What Is Your Stress Level ?

Have you thought for a second what is our Stress level, how much stress are we handling in day to day life. I recently found this Stress level checking simple pattern mechanism, so thought of sharing with my friends, who can check their stress levels.

Stare for a few seconds at each of the following patterns.




Are the patterns moving?





Or are they perfectly still??


The patterns are used to test the level of stress a person can handle.




The slower the pictures move, the better your ability of handling stress.

62 WAYS TO MAKE 2010 YOUR BEST YEAR YET - Robin Sharma

62 WAYS TO MAKE 2010 YOUR BEST YEAR YET 1. Remember that leadership isn't about your position. It's about your influence. 2. Get fit like a pro athlete. 3. Lift people up versus tearing people down. 4. Protect your good name. An impeccable reputation takes a lifetime to build. And 60 seconds to lose. 5. Surround yourself with positive, ethical people who are committed to excellence. 6. Remember that even a 1% daily innovation rate amounts to at least a 100% rate of innovation in 100 days. 7. Believe in your dreams (even when others laugh at them). 8. Measure your success, not by your net worth but by your self worth (and how happy you feel). 9. Take an intelligent risk every 24 hours. No try-No Win. 10. Read "Buffett: The Making of an American Capitalist". 11. Watch "Man on Wire". 12. Regardless of your title at work, be a team builder. 13. Remember that business is all about relationships and human connections. 14. Say "please" more. 15. Say "thank you" more. 16. Know your Big 5: the five things that need to happen by the end of this year for you to feel its been your best year yet. 17. Read your Big 5 every morning while the rest of the world is asleep. 18. Read "As You Think". At least twice this year. 19. Be willing to fail. It's the price of greatness. 20. Focus less on making money and more on creating value. 21. Spend less, save more. 22. Leave everything you touch better than you found it. 23. Be the most positive person in every room you're in. 24. Run your own race. 24. Stay true to your deepest values and best ideals. 25. Write a handwritten thank you note to a customer/friend/loved one every day. 26. When you travel, send love letters to your kids on hotel stationary. In time, they'll have a rich collection to remember your travels by. 27. Read "Atlas Shrugged". 28. Be a problem solver versus a trouble maker. 29. Rather than doing many things at mediocrity do just a few things-but at mastery. 30. Honor your parents. 31. Commit to doing great work-whether anyone notices it or not. It's one of life's best sources of happiness. 32. Give more than you receive (another of the truths of happiness). 33. Have your 1/3/5/10/25 years goals recorded on paper and review them weekly. 34. Be patient. Slow and steady wins the race. The only reason businesses that went from zero to a billion in a year or two get featured in magazines is because 99% of businesses require a lot more time to win. 34. Underpromise and then overdeliver. 35. See part of your job as "a developer of people" (whether you work in the boardroom or the mailroom). 36. Wear your heart on your sleeve. When people see you're real, they'll fall in love with you. 37. Be authentic versus plastic. 38. Read "The Alchemist". 39. Remember that life wants you to win. So get out of your own way. 40. Consider that behind every fear lives your next level of growth (and power). 41. Eat less food. 42. Drink more water. 43. Rest when you need to. 44. Read "SUCCESS" magazine. 45. Write your eulogy and then live your life backwards. 46. Demand the best from yourself. 47. Remember that the more you go to your limits, the more your limits will expand. 48. See everything that happens to you as an opportunity to grow (and therefore, as a precious gift). 49. Be obsessed with learning and self-development. 50. Become comfortable alone (you are the only person you get to be with your whole life). 51. Smile. It's a stunningly effective way to win in business and life. 52. Reflect on the shortness of life. 53. Be bold when it comes to your dreams but gentle with those you love. 54. Remember that success is dangerous because it can kill drive/innovation/passion and going the extra mile. Be successful yet stay hungry. 55. Read "The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin". 56. Be of deep value to this world. 57. Own beautiful things but don't let them own you. 58. Use excellent words. 59. Laugh more. 60. Don't complain, gossip or be negative. 61. Plan as if you'll live forever but live as if you'll die tomorrow. 62. Feel free to pass these lessons on to those you want to help.

Written by Robin Sharma, January 3, 2010. Robin's new book "The Leader Who Had No Title: A Modern Fable On Real Success in Business and Life" will be published by Simon and Schuster in March. Many of the ideas above come from it.

Robin Sharma
Sharma Leadership International, 92 Scollard Street, Toronto, Ontario M5R1G2, CANADA

-- My Special Thanks to Mr Robin Sharma, he is the person to admire, he is making people smile around the world and making the world better place to live. I wish him good luck for his new book "The Leader Who Had No Title: A Modern Fable On Real Success in Business and Life"

Why I am a Hindu ? What exactly a Hinduism is ?

HINDUISM & HINDU

Have you ever ask your self or thought of Why I am a Hindu ? or What exactly a Hinduism is ? Hinduism is really the most tolerant religion ever, everything is acceptable in Hinduism. It tolerates the beliefs, practices, or threats of others. Hinduism is really based on Eternal Faiths, because it is not a religion, but a set of beliefs and practices and yes we Hindu enjoy all the freedom, we are set free to do whatever we like and valid strong proof of it is that this religion has strongly hold on its belief and practices since long without any governing body or centralized organization or any one book. We never are told to read any specific book, may be very few read them, there are many such books, I haven't read Bhagavad Gita,

Ramayana or Mahabharata or any such book but still I know our beliefs and practices and I know our religion very well, because it is deep inside us, its eternal, we don't need teaching for this, no one forces me to visit temples or pray but then also we do it, no one force me to believe this or that. I really feel happy and lucky that I
am born in this religion and I believe that one should never change his or her religion, they should follow the religion in which they are born till end, as all the religions gives message of peace and harmony, the religion never leads us to wrong path, but few bad (negative) people who modifies the religious beliefs as per their thinking and they lead us to wrong path. So I think is people should be set free and should be more tolerant to their beliefs and practices as per the changing world. I always wanted to read all the religion's holy books, and one day I will definitely read Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bible and Quran.

I have come across an interesting article on Hinduism recently on web, Thought to share it here and I would specially thank Jayashree Bhat who shared this with us, to let us know what we are, as we all know we are never taught about Hinduism any where, like other religions. We keep believing and practicing the way our parents teach us. Today I really got to know what Hinduism is. Thanks a lot.

....... Four years ago, I was flying from JFK NY Airport to SFO to attend a meeting at Monterey , CA An American girl was sitting on the right side, near window seat. It indeed was a long journey - it would take nearly seven hours.

I was surprised to see the young girl reading a Bible unusual of young
Americans. After some time she smiled and we had few acquaintances talk.I told her that I am from India.

Then suddenly the girl asked: 'What's your faith?' 'What?' I didn't
understand the question.

'I mean, what's your religion? Are you a Christian? Or a Muslim?'

'No!' I replied, 'I am neither Christian nor Muslim'.

Apparently she appeared shocked to listen to that. 'Then who are you?' 'I am a Hindu', I said.

She looked at me as if she was seeing a caged animal. She could not
understand what I was talking about. A common man in Europe or US knows about Christianity and Islam, as they are the leading religions of the world today. But a Hindu, what?

I explained to her - I am born to a Hindu father and Hindu mother.
Therefore, I am a Hindu by birth.

'Who is your prophet?' she asked.
'We don't have a prophet,' I replied.

'What's your Holy Book?'
'We don't have a single Holy Book, but we have hundreds and thousands of philosophical and sacred scriptures,' I replied.

'Oh, come on at least tell me who is your God?'
'What do you mean by that?'
'Like we have Jesus and Muslims have Allah - don't you have a God?'

I thought for a moment. Muslims and Christians believe one God (Male God) who created the world and takes an interest in the humans who inhabit it. Her mind is conditioned with that kind of belief. According to her (or anybody who doesn't know about Hinduism), a religion needs to have one Prophet, one Holy book and one God. The mind is so conditioned and rigidly narrowed down to such a notion that anything else is not acceptable. I understood her perception and concept about faith.

