Sitting in India right now, watching the world burn in real time. US & Israel striking Iran. Iran retaliating across the Gulf. Russia-Ukraine still raging. Pakistan-Afghanistan tensions simmering.
Missiles flying over Tehran, Bahrain, Abu Dhabi, Qatar.
And here I am, safe at home on a Saturday evening, in a democratic, peaceful country, worrying about none of this at my doorstep.
We don't say this enough - we are incredibly lucky. Not perfect, not without problems. But at peace. That's not a small thing in 2026.
@IndianGems_ Such a poor state affair. We should learn from China they reduce air pollution to almost 0% in 10 yrs. Beijing is a case study for us all.
Sanjay Gandhi (1980): On June 23, 1980, Sanjay Gandhi (son of then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and a prominent Congress leader) died in a plane crash near Safdarjung Airport in New Delhi. He was piloting a Pitts S-2A aircraft during aerobatic maneuvers when it lost control and crashed, killing him and his co-pilot instantly. Questions were raised about the circumstances, given his political prominence and potential future role.
Madhavrao Scindia (2001): On September 30, 2001, senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Madhavrao Scindia died in a Beechcraft King Air C90 plane crash near Mainpuri (Bhogaon area) in Uttar Pradesh. He was en route to Kanpur for a political rally when the aircraft went out of control and crashed amid poor weather, killing all eight on board (including Scindia, his staff, journalists, and crew). Some doubts persisted regarding the crash's causes.
Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy (2009): On September 2, 2009, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy (YSR) died in a Bell 430 helicopter crash in the Nallamala forest hills near Rudrakonda (Kurnool district). The helicopter went missing during a flight from Hyderabad to Chittoor and was found the next day; all five on board perished. The official inquiry cited loss of control in bad weather/down draught, but various questions and theories circulated afterward.