Tour de Belgique

I had two options for my last weekend in Belgium. One to play another lazy cricket tournament, other to cycle from Namur to Dinant. I chose the second option and have no regrets of doing the same.

Though Belgium has not as cycle-friendly tracks as the Netherlands has, still this track has some of very scenic views. Also, along the track one can see a lot of activities going on, like kayaking, para sailing, motor boats, (some serious) rock climbing etc. It is easier to capture some good views on the way back than while going to Dinant.

It took me around 2 hours each way. The total distance (to and fro) comes out to be around 60km.

I think it would be my last activity here in Belgium. It was a wonderful year that I would cherish for years to come.

A journey coming to an end...

It has been an exceptional last year. It was fruitful in many ways. Infact, it was one of the better years in my life. This period, starting from September 2007, was my 'vanvaas' in Belgium. This is coming to an end with me returning on 16th October. This is what I managed to do in this year:
- learnt cooking in true sense, whatever cooking I did in italy was just fooling myself
- read/listened to 'Alaap' - A discovery of Indian Classical music
- been to places in Belgium, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Den Haag, Paris, Venice, Rome, Pisa, Barcelona, Munich, New York and India twice.
- created my first internet video (already 1000+ views :D)
- continued with my reading about Indian history and culture. Discovered a lot of things.
- had lot of time to do physical workout - jogged, play cricket and basketball
- did some software setup and development for a small company.

Now going back to NCR, I will miss a lot of things I do here because of single stupid thing that will wipe out all my energy - traveling. I hate to admit but as much as I love Delhi, I hate the distances that it has. I hope either I will find a solution to it or get used to it.

Nehru's viewpoint about 'Aryans'

(Reference Episode 2 of 'Bharat ek khoj')

Nehru's point of view about 'Arya' seems to be influenced by European historians of that era. European historians used the concept of 'Aryan' race to divide India and to propagate their supremacy. Most historian today believe that 'Aryan invasion' was a myth. Also, the use of RigVeda's hymn about Indra freeing the river does not corroborate the fact that Aryan came from northern regions to Sindhu ghaati. Since, if people of Sindhu Ghaati had made dams on the river then it would mean that Aryans were living in southern regions compared to them.

One more thing that disproves the Aryan invasion theory is that it is believed that 'Aryan' race was barbaric. It does not seem very likely that a barbaric race would suddenly become so civilized and spiritually and philosophically so elevated that they would create something like Rig Veda.

Indeed, 'Arya' means noble. It was perhaps used like 'Gentleman' in English language. No doubt, there has been a lot of migration in current Northern India which used to be Madhya Desh during ancient times. But an invasion that wiped out early Indians is unlikely.