65 reasons why I am proud to be an Indian

1. Because half of our population continues to be under 25 years of age thereby making our future economic prospects dynamic.

2. Because even 65 years later, a man preaching the virtues of non-violence and satyagraha, has the power to make corrupt government officials feel hot around the collar.

3. Because the rupee finally found its global worth in a symbol – only the fifth currency in the world to have a widely recognised one.

4. Because an Indian-born banker, Anshu Jain, has just been made the head of one of Europe's most important financial institutions - Deutsche Bank. He is also the first non-German to head the bank.

5. Because a 19-year-old student had the gumption to take on our society's antiquated morals and was the chief organizer of Slut Walk Delhi.

6. Because American automobile giants Ford are set to open their biggest facility after their US headquarters, in the state of Gujarat at a cost of approximately Rs 4000 crores.
7. Because Twitter now includes an India specific trending list.

8. Because the world's youngest CEO is Bengalaru boy Suhas Gopinath who started his company from a cyber cafe.

9. Because Mukesh Ambani, the richest man in India and the fourth in the world, now lives in the world's costliest and largest home.

10. Because Farmville makers Zynga now allow players to buy the tricolour, yellow dal, autorickshaws and sari clotheslines for your farm.

11. Because in Saina Nehwal, we have a sporting hero in a game other than cricket.

12. Because cringe-worthy as it sometimes is, Bollywood routines are here to stay on American TV shows like 'So You Think You Can Dance'.

13. Because we invented the number zero, dice, buttons and algebra among other things.

14. Because Oprah Winfrey's new show 'New Chapter' will take her around the world with a significant stopover in India.

15. Because a second-tier city like Kolhapur has more Mercs than the cash-rich Delhi and Mumbai.

16. Because in India, students muster up the will to ask American presidents tough questions on Pakistan that world journalists shy away from.

17. Because watchmakers Longines thinks that home bred Aishwarya Rai is as widely recognizable on the streets in Italy as is Kate Winslet.

18. Because we beat the likes of Japan, Russia and Brazil to be ranked as the world's third most powerful country as according to the 'Global Governance 2025' report of 2010.

19. Because alternate sexual preferences are no longer criminally offensive.

20. Because when that darned Icelandic volcano erupted and grounded chess champion Vishy Anand, he still traveled five countries, 2000 miles and for 40 hours to get to the World Chess Championship in Bulgaria last year. And won

21. Because two Indian businessmen now rank in the top ten list of the most richest people in the world. And one of them actually lives in India.

22. Because we are the most caring global diaspora with India being the world's highest recipient of remittances at $55 billion.

23. Because movies like 'Shaitan', 'Love, Sex aur Dhokha', and 'Udaan' have managed to make money, thus heralding in a new wave of filmmakers.

24. Because the youngest yoga teacher here or anywhere else in the world is a six-year-old girl called Shruti Pandey.

25. Because a man like Azim Premji, while making millions, still puts away Rs 8846 crore to help build schools for the underprivileged.

26. Because 'No One Killed Jessica' wasn't ever only a movie but a real story of the people and media's fight for justice.

27. Because Patni Computer Systems made global headlines after American giant iGate bought 63% of its shares for $1.3 billion.

28. Because Maharashtra has finally asked schools to allow single mothers and widows to lend their last names to their children and we hope that other states will follow.

29. Because with Sharad Pawar's appointment as ICC president, we continue to assert our dominance in the world of cricket.

30. Because real estate prices in Mumbai rubs shoulders with those in Monte Carlo, London, Tokyo and Paris.

31. Because Indian fashion designers like Bibhu Mohapatra and Manish Arora are finally finding their way into international celebrity wardrobes.

32. Because Katy Perry and Russell Brand made India their choice for a destination wedding.

33. Because the Indian healthcare sector is still expected to grow by 22% in spite of a New Delhi 'superbug' scare.

34. Because a citizen's group brought to light the Adarsh housing society scam that rocked the seat of even the state's chief minister.

35. Because A R Rahman in spite of all the awards, national and international, still does with heart what we love him for most - make music.

36. Because even though the Americans put a man on the moon in 1969, our scientists found water, and therefore the hope for life there.

37. Because FIFA's Jabulani ball had a touch of desi Enkay Rubber to it.

38. Because the yarn that's spun into the lingerie that Victoria's Secret Angels wear comes from India's own Alok Industries based in Silvassa.

39. Because when the world thinks hospitality, it thinks India with the Oberoi Vanyavilas being ranked as the world's top hotel in 2010.

40. Because only in India does Baywatch bombshell Pamela Anderson go 'dhak dhak' a la Madhuri.

41. Because Madhuri herself still goes 'dhak dhak' too, despite two babies and an American accent.

42. Because we are home to the school of Ayurveda who counts the Queen of England among its many patrons.

43. Because Indian businessman BR Shetty owns not only a flat, but an entire floor in the iconic Burj Khalifa tower in Dubai - the tallest building in the world.

44. Because with Reliance and UTV, we now not only watch Hollywood movies but make them too.

45. Because an Indian student in Boston, Priam Pillai, is now helping the local police there with technology that can help them nail criminals.

46. Because we produce the world's third best-selling rum.

47. Because we've now learned to grow the world's first protein-enriched potato, or the 'protato'.

48. Because Sachin Tendulkar still plays on.

49. Because scientists are now using India's (and the world's) hottest chilli in hand grenades to flush terrorists out of their hiding spots.

50. Because we've been successfully making foreign cuisines our own with desi inventions like chicken Manchurian, Udipi pizzas and American sev puri.

51. Because Shah Rukh Khan's movie still made it to theatres despite threats of communal violence for his stance in support of Pakistani cricket players.

52. Because Pune scientists have found success in initial tests of their AIDS vaccine.

53. Because postmen in Ajmer will now deliver the mail in electronic, solar-powered rickshaws.

54. Because Wikipedia is set to open its first overseas office in India.

55. Because plans are underway to launch the world's cheapest phone in India priced at Rs 800.

56. Because in India the rags-to-riches stories are not only in books but in real life too like that of Dosa Plaza owner Prem Ganapathy.

57. Because spirituality in India found new acclaim with Elizabeth Gilbert's book 'Eat, Pray, Love' and the movie that followed of the same name starring Julia Roberts.

58. Because Indian model Padma Lakshmi is now one of America's most recognizable on-TV faces.

59. Because if we haven't proved that we're a superpower in geekdom yet, Indian gamer Chirantan Patnaik set the world record for the longest time spent playing a video game.

60. Because we hope to now launch the world's cheapest laptop priced at Rs 1500.

61. Because Indian athlete Kavitha Raut, who began running with no shoes, went on to win a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi last year.

62. Because our manpower's skills make us the world's top outsourcing hub, as according to a 2011 report by management consulting firm, AT Kearney.

63. Because in Freida Pinto, we finally have a Indian star who's been accepted into mainstream Hollywood circles.

64. Because before the iPad could even launch, a Hyderabad company Notion Ink had already introduced a similar product, the Adam, into the markets.

65. But most importantly, because Rajinikanth says so too :)