India marks its 70th Republic Day on January 26, 2019. The celebrations this year have many firsts including a display of artillery weapons recently inducted in the army, an all-women army contingent and much more. 2019, for me is the year of Hope. May this new year be a year of good, wholesome, and generous for not just myself but for everyone in this country. With my spirit of optimism, there is a reason why we have Rahul Gandhi on the cover. Speaking about his political maturing, Rahul has recently come of age as a leader after the party’s victory in three assembly elections in the Hindi heartland, speaks a lot about how he has reconfigured his political programme and tactics to put democracy at their centre. This result will strengthen Rahul’s position within the party and also help him emerge as a centre point of opposition unity. During an interaction at an event organized by Indian Journalists Association in London, the Congress chief was asked if he views himself as the next Prime Minister, to which he responded, “I don't have these visions. I view myself as fighting an ideological battle and this change has come in me after 2014”. Let 2019 be the defining year for India.
In this issue, in the Platform section we discuss how, inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to help create consciousness about the nation’s real heroes and spread a spirit of respect for them, minister of human resources development Prakash Javadekar and minister of state for defence Subhash Bhamre jointly launched a campaign to institute a “wall of valour” in 1,000 educational institutions across the country.
The Special Report deals with What lies beneath Mars. NASA has landed its eighth space craft on the planet Mars. Called InSight, the vehicle will drill deep into the surface of the planet. With all the optimism coming around here’s to a world of hope and love in 2019.
The Hitch hiker section takes you to Istanbul, the city of the past, the present and the future. Istanbul not only joins continents, it also joins cultures and people. Located in the Marmara region of Turkey, Istanbul is the world's most gorgeous and mysterious city, the coolest European city, the biggest Turkish city. Check out the beauty, the culture, and everything this amazing city has to offer.
Last but not he least, at MBD Group, hospitality is not about serving but also treating guests with elegance and excellence. Driven by the vision of the founder, Shri Ashok Kumar Malhotra, MBD group marked 15 years of successful existence and memorable moments with celebrations of its first flagship hotel in Noida.
Every reason to celebrate India!