Building with Celebrities

Many celebrities around the world are connected with Habitat and act as the organization's brand ambassador in every country that Habitat operates in. These celebrities help Habitat in increasing awareness of the global housing crisis, recruit volunteers and raise funds. This week was no exception.

Celebrity-in-Chief was none other than past US president, Jimmy Carter. Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter participate in a Habitat build each year - alternating between the US and an international destination. This is a special build for Habitat and is labeled as the Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter Work Project. The president was building house #40, which happened to be right across the street from our house (#27). Mona and I had the privilege of meeting him at the site. He chided us about the slow progress being made on our house but we countered by comparing the number of volunteers on his house versus ours!

John Abraham (popular Bollywood actor) is a spokesperson for Habitat India. He visited the site for a few hours but was unable to participate in the build due to illness. Another popular actor, Madhavan, spent a day building with us and sweated it out along with the rest of us. There were a couple of other Bollywood actors - Pooja Bedi and Jacqueline Fernandez in attendance.

Celebrities from other parts of the world were also in attendance and included Jet Li.

With all the celebrities in attendance, the media wasn't far behind and of course the president had an entourage of secret service and other staff present with him.

The Build

The build was divided into three phases. The pre-build was the phase were the land was acquired, prepped and the foundation was laid for all the homes. We did not participate in this phase. Phase 2 involved the construction of the complete structure of the house. This was the part that got done during last week by us. The final phase would involve patch up work, installation of electricals and final plumbing work, which is expected to take another 2-3 weeks. When we arrived at the site, the foundation was in place along with a wall that was about 8 concrete blocks high.

The Wall

For the first day and a half, we were working on building the wall. The wall was made of interlocking concrete blocks of two sizes - a full block and a half block. There were two types of blocks - a regular block and a channel block. Regular blocks were used to build the entire block and the channel blocks formed the top layer of the wall. Concrete is poured into the channel which allows a structure to be installed on top of the wall. Building of the wall involved creating a section of the wall about 7-8 blocks high by laying the blocks and leveling them both horizontally and vertically as we went along. We had plumb lines and levels to help us measure and correct as we built. Once a section was created, we had to mix concrete and pour it into the holes in the block. The concrete then hardens to form a pole that holds the blocks in place and adds strength to the wall. After a wall has been put up and the concrete poured, a cement and sand paste was used to plaster the walls from the inside and outside. This helps to weatherproof the wall and also provides a smooth finish.

The Doors & Windows

Door and window frames were pre-built and ready for installation as soon as the wall was about 20 blocks high. The edges of the walls were the frames were installed had channel blocks. This created additional space for the frames. Nails had to be hammered on the outside of the frame at an angle about 10 cms apart. After that, the frame was gently lowered into it's designated space on the wall. After the frames were in place, concrete was poured into the channel. This eventually dried up and held the frame in place.

The Roof

Building the roof involved two different processes. First - we had to install the three trusses that would form the base of the roof skeleton. These are three triangular metal structures (extremely heavy) that are bolted on top of the walls. The bolts were installed atop the channel blocks and are held in place by the hardened concrete. Once the trusses are in place, long strips of metal (I forget the technical name) are bolted on top of the trusses. The roof tiles are then bolted to these strips to finish off the roof.

Organizing and Managing the build

Bringing over two thousand volunteers and workers to Chiang Mai for a week long construction project is a complex process. Habitat did a phenomenal job of organizing this event. The event took over a year to plan and organize and you could see the results. One of the reasons that we had such a great time was that a lot of attention was given to details and the Habitat team had gone the extra mile to ensure that all of us were comfortable during our stay here.

The build site was about 30 minutes from the city. Volunteers were staying at several different hotels. Several buses departed from each hotel every few minutes depending on the number of volunteers staying at a hotel. A police escort was available for the buses to ensure that we reached the site within 30 minutes. There was an army of Thai students who were available as a support team for the volunteers. It seemed like they were everywhere and always available when you needed somebody for information or directions.

