“Be proud that you are an Indian; I proudly claim that I am an Indian, every Indian is my brother”. Swami Vivekananda.

India – the Land of Buddha and Vivekananda, the land where Tagore saw the vision of a golden tomorrow and strove for it with missionary zeal. India – with its vivid array of flora and fauna and with its rich cultural milieu and ancient traditional values. India! My India! My Motherland!

For Indians, religion and traditions is a way of life, governing thoughts and actions and giving is Indians a sense of identity. India’s wealth lies among it’s people which is finer and truer than the purest of diamonds.

Our country is the birthplace of the modern numeral system. Indian scientists today are deeply involved in research work in the field of astronomy, astrology, chemical science and and medicine. Ayurveda, the trusted you medical science developed by the rishis and sages of the past is thriving even today

Today I can proudly state that I am an Indian. My India has excelled in every field be it music with the like of Ravi Shankar, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and more recently A.R. Rahman bringing laurels and accolades to the country. Our literateurs dancers and painters have given unique pieces of literature to the world. Remembering the words of Kennedy in the historic speech at his swearing in ceremony I conclude “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country”. Jai Hind!

Steffi Fernandes

C18-416

“Your life lies before you like a sheet of untrodden snow; be careful how you step on it, for every mark will show. This quote was said to me when I was very young and has had a great impact ever since. This quote serves me as a reminder that every step of my life is recorded as I would maintain a diary of my day-to-day activities. What we would like to record in our diary of life? Priceless remembrances of happy times? Memories that resonate with experiences of love and compassion? Memories that might leave us cold and indifferent? Or, pages we wish we could tear out forever? Whatever be it, surely we want the book of our life to be truthful, not a whitewashed version. A few words of guidance might prove useful along the way; behave with others as you would like them to behave with you, and, I be all that you can be. A positive and right approach, hardwork, time management and perseverance are some of the qualities that give birth to a fruitful and fulfilling success. And the greatest resource is your time, the most valuable coin that you have. You and you alone can determine how judiciously that coin has to be spent. There is a popular idea that God’s gifts have no strings attached. In one sense this is true. God’s love is unconditional. He loves us and continues to bless us without limits. But in another sense, I would say there are strings attached to God’s gifts. And the most basic of these strings is: use it or lose it. If we do not use them as guides for our own daily living, as well as for the benefit of the people that surround us, then those wonderful talents will slowly fade away. So, make your life more worthwhile. Life becomes richer and happier.

Steffi Fernandes

C18-416

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton