Kids from school somewhere here.

The school is basically  a simple shack, as you can see in the background. A couple of classes actually happen under the trees. Some of the kids attend the school because of the free mid-day meal, but most of them are genuinely interested in learning new stuff. I brought a bunch of Mars for every one in the school – and their faces were lit up with joy.  Reminded me of my school days in a Govt. Primary School.

I’m sure someday more than one of them will be blogging and hopefully they’ll remember the fun time we had.

I wrote Hand to Mouth to India in 1997/8 at the age of 20 and it’s the tale of how I hitchhiked from England to India with no money.

via Hand to Mouth to India.

Aside from the unwisdom of breaking up South India’s largest State, a separate Telangana will fuel demands for a separate Rayalaseema, for a separate coastal Andhra, and, maybe, even for union territory status for Hyderabad — and there will be no Pradesh left. The problem of uneven regional and intra-State development is one of the major challenges rising India faces but there is little to suggest that smaller States will make for a more even process of development.

But the cure pressed by a succession of militant movements — a separate Telangana State — will do serious harm to the patient.

via The Hindu : Opinion / Editorial : Correct diagnosis, wrong cure.

Many Hindus throughout India recently celebrated Ganesha Chaturthi, a 10-day festival celebrating the birth of Ganesh, their supreme god of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune. Hinduism, the predominant religion in India, is rich with traditional festivals and rituals, celebrated in many ways and locations around the world. Collected here are a few photographs from recent Hindu festivals and of Hindu devotees worshipping and practicing ritual ceremonies in India, England, Nepal and Indonesia.

→ Recent Hindu festivals and rituals

At least I’ve got internet now, to keep myself busy and not to think about discomfort.