’, which constitutes the sounds of ‘A’ and ‘U’.

A+U=O

The problem appears when users start learning the reverse system–they begin to recognize the Devanāgari script and start practicing. So, when they reverse-translate Aum, they end up writing it like this: औम्, which is, of course, wrong, because it has a combination of sounds: A+A+U.

So, though any spelling would do if you know the sound of this symbol, yet it would be safe to write it as ‘Om’ instead of ‘Aum’ because later on it could become confusing and end up making you commit errors. It would also be consistent according to the IAST system.

We humans, inherently, have a tendency to choose; or as they say, have the ‘choice to choose,’ which in fact places us above the gods–they can’t sin, as spiritual doctrines declare. When it comes to sports, we tend to look for superlative. In performance, in records, in attitude, and in almost every subtle gesture that the athletes make. The longevity of their career, defiance to setbacks, negating the injuries, and performing at the highest level raising their game every time they compete. Every sport has multiple players who achieve success and add value to the overall experience, but unfortunately, almost every enthusiast has a favorite. There are minute and often clandestine feelings that make a sports-lover to choose to pick his/her favorite athlete in any game.

The debate of choosing the best often involves arguments and counter-arguments in the favor of different players. All arguments carry a different level of weight for different people, and rationally speaking, they all look just fine. The best thing about such a debate, if it happens passionately in any particular sport, is that it is indicative of fierce competition and continuous growth in the popularity of the game.

This is what happened with tennis. It was considered a very sophisticated and classic game, which involved gentlemanly behavior (sometimes this norm was violated by individual players) and soft gestures. The players came and went, but the world was not debating about them until the trio happened–the golden age of tennis dawned when Roger Federer arrived on the scene. Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic quickly followed, and together they took the level of competition, excitement, and commitment to altogether new heights, untouched till then.

Roger Federer was perfection personified–he had everything that a tennis player could think of. If you closely see his game, there are no flaws. He looks so complete. The best thing is that he fulfilled his potential by becoming the best player in the world, shattering records after records.

Rafael Nadal was a gust of freshness bringing the spirit of competitiveness as his main weapon. His mastery over clay alone could, arguably, make him the best player in the world because every great player male or female (may be Steffi Graf being a slight exception) was troubled by the Parisian sand. Yet, he excelled on all surfaces like none other and won every single possible tournament. His athleticism, his commitment to every point, and never-say-die attitude are beacons of inspiration for generations to come. Not to ignore his humbleness!

Novak Djokovic seemed invincible–once he fixed his diet and fitness, it seems he was infallible. The only player to hold all Grand Slams at one point in the Open Era and earning the highest prize-money. He has a positive win-loss record over every player. Not to ignore his joker-like antics and impersonations, and appreciation of rivals within a match when they score a point over him.

Frankly, for a genuine tennis fan, it is difficult to declare who is the GOAT–Greatest of All Times. All these three players are serious contenders for the titles but they have trumped each other on numerous occasions and on various fronts. No single argument could stand-out as a champion.

Number of weeks on the top of the rankings, count of titles won, amount of prize-money accumulated could be statistical figures only–they can’t be used as the deciding metric of greatest on the stand-alone basis.

The magic lies in the fact that these champions happened to tennis and took the game to newer heights. They set benchmarks and entertained the viewers more than they expected. It is not about who is the best, but about how they brought out the best of tennis with their craft.

Personally, I don’t care who is the goat, the sheep or the lamb (in no particular order)!

At the beginning of the Indian summer, sitting in my unlit chamber without any electric fan revolving overhead, singing Raga-less but elaborate variations of vocal notes, I feel a feeble presence of your being.

It feels like an amateur swimmer floating in water–I can notice your form on the other side of the pool as I struggle to keep my face above the surface.

The heat of my troubles reminds me of the warmth of your proximity.

I feel the closest to you in the darkest hours of my life.

I have tried my best to thank you during moments of joy, but I know I involuntarily succumb to your refuge whenever you bless me with tough times.

What can I say, my Lord! I breathe in your presence though I am continuously engaged in your search.

Burn, my soul, burn.

Burn more in agony; feel more puzzled and confused.

Do not pick every fleeting thought as the thread-end of your next poem.

Despair not to break into a new song of pining and utter grief.

Do not meditate sincerely on the formless, and travel not far in your reverie to the unreachable expanse of the universe.

Come back and feel yourself.

Come back and spot your own presence so akin to yourself that the concept of distance and speed lay in waste ruin.

Feel yourself, for your presence, is His presence.

There’s no age for learning. Learning comes from the heart though experience may require bracing more summers and winters.

They say I am too old to learn anything, but I say I am old enough to know that I need to learn.

The mind is ageless and so is its commitment.

If you yearn to learn—lear and put aside the concern of looking like a nincompoop.

