India
In 2024, we bid farewell to a Muslim, a Parsi, a Sikh, and a Hindu—each a remarkable soul, a son of Bharat Mata. Yet, their loss was mourned not for the faiths they followed but for the humanity they embodied, the love they shared, and the legacy they left for this sacred land.
Irrespective of our respective faiths and the paths we walk, our destination remains the same—at the feet of the Almighty, where we are united as one. As a poet beautifully expressed:
"Ek hi safar hai, raaste alag ho sakte hain,
Khuda ke dar pe sabke qadam milte hain."
This is the India I cherish—the India of tolerance, humanity, and unshakable secularism. It is this spirit that fills my heart with pride and devotion, making me stand tall as an Indian.
Venkataramanan Ramasethu
January 4, 2025