You can't compare Hinduism with any of the present leading religions where you have to believe in one concept of god.

I tried to explain to her: 'You can believe in one god and he can be a
Hindu. You may believe in multiple deities and still you can be a Hindu. What's more - you may not believe in god at all, still you can be a Hindu. An atheist can also be a Hindu.'

This sounded very crazy to her. She couldn't imagine a religion so
unorganized, still surviving for thousands of years, even after onslaught from foreign forces.

'I don't understand but it seems very interesting. Are you religious?'
What can I tell to this American girl?

I said: 'I do not go to temple regularly.. I do not make any regular rituals. I have learned some of the rituals in my younger days. I still enjoy doing it sometimes..'

'Enjoy? Are you not afraid of God?'

'God is a friend. No- I am not afraid of God. Nobody has made any
compulsions on me to perform these rituals regularly.'

She thought for a while and then asked: 'Have you ever thought of converting to any other religion?'

'Why should I? Even if I challenge some of the rituals and faith in
Hinduism, nobody can convert me from Hinduism. Because, being a Hindu allows me to think independently and objectively, without conditioning. I remain as a Hindu never by force, but choice.'

I told her that Hinduism is not a religion, but a set of beliefs and practices. It is not a religion like Christianity or Islam because it is not founded by any one person or does not have an organized controlling body like the Church or the Order, I added. There is no institution or authority...

'So, you don't believe in God?' she wanted everything in black and white.

'I didn't say that. I do not discard the divine reality. Our scripture, or
Sruthis or Smrithis - Vedas and Upanishads or the Gita - say God might be there or he might not be there. But we pray to that supreme abstract authority (Para Brahma) that is the creator of this universe.'

'Why can't you believe in one personal God?'

'We have a concept - abstract - not a personal god. The concept or notion of a personal God, hiding behind the clouds of secrecy, telling us irrational stories through few men whom he sends as messengers, demanding us to worship him or punish us, does not make sense. I don't think that God is as silly as an autocratic emperor who wants others to respect him or fear him.'

I told her that such notions are just fancies of less educated human imagination and fallacies, adding that generally ethnic religious practitioners in Hinduism believe in personal gods. The entry level Hinduism has over-whelming superstitions too. The philosophical side of Hinduism negates all superstitions.

'Good that you agree God might exist. You told that you pray. What is your prayer then?'

'Loka Samastha Sukino Bhavantu. Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti,'
'Funny,' she laughed, 'What does it mean?'

'May all the beings in all the worlds be happy. Om Peace, Peace, Peace.'

'Hmm ..very interesting. I want to learn more about this religion. It is so democratic, broad-minded and free' she exclaimed.

'The fact is Hinduism is a religion of the individual, for the individual
and by the individual with its roots in the Vedas and the Bhagavad-Gita.

It is all about an individual approaching a personal God in an individual way according to his temperament and inner evolution - it is as simple as that.'

'How does anybody convert to Hinduism?'

'Nobody can convert you to Hinduism, because it is not a religion, but a set of beliefs and practices.

Everything is acceptable in Hinduism because there is no single authority or organization either to accept it or to reject it or to oppose it on behalf of Hinduism.'

I told her - if you look for meaning in life, don't look for it in
religions; don't go from one cult to another or from one guru to the next.

For a real seeker, I told her, the Bible itself gives guidelines when it
says ' Kingdom of God is within you.' I reminded her of Christ's teaching about the love that we have for each other. That is where you can find the meaning of life.

Loving each and every creation of the God is absolute and real. 'Isavasyam idam sarvam' Isam (the God) is present (inhabits) here everywhere - nothing exists separate from the God, because God is present everywhere. Respect every living being and non-living things as God. That's what Hinduism teaches you.