Habitat went to great lengths to ensure the comfort and safety of the volunteers. For example, they knew that everybody would be dead tired after the first day of the build. Hence, dinner was scheduled at the hotel where we were staying at so that we did not have to travel after a long day of work. For the rest of the week, they had planned different experiences for dining and entertainment. There was something for everyone during each day of our stay in Chiang Mai. Breakfast at each hotel was served beginning at 5:30am in order to accommodate our work schedules. What was amazing was that somebody went to the trouble to make sure that breakfast was served at 5:30am on Saturday as well so that volunteers who were scheduled to depart early in the morning could have their breakfast at the hotel before leaving for the airport.

During the work day, there was an unlimited supply of water, cold drinks, sodas and snacks. A massive dining tent was setup to handle 500-600 diners simultaneously. All of us were assigned a different shift for our lunch breaks. Habitat had even setup a separate tent for social networking to allow volunteers to blog, tweet or update their facebook pages with latest news and photos.

Thanks to Habitat's careful and meticulous planning of the build event, every volunteer had a safe and fun experience.

The Final Day

I really meant to post an entry at the end of each work day. But I was completely beat by the time the day ended and we invariably had some event that we had to attend in the evening. So I will be posting several entries over the next couple of days summarizing our experiences during the week.

Friday was the last day of the build and we are now on our way to Bangkok. By the end of the week, our backs were aching, fingers were hurting and legs were throbbing with pain. There are blisters on our hands and our bodies are sore. But there is one thing for sure - we will be back on another Habitat project whenever the opportunity comes up!

The past week was one of the most wonderful, fun and memorable week in our lives. It was a week during which we toiled like never before. Mona and I spent over nine hours each day moving and laying heavy cement blocks, mixing concrete and mortar, pouring cement and gravel, grouting walls, installing doors and windows, assisting with the installation of the roof, building walls etc. etc. For somebody who struggles with changing bulbs and hanging picture frames - I would say this was pretty impressive.

During the week, we met some amazing people and have made lifelong friends. On day one, we were a group of strangers from different parts of the world who traveled to Thailand with a common goal. By the last day, we were a tight group of friends who helped each other throughout the week and shared a little bit of ourselves with each other in the process. We came from different cultures and different backgrounds. We spoke in different languages (those who spoke English spoke in different accents!). But we all came together to build and help create a new beginning for a young Thai family. About twenty of us built a new house in five days. Two thousand volunteers created a community of eighty two homes. We can change the world and make a real difference. All we need is the desire and will to do so.

Project Habitat - Day One

Over 2000 volunteers started the build for the Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work project - the Mekong Build 2009 at 7am this morning. Buses left from respective hotels between 6 and 6:30am for the site escorted by the police. We arrived at the build site and met the team at house number 27. Our team included members from India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and United States. Julie - our team leader, incidentally was from Los Angeles. The partner family (the family that will be the recipient of the house) also joined us for the build along with several volunteers from Thailand. House number 27 was located across the street corner from House number 40 - the house that Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter were working on.

It was a fascinating experience! Today, the primary chore was masonry. The task was to build the walls on a foundation that was already in place and install the frames for doors and windows. We worked in intense heat. We were well taken care of in terms of supplies (caps, suntan lotion, tools, snacks, drinks etc.). At the end of the day, we were exhausted but had a sense of exhilaration when we saw the result of our labor. Our team was a bit short on volunteers and we are hoping that additional volunteers will join tomorrow.

We have made lots of new friends from around the world - folks with whom we are sharing a unique and once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Taste of Thailand

We arrived yesterday in Chiang Mai in Thailand. Mona and I are volunteering on a Habitat for Humanity build in this province of Northern Thailand. The project starts on Monday, so we have two days to explore and sight see.

