With the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics coming to a close tonight, our 3 Indian athletes were, unfortunately, not even close to medaling.  But we applaud to them for 1) making it to the Olympics and 2) their effort.

In 2 years, the London 2012 Summer Olympics will hopefully show some Indian participants take the podium.  In Bejing, 56 athletes represented India, and even accomplished 1 Gold and 2 Silver medals.

Just like Canada seems to be a home-game away from home for the Americans for these Winter Olympic Games, having the Summer Olympics take place in London will surely bring out the Indian sport fans!  We can’t wait ourselves!

Wikipedia: Diwali or Dīpāvali (Sanskrit: a row of lamps[1]) is a significant festival in Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism, and an official holiday in India.[2] Adherents of these religions celebrate Diwali as the Festival of Lights. They light diyas—cotton string wicks inserted in small clay pots filled with oil—to signify victory of good over the evil within an individual.

Increase your arm, wrist and abdominal strength, stretch your upper back and work your balance as you follow along with the ZenGirl and practice Crow or Crane Pose (“Bakasana”).  So challenge yourself here.

We’ve been following the genetically modified foods story in India closely. Monsanto wins a battle as Genetic Engineering Approval Committee of the Union environment ministry approved the genetically modified brinjal (eggplant) also called Bt Brinjal for release into the environment.

(full story at Business Standard) Minister Jairam Ramesh said he would examine the report before deciding.

Ramesh Sothi said the vector used in making Bt brinjal was wrong and this alone disqualified the crop. Pushpa Bhargava, another dissenter, alleged: “They told us about this meeting only on Friday evening and did not agree to give more time to include all those who had expressed reservations about the crop to participate. Such transparency would have exposed GEAC and they did not dare to do it.”

As the healthcare debate in the US rages, we’ve heard over and over about how India’s medical tourism business is set to boom as American flock to India for cheaper healthcare. So far it seems like the numbers are not adding up to the surrounding hype.

(Full Story at the National) Predictions of a $2 billion industry by 2012, which McKinsey made back in 2004, also look a long way off. Apollo estimates that medical tourism totalled $330 million to India last year.