Grow the curiosity of a child and you are all set.

Just remember that it’s not childish to be childlike.

My pain was really bad, as it is with everybody.

It tested me to the hilt, and was perpetual.

My belief that it enables me to question God kept me going, though.

Upon comparison, however, I realized that my pain was not the biggest, and I had more at my disposal than a lot many.

I observed that I was given more than I deserved, and apart from my skills and expertise that might justify some part of the abundance I enjoyed, it was my pain that made me worthy of that divine tete-a-tete.

Ultimately, I realized that pain was my only qualification to complain to God; otherwise, I was overpaid.

Amidst the morning-hour-Ring-Road-rush of New Delhi, where you get your ironed shirt smudged with sweat, dirt, and a wide variety of perfumes and deodorants while jostling with the co-passenger of a minibus, you come to realize that your higher education hasn’t given you any comfort.

Unlike the race you ran in your school, which looked fare and fun, this race to earn hefty salaries and drive exotic cars, has no winners. Nobody is running; every vehicle has to crawl: be it a hatchback, a sedan, or an SUV.

Whoever takes part in this bumper-to-bumper driving rally of smoke-huffing machinery is perpetually late.

If you have enjoyed the arrival of rains with delicious mangoes, apricot, and black plum; took a splash in the pond of your village, you will realize that no packaged juice can give you the same taste.

If you have sat across makeshift bonfires during some bone-chilling and teeth-chattering nights; sang popular songs with muffled voices, covering yourself with handloom blankets and woolen caps woven by your mother, you will realize that room-heaters and air-conditioning are not as cozy as they promise.

The concept of development is warped at its core, and robs you of simple joys of life, serving you drudgery wrapped in colored cellophane of modern systems and innovative gadgetry.

I don’t hate it, but I have the choice of not liking it.

I like to be folksy, homespun, and dream about a life that is not racing to nowhere.

Time is a medicine. Along with ointment, bandage, and medical care, it takes time to heal the wound.

Time is a child’s eraser. As it passes over memories, it fades them into oblivion.

Time is a hard taskmaster. It takes hundreds of hours for the musician to perfect a single note.

In the eyes of the beloved, a promise of a lifetime is made in a split-second; but even a second of reparation of bad Karma is enough to make us curse the eternity.

Time is the biggest requirement. During an emergency, people are willing to spend everything to buy more time.

Time is the utmost luxury—the affluent ones have everything yet complain: “We don’t have time.” Yet, children playing in dirt and mud shout and scream: “We are having a great time!”

Time is multi-colored like a rainbow. It’s not only ‘good’ and ‘bad’!

A land once raided and ruled by Macedonians, Iranians, Afghans, Kazakhs, Turks, Portuguese, French and the British, but was always under the supreme sovereignty of God.

A land where the military dies defending the land from external as well as internal foes, yet never ever attacked any nation.

A land where the Capital tops the list of the most polluted cities, but boasts of the best airport in its category.

A land where world’s highest peaks rest like meditating sages, while some of the deepest oceans border it like an island.

A land where hundreds of languages are spoken, yet love is the undercurrent of every sound that is made.

A land where natives find difficulty in understanding the different cultures, and foreigners find everything singularly unique.

A land where the skin color varies from whitish to wheaty and to the coastal dark, but every effort is made not to be superficial.

A land where mathematics runs in the veins of every child, yet no calculations of expenses incurred are made when hosting a guest.

A land that gave the first-ever book to the world, the concept of a university, astrology, Yoga, and the number system, yet never cared for patency.

A land that saw one of the deadliest wars in the history or the mythology that annihilated multiple generations, yet nestles one of the oldest civilizations.

A land that is an impossibility—it can’t be—yet the beauty lies in the fact that ‘it is’.

A land where every day brings a new challenge of survival, but every night is a soothing repose with a firm faith that ‘He will take care of everything’.

It’s to such a charismatic land that I call you, my friend. Welcome to India!

Out of a couple of million people commuting daily on Delhi Metro, this child had a unique seat.

Usually hustling and jostling for an empty seat, no one seemed interested in his. They, in fact, silently prayed that they never get to sit on it.

There was no curious eye-contact asking the perpetual question: “Are you getting down at the next station?”

The boy was in wheel-chair.

A rare sight indeed, considering the rush that throngs the Metro.

He seemed at peace as his father stood guard, and his mother and sister chatted casually about the approaching stations. Owing to the usual concourse of the passengers, they were unable to secure any seat for themselves. Nobody offered it to them too!

That child’s seat was red in color, as if it was his favorite toy.

His spirit was free of any limitation; his eyes shining with curious queries.

Though made to limp and trudge on feet, his heart flew with wings of a bird that he saw through the window of that accelerating Metro.