Chiang Mai is the second largest city in Thailand and is another foodie heaven - especially if you are a lover of Thai food. We had a great time eating awesome authentic Thai food. Our Lonely Planet guide had some great references for places to eat at and their recommendations have rarely been a miss for us.

Chiang Mai is a temple city with several old and new temples around the city built to honor and worship Lord Buddha (nearly 80% of the population is Buddhist in Thailand). Most of our sightseeing included visiting various temples.

Commuting is cheap, fun and convenient here with options ranging from regular taxis to tuk-tuks (a larger version of the India autorickshaw) and the red mini-bus (hop-on and hop-off).

This place is a shopper's delight and the Night market in town a must-see. A much larger and better organized version of street markets in India - you can buy practically anything in the Night Market at great deals as long as you have a stomach for bargaining with the locals.

Today was the opening ceremony for the project - a truly amazing experience. Over 2000 volunteers from over 30 countries have descended in Thailand to build 82 homes along the Mekong river. The Habitat for Humanity India contingent is about 20-25 member strong. Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter were present at the ceremony, which was opened by the Governor of the region. The ceremony was held in a beautiful botanical garden and included song and dance performances by local artists. One highlight was a food fair where all attendees could try local Thai delicacies.

Tomorrow - we wake up at 4:30am and set out for the build site by 6am. Stay tuned for live updates!

A tribute to Naweed

My cousin Naweed lost his battle with cancer this week.

Naweed must have been four or five years old when I first moved to the United States in 1986. Their home was my first home in this country. Ever since that time, I have had a very special relationship with Naweed, his parents and his brother. I watched him grow up to be a smart, intelligent and sensitive young man. I was shocked when I heard that he had cancer about two years ago. The first time I met him after that was when he had just finished an intense course of chemo at UCLA. The treatment had taken it's toll on him. He had become weak, he couldn't eat and was unable to walk.

But Naweed fought back and fought back hard. Within a few months, he was on his feet, back at work, following his favorite sports teams and driving a new car. The cancer would not let go but he fought with determination and a can-do attitude. He researched his condition, explored new treatment options and debated them with his doctors. Throughout his ordeal, he maintained a positive attitude and never gave up his fight. He started writing a blog, became active in his community and became an inspiration for all.

Naweed has taught me many valuable life lessons - never look back, move forward, fight the odds and maintain a positive attitude. He never felt sorry for himself. He realized that he had been dealt a poor hand of cards but figured out a way to play with what he had.

He has lost his battle with cancer but remains a champion for me. He will live in our memories and his story will remain an inspiration for his family and friends for years to come.

Entrepreneurship is alive!

I spent a couple of days last week in Delhi attending the TiECon - the annual TiE summit for the Delhi chapter. For those who are not familiar with this organization, TiE (The Indus Entrepreneurs) is the largest organization of its kind with a mission to grow and foster entrepreneurship. It was an exciting and intellectually stimulating event. Speakers at the conference included India's home minister, Chidambaram, UK Consul General Richard Staggs, CEO of GenPact Pramod Bhasin and many others. There were nearly a thousand delegates including potential and successful entrepreneurs, investors, students and media.

It was heartening to see so many young and budding entrepreneurs with great ideas for solving real world problems, creating wealth and changing the world. There was unbounded excitement even in these tough economic times. In fact, the general theme at the conference was starting and running new ventures during difficult times. The current global crisis has not dampened the enthusiasm of these young business professionals in this part of the world. On the contrary, it is giving birth to smarter startups that will learn resilience and tenacity and some may grow up to be the next HP or Google.

Another exciting trend was the growth in social entrepreunership. There seems to be a complete eco-system that is coming up to fuel the rise of companies that will solve the problems of the poor and underprivileged around the world. Solutions include innovative and low-cost lighting, clothing and healthcare for those who cannot afford access.

Very energizing two days and I am looking forward to the next summit!

King of Pop

"The ghost of Michael Jackson is here", informed Pushpa, our housekeeper in Bangalore. Michael Jackson had died while we were in Los Angeles. Mona and I belong to the generation that grew up on Thriller and Bad. We experienced the media frenzy following his death. But we never fully understood his global reach and appeal until we were back in India.

Our housekeeper seemed to know every detail about Michael Jackson's life. The Kannada TV channels broadcast every detail about Michael's life, his music, the Neverland ranch, his kids etc. and everybody was watching it with fascination. The employee newsletter at my company featured the King of Pop on the cover. Music stores are featuring his old and newly released albums (which are flying off the shelves). News items about the "ghost" of the king of pop appearing on TV did not go unnoticed in India.

Pop culture knows no boundaries and unites us all from Hollywood to Bangalore!

A proud moment

Aanish completed his IGCSE (Grade 10) exams in June before we left for Hong Kong and Los Angeles. The results were expected in early August. The Grade 10 exams are crucial and the results will be an important consideration for college entrance. He had worked really hard for a couple of months leading up to the exams. Mona and I were feeling very anxious as the day of the results (August 10) approached.

On the day of the results, the scores are available on the internet at 5am IST. Mona was the first one to wake up and check the results. She woke me up within a few minutes. Aanish had done remarkably well. He received an A* in 6 subjects, an A in 2 subjects and a B in 1. The surprise grade was an A in Spanish. Just three months ago, he was struggling in the subject and his teacher had recommended that he take the simpler core curriculum instead of the advanced extended curriculum. He was unable to make that change since the deadline had passed. So he ended up doing his exam in the advanced curriculum and still scored an A.

Students must study a minimum of 7 subjects for IGCSE and must score at least 5 As and 2 Cs to achieve a Distinction level. Aanish completed his IGCSE math in 9th grade and had scored an A. He took Additional Math in 10th grade and scored a B on that. So, he ended taking 10 subjects and scoring 6 A*, 3 A and a B.

It was a happy and proud moment for both of us. We had seen him work very hard for many months and were it was a joy to see his hard work pay off.

Day of Pride!!!

From: Sarojini Rao
To: Pervez Sikora, Mona Patel-Sikora
Sent: Thu, Aug 20, 2009 2:08 pm
Subject: Indus Scholar Award

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Sikora,

I take great pride and pleasure in informing you that your child Ayaana Patel Sikora has qualified for the coveted Indus Scholar Award, which is an acknowledgement of academic achievement of the highest order.

My congratulations to your child and to you, for making the journey of our teachers so fruitful.

My fervent wish is that she keeps on scaling higher peaks as time goes by.

Warm Regards,

Mrs. Sarojini Rao

Principal

Indus International School

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

From: Sarojini Rao
To: Pervez Sikora, Mona Patel-Sikora
Sent: Thu, Aug 20, 2009 12:26 pm
Subject: Indus Scholar Award

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Sikora,

I take great pride and pleasure in informing you that your child Aanish Patel Sikora has qualified for the coveted Indus Scholar Award, which is an acknowledgement of academic achievement of the highest order.

My congratulations to your child and to you, for making the journey of our teachers so fruitful.

My fervent wish is that he keeps on scaling higher peaks as time goes by.

Warm Regards,

Mrs. Sarojini Rao

Principal

Indus International School

Enough said!

Delicious Chaos!

It has been exactly two weeks since our return to Bangalore. We are back in the midst of chaos, unruly traffic, noise, pollution ... and are LOVING it! We did not realize how much we missed Bangalore until we are back here. I guess you sort of get used to the nuttiness of the place after some time.

We knew that we were back in India when we got invited to a birthday party on the day we returned. Social life was back in high gear! Everything at the apartment was in order. Our next door neighbors had kept an eye on the place and our housekeeper had kept it nice and clean.

Past two weeks have been madness as we transitioned back into our life in India. Kids still had a week of vacation left. But both Mona and I were plunged deep into our work from day one. I had a ton of stuff to catch up in Bangalore and Chennai while Mona decided to add yet another task (membership to the Parent Advisory Committee at Indus School) to her already busy portfolio of projects.

