…in which I break my self-imposed rule of not mixing my professional work with this blog.  I have a very good reason.  I am very pleased and excited to now be formally involved in an extraordinary enterprise in India: Vindhya. Vindhya is extraordinary because:
…almost 95% of its staff of 200 youngsters comprises differently-abled and physically challenged youngsters

Read more about them in my post from last year…and wish us luck in our bold plans for the future.

Very hurried post but getting this out since it has been bothering me since morning. First a bit of background (emphasis added)…

The Supreme Court had in January 2006 dismissed Guru’s appeal against the death sentence after which he filed a mercy petition. A convict on death row can seek clemency from the President, who acts on the cabinet’s advice to arrive at a decision. The plea is processed by the home ministry.
Replying to a question in the Rajya Sabha on February 23, home minister P Chidambaram had said Guru’s plea had …

…or Changing India – Step V
It has been barely two weeks since I returned home from the 6-cities, 9-days trip. I am already beginning to experience withdrawal symptoms!  I got a good taste of life on adrenaline over this visit, with 25+ meetings, numerous phone calls and a hoarse throat..but I came back refreshed, recharged – and above all, more hopeful than ever before.
Most of you must have seen some of the photographs and a video on facebook (as well as YouTube). I am expecting a few more videos over …

..and why blocking of blogs is not the only thing you should be worrying about.
Most, if not all, of you must have read about the recent case against Rahul Gandhi involving a missing girl that was dismissed last week. What struck me was this last sentence from the report in The Hindu (emphasis added):
On the basis of her deposition, the court imposed a cost of Rs. 50 lakh on the petitioner and, taking suo motu cognisance of an effort to defame a high-profile person, ordered a CBI probe.
Suo-moto cognisance? I …

…or Shantanu’s Believe it or Not – Part IV.
Did you know these facts? Courtesy, a Sept ’09 report by Saba Naqvi in Outlook (“Allah’s Left The Building”):
4 lakh acres is the land Wakf properties account for. According to the deputy chairman of the Rajya Sabha, K. Rahman Khan, this makes the board the third-largest landholder after the railways and defence.
…and courtesy, an Aug ’2009 report from IBN (“Debate rages on over Catholic Church properties” by D P Satish):
The Catholic Church in India owns the largest chunk of non-agricultural …