I went out to find differences, I found more similarities.

Which is the most important discovery of this millennium?

I believe it's the discovery of human genome.

I remember, once in my class of french language, our Professor asked two students from Mozambique, "Do you find any difference between people of Mozambique and people of India?" The reply was "beaucoup de difference!"(meaning (there is) a lot of difference).

Really, if somebody would have asked me a similar question a few of years back, during my early days in Europe, my reply would have been the same.

I have always had a fascination for something which is 'different'. I wanted to see what is different outside India. That was the motivation for me to go study abroad. I went out looking for differences. I chose Europe over USA for higher studies because Europe is more diverse  and something different.

Travelling has always been my passion and I am always looking for an opportunity to leave my city and go out. As I travel, I met new people. I met people from all different parts of the world. I met people from Europe, Americas, Africa, from far east and middle - east. I met people from south-east Asia, I met people from my neighboring countries. I met people fair and dark. I met people yellow and brown. I met people who follow different religions and I met people who follow no religion. I met people speaking different languages. I met people coming from different cultures. I met really different different people and more I met different people, more I realized that people are not different.

People look different, they speak different languages. They wear different types of clothes. Some times they use different gestures for non-verbal communications. However, these are all very superficial differences. I feel this is like an iceberg of humanity, the differences are the size of the iceberg tip while at a deeper level, we are all very same.

The core values on which one's social and personal behavior is based are very much same regardless of race, culture, religion, etc. The human values of helpfulness, compassion, friendliness and love are always respected.

Common man in any part of the world is same, I believe.

My travels and the followed interactions strengthened my belief in humanity.

If we really think, how many of us like to fight with others, who would want to just hurt someone or destroy something, who would wish for something bad to happen to the world, ... none I am sure.

and now think, how many of us would love to watch sunset with our loved one? Does a hug from an old friend makes you happy? Does innocence of a kid brings a warm feeling in your heart?  Do you like flowers? and do you pray when you see someone in trouble? Does your heart sink to see a hungry kid? I am sure the answer would be a yes to each of these questions irrespective of where are you from.

We are one human race and we are 99.9% same, the superficial differences are just 0.1%, that's what the human genome tells us.

I went out to looking for differences and I found more similarities! and I am happy about it :)

That's one big realization for me from my travels. So I really believe mobility of people can bring world peace. 

On the occasion of The Great's Birthday – we salute you, Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar!

Every Birthday adds an year to one's age, well that is an obvious rule for us ordinary creatures. For one extra-ordinary man this rule takes a beating, he himself has beaten record-braking number of world records. Let's wish this Great Indian Sports Icon, and a living legend yet our own the Great Masterblaster Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar, a very wonderful Birthday :-)

We are grateful to God for we are born in the same era as that of Sachin Tendulkar, also we are grateful to you, Sachin, for putting countless number of smiles on our faces every time you hit the ball across the boundary-line, for all the moments of joy, cheer, celebration and that proud feeling when you lead our team to victory.

Sachin, it was you who taught us the meaning of the phrase 'being grateful'.

I remember... your recent record-breaking, first time in the history of ODI cricket, a very – well deserved not out double century and after the match you did not even waste a single moment to dedicate your double century to us. You showed your gratefulness for your countrymen, that came from a heart so true and so pure; and We are grateful to you for making 1 billion people smile together. I remember there were celebrations throughout the country and we celebrated together irrespective of our culture, religion, region, language and economic condition. I am sure that day there was atleast one moment when each and every Indian forgot his worries and smiled from his heart. We all your compatriots were honored to have even a billionth part of those 200 runs dedicated to each of us. For behind those 200 runs are 20 years of excellence and sheer brilliance, perseverance and more than 30 years of sweat and practice and an extra – ordinary dedication to the sport and the country.

It was you who taught us the meaning of 'dedication to the sport and the country'.

I remember... 1999 World Cup, when in the middle of the tournament, your beloved father, received the final call from heavens. You had to fly back to India and we lost a match against Zimbabwe in your absence. You heard the nation's call and responded. To everyone's surprise, you were present to open for the next match. You scored a century (141 off 101 balls) and led India to victory. After scoring that century, when you looked up at the Heaven, we understood what you felt. You made your father proud in the Heaven. You did what he would have wanted you to do. When you looked up at the sky , we bowed down our heads in respect to the great son of a great father and of a great nation.

You taught us the meaning of the word 'character'.

I remember.... when the Indian cricket was tainted with match – fixing allegations, yet not a single finger dared to point at you. When money was fixing the outcome of a match outside the field and bringing shame to the game and to our country, your bat decided the actual outcome of the match on the field saving face of the game and bringing glory to our country. You stood firmly by your principles on and off the field when for many others money was all that mattered. You are still reigning here, while dirty ones went where the dirt goes, into the crap. You are the real life hero, who proved what we always read on our national emblem- 'Satyamev Jayate'

You showed us when talent meets intelligence, when practice comes with preparation, when hard work is joined by smart thinking even the impossible becomes a cakewalk. Be it your century with Sidhu praji that enabled India to cross the 300 runs mark first time in ODI and that too against Pakistan at Sharjah or the dominance you established over one of the world's best Spinner Shane Warne or your performance as the highest run scorer in consecutive World Cups 1999 and 2003. and then there, in 2003 World Cup, was your brilliant knock of 98 runs off 75 balls against the highly feared Pakistani bowler trio of Shohaib Akhtar, Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram. You and Sehwag silenced these big- guns from the beginning and made them look like water-guns of Holi. Had it not been your back-pain, you were unstoppable that day, like you have been unstoppable on many other times.

You remind us of the saying 'tough times don't last, tough people do'.

I remember... your back pain and later the tennis elbow led to a lean patch and irregular knocks till almost 2006. You were bombarded with criticism, your attitude towards game was questioned by controversial coach of Indian team that time Greg Chappell and many called it the decline of your career and even asked for your retirement. However, you believed in yourself. You followed your heart. You knew for yourself that this is only a small valley in the numerous peaks of your career/ You faced all the criticism with patient silence for your reply was soon to come, not with words but with runs. And then from 2007 till now what we are watching is return of the old Sachin or shall I say young Sachin!

You taught us, always, that actions speak louder than words.

You are a man of few words and great deeds. Your actions make you great on the field and off the field. and your words are highly valued and yet they are so humble. Your greatness can not be measured by the world – records you break, for you are a man who sets new records and new standards , above all others. Your greatness lies in the fact that you are the only Indian to be nominated by a billion other Indians for 'Bharat Ratna' award. Your greatness lies in the fact that you are a living legend and yet from a 2 year old to a 102 year old can affectionately call you, simply as Sachin. For you adjectives fall short!

Sachin, what a Sports-man, what a Man!!