LA Life - A synopsis

All good things in life must come to an end! We have three more days left of our stay in Los Angeles and we are busy packing up and taking care of all the little details that must be tended to. At the same time, we are looking forward to our return to the good times in Bangalore.

Our time in LA has been a lot of fun. We did everything that we were planning and more. The best part of returning here was reconnecting with old friends and family. We met all our family and it was great to see folks that we have not seen in a long time. Ayaana's highlight was to see her new cousin Maliya - who is adorable. It was good to see my cousin Naweed, who has been bravely battling cancer for a couple of years. Aanish linked up with his old friends - most of whom are nearly 6 feet tall and have facial hair. We also had a great time meeting all our old friends and ex-colleagues from companies where we have worked in the past couple of decades.

No travels are complete without food and this one was no different. We came here with armed with a list of restaurants that we wanted to eat at and visited most of them. We did all the "comfort" restaurants (In&Out, Senor Fish, Acapulco - 3 times), the favorites (Yang Chow, La Serenata) and new ones (Hungry Cat). Mexican food topped the list! We have a couple more favorites left to go and a couple more days left!

Shopping was big during our stay. Ayaana got a new iTouch and a Wii-Fit - both of which she was eyeing for quite some time. No shopping is ever complete without a visit to the shopping mecca - Costco! We hit the usual favorites - Target, Best Buy, Macy's, JC Penny. I think everybody is now set with their clothes, shoes, games etc. for some time.

During our short stay here this summer, we managed to catch a couple of good movies out here (I think Aanish managed to see about half a dozen). We also managed to see a Dodgers game and a Chelsea/Inter-Milan foot ball match (once again - a huge treat for Aanish).

Returning back to the house also meant taking care of some routine, but must-do items - renewing Mona's drivers license, taking care of some banking and tax work, getting a new passport for Aanish, cleaning the house and making minor repairs. If you think this part is fun, I suggest you spend 4 hours at a Department of Motor Vehicle office or the Federal Building. Not a very stimulating experience but it does give you a good glimpse into how America works.

Balancing all of this with work was quite a bit of challenge for me. I could feel the strain of working with a team that is in a time zone that is twelve hours different than mine. I have a feeling that there will be lots to catch up when I return this week.

The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

After a week or two back in Los Angeles, we couldn't help but reflect on our life here. We invariably get asked by everyone we meet about how it feels to be back. I will try to summarize this as best as I can.

We have lived here for twenty years and this is the place where both Mona and I entered adulthood. The place is an integral part of our lives. We have friends and family and a home here. We went to university in LA, met on campus, got married in Marina Del Ray, had children, built our careers, had a dog and created a life. We are proud when the Lakers and the Trojans win championships. We love the diversity here. We have traveled around the country and seen some of the most beautiful and amazing sites in the country. This is all good.

After living in India for over two years, we realize that what we miss the most from our Indian life is the feeling of connectedness. Communities, families and neighborhoods in India are intensely social. In a country of over a billion people, you would expect people everywhere. People are friendly, caring and welcoming. There is less pressure on Aanish and Ayaana to grow up into adults and they can be kids. Children enjoy much more freedom as the systems are not as rigid and constrained by rules as they are here. Another issue that becomes evident is that we are living in a culture of excess here. In India, resources are limited and hence valued much more. Within a week of being in the US, we can see the disproportionate amount of consumption that we have had between the two environments. This is bad.

One thing that has struck us hard is the impact of the bad economy here. The effects of the global meltdown are not as obvious in India as they are here in the US. Almost everybody that we know and have met during our visit has been impacted in some way. Stores that we used to frequent are out of business. Restaurants are no longer packed. There seem to be fewer cars on the road. Even the daily newspaper has shrunk in size and content. It's ugly out here.

So what does all of this mean? Who knows? You've got to enjoy the good, do the best you can to avoid or eliminate the bad and hope that the ugly goes away. Take each day as it comes and enjoy it to the fullest no matter where you are in the world!

Sweet Homecoming

We are back in Los Angeles. Mona, Aanish and Ayaana have been away for nearly two and a half years and it was an exciting homecoming for all of us. Ayaana was giddy with excitement for a few days prior to our arrival and I could sense the excitement in Aanish. We knew we were in Los Angeles when we were greeted by an immigration officer of Indian descent!

It was exciting for all of us to be back together in our home. I have been traveling to LA several times during the past couple of years. I have lived out of a suitcase during these visits and the place never felt like home. Having everybody together, changed all of that. Of course, with Mona's intense focus on getting the house "operational" in a couple of days caused me to work harder than I have ever worked in my life. We spent a couple of days cleaning the place, unpacking, making minor repairs, shopping for groceries and essentials, getting the car fixed etc. But it was all well worth it! We were back in business within 3 days.

It has been a lot of fun reconnecting with family and friends since our arrival. We did not realize how much we missed everybody until we started seeing everybody again. All the children have grown up and it was exciting to catch up with everyone. Most of Aanish's friends are now taller than their respective dads and I believe one of them has started shaving. All the fifteen and sixteen year olds are now talking about college prospects, preparing for their SATs etc.

Food has always played an important role in our family and we came with a list of must-haves. We miss good Mexican food in Bangalore and have already been to several Mexican restaurants. You can't help it but love Armenian food if you live in Glendale and that has been checked off. Aanish and Ayaana are getting their fill of bagels, croissants, muffins, pies etc. We still have a way to go and hopefully we will get to everything on our list in the next few weeks.

We have a packed social calendar ahead of us and are looking forward to seeing all our friends - which has been the highlight of our homecoming.

Hong Kong Journal

Hong Kong is now on my favorite city list. This is our first visit to this Asian capital and it is everything that I had imagined and more. An interesting blend of the modern and the ancient - Hong Kong is truly a rich and engaging experience for anybody. The first sight of Hong Kong are the tall and narrow skyscrapers densely packed together and reaching up to the sky. The other side of Hong Kong is on display as you start walking in the crowded markets with neon-lit signs and street vendors beckoning you with their wares.

The city is a delight for foodies. The best food is found on the streets of Hong Kong in tiny roadside stalls or small cafes. Streets are lined with noodle bars and cafes servings everything from traditional pan-fried noodles to the unconventional pig knuckles. We had a great time feasting on the traditional and not-so-traditional cuisine but staying away from the unconventional. Aanish was ecstatic to find Starbucks at every street corner and Ayaana had to have ice creams and cakes every couple of hours!

The place is also a shopping mecca (if you are into it!). We window-shopped at the high end retail outlets on Nathan Street but really enjoyed the packed markets selling counterfeit burberry bags and Arsenal jerseys. Hong Kong is not a destination for sight seeing and there are limited places of interest to see. We did make our way to Lantau Island to see the giant Buddha statue and took the night tram to Victoria Peak for stunning views of Hong Kong.

We will spend another day in transit during our return to Bangalore and eating good food will be on the top of the list of things to do!

The Big Fat Indian Wedding

I can't believe that it has taken over a two and a half years before we got an opportunity to attend a traditional Indian wedding. The son of our landlord got married last week and Mona and I were invited for the wedding. The marriage was on a Thursday morning followed by a lunch. A large wedding reception was scheduled for Friday. We were leaving for Hong Kong on Friday and decided to attend the lunch on Thursday.

The wedding turned out to be a traditional south Indian wedding. The actual wedding ceremony started at 7:30am in the morning on Thursday and lasted about 4 hours. During this time, there were several different poojas (prayers) and rituals. Lunch service started at 11:30am. By then, there were about 3000 guests. No, I did not add a zero by mistake. I do mean three thousand guests. So naturally, lunch had to be served in shifts. This was quite an experience.

The dining hall consisted of long tables with folks sitting on one side of the table. Each table could accomodate about 20 people and there were at least 20 tables. So about 400 people were being fed in one sitting. We took our seats after one group of people had completed their lunch. An army of waiters and servers worked with speed to clean the tables, cover them with white sheets of thick paper and place a huge banana leaf on the table in front of each guest. The etiquette is to sprinkle a bit of water from your glass and wash the leaf clean with your hands.

The vegetarian meal consisted of nearly 20 courses and included a few different vegetable curries, roti, poori, pulao, plain rice, bhajiyas and a couple of different sweets and desserts. Servers made their way down each row serving each person. The food was delicious but the experience was truly unique.

We missed the wedding reception the following day but passed by the venue on our way to the airport! This one also looked like a grand affair with lights and decorations and probably a similar number of guests!

Now that is a big fat wedding.

Back in my favorite city

In case I have not mentioned this before, London is on the top of my favorite city list. If I have already told you this earlier, then this is to let you know that nothing has changed. I still love the place and wish that some day I can spend 3-6 months living here.

Perhaps it is the international feel of the city that appeals to me. Earlier this afternoon, I was sitting on a bench in Kensington garden. In a period of about 15 minutes, at least 40-50 people walked by speaking in over a dozen languages! I like the crowds here - people are walking everywhere, there is hustle and bustle around the place. The underground tube (train) system is fabulous and makes getting around the city a breeze. Well ... today was an exception. There is a strike and the underground is not functional. So I got a feel for London traffic as I drove in a taxi from one end of the town to the other.

I have been quite fortunate with the weather. With the exception of one or two trips to this city, the weather has generally been perfect every time I have been here.

The only bad thing about my recent trips here has been the fact that I keep traveling alone for work. I need to come back soon with Mona, Aanish and Ayaana. Plus I have promised Aanish that we will come to London and take him to an Arsenals football match! Keeping my fingers crossed on that one.

Democracy at work

India recently held parliamentary elections to elect a new government and a prime minister. It was a fascinating experience to watch the entire process from up close.

In a country that seems to thrive in chaos, order somehow manages to emerge at the other end. The ruling Congress party and the prime minister Manmohan Singh were handed a mandate by the people and returned to power for a second term. The verdict was hailed in both India and abroad as a vote for sustained growth and development. Stock markets reacted favorably and foreign investments immediately started accelerating. The common man seems to be happy at the state of affairs.

Several hundred million voters took part in this election. Stories of voting machines being dispatched to remote regions of the countries (deep forests and high mountains) to enable tiny groups of voters filled the newspapers. The entire process lasted for several weeks as the infrastructure required to conduct elections on a single day would be unimaginable. Despite fears of unrest, the elections were held in a peaceful manner. The media provided a huge level of transparency in the process. Popular movie stars participated in ad campaigns to promote awareness and encouraging people to vote. The massive young population of India was truly engaged in the process as was evident by the measures taken by each political party to connect to this segment of the population.

In the end, the system worked as it was intended and the result will make India a stronger nation in the coming years.

Moo On!

It's been nearly two and a half years since I moved to Bangalore and I have assimilated fairly well. I have gotten so used to things that are typically Indian that I don't even notice them any more. But some days I try to consciously look out for those Indian experiences that have no parallel anywhere in the world.

This morning was one of those days. I was in the car stopped at a traffic light at a major intersection in Bangalore. On the opposite side, I noticed a bullock cart stopped at the intersection! This is in the middle of peak hour traffic with buses, cars, auto-rickshaws, scooters, motorcycles, bicycles, trucks etc. all trying to find their way forward and rushing to get ahead. Amazingly enough, I noticed that the vehicles around the bullock cart had somehow made way for it and were patient enough to allow it to make it's way at a lumbering pace.

No outrage! No drive by shooting!

What a country!