Hinduism is referred to as Sanathana Dharma, the eternal faith. It is based on the practice of Dharma, the code of life. The most important aspect of Hinduism is being truthful to oneself. Hinduism has no monopoly on ideas.- It is open to all. Hindus believe in one God (not a personal one) expressed in different forms. For them, God is timeless and formless entity..

Ancestors of today's Hindus believe in eternal truths and cosmic laws and these truths are opened to anyone who seeks them. But there is a section of Hindus who are either superstitious or turned fanatic to make this an organized religion like others. The British coin the word 'Hindu' and considered it as a religion.

I said: 'Religions have become an MLM (multi-level- marketing) industry that has been trying to expand the market share by conversion. The biggest business in today's world is Spirituality. Hinduism is no exception'

I am a Hindu primarily because it professes Non-violence - 'Ahimsa Paramo Dharma' - Non violence is the highest duty... I am a Hindu because it doesn't condition my mind with any faith system.

A man/woman who change's his/her birth religion to another religion is a fake and does not value his/her morals, culture and values in life.

Hinduism was the first religion originated.. Be proud of your religion and be proud of who you are.

Proud to be Hindu!!!

Diwali to be Celebrated Globally also President Barak Obama observed Diwali

Diwali also known as Deepavali occupies an important place as the festival of Lights, prosperity and happiness.



Diwali is a five days Hindu festival, and Diwali is celebrated not only in India but all over globally, where ever there are Indian's they make a point to celebrate Diwali. Also US President Barack Obama who is now known as a President seeking world peace after winning Nobel, uses a candle to light a 'diya' to observe Diwali at the White House.

US President Barack Obama celebrated Diwali by lighting the ceremonial lamp at the White House and becoming the first US President to personally grace the occasion.

"I think it's fitting that we begin this work in the week leading up to the holiday of Diwali, the festival of lights, when members of some of the world's greatest faiths celebrate the triumph of good over evil," Obama said in his remarks on the occasion at a White House function held at its historic East Room recently.

Mostly when Diwali come people in general make elaborate preparations for this festival by cleaning and decorating their homes, purchasing new clothes and fire crackers and preparing verities of sweets and distributing them to friends and neighbours and exchanging gift. On all the days of Diwali people decorate the area in front of their homes with colourful rangoli, light small earthenware lamps with cotton wickers and oil and hang kandeels (lanterns).



What is Diwali about In the five day long Diwali festival, the first day is called Dhanvantari Triodasi also called Dhan Theras (Danteras). The second day of Diwali is called Narak Chaturdasi. On this day Lord Krishna destroyed the demon Narakasur and made the world free from fear. The third day of Diwali is the actual Diwali. This is the day when worship of Goddess Lakshmi is performed (Lakshmi Pooja).



On the fourth day of Diwali, Govardhan Pooja is offered. This is the first day of Lunar New Year. On this day old business accounts are closed and new account-books are opened. The fifth day of the Diwali is called Bhau Beej. It is a day dedicated to sisters and brothers visit their sisters and give gifts to them.

One of the most common stories about Diwali is the return of Lord Ram and his wife Sita to Ayodhya after their fourteen year exile after defeating and killing the evil king Ravan of Lanka. After this victory, the entire city of Ayodhya was decorated with garlands and flowers in celebration for the arrival of Lord Ram. Ram returned to Ayodhya with Sita and was greeted with joy and celebrations and the people lighted rows of clay lamps to welcome him. The day Lord Ram destroyed Ravan was called Dasara and the day on which he returned to Ayodhya was called Diwali.



Let this diwali burn all your bad times and enter you in good times.Wishing all of you a very Happy & Prosperous Diwali

Dates of High Tides in Mumbai this Monsoon - Please Note it !

This monsoon we may have sleep less nights....
Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) published the 19 days of high tide as Red letter days in the rainy season between June 22 and September 21 for this year, this means when the crest of waves at high tide is over four meters and there is heavy rain at same time, the possibility of the city flooding is very high.

Sluice gates, which funnel flood waters from the city to the Arabian Sea, are also closed on these days, increasing the possibility of flooding if there are heavy rains. Please be alert if there are heavy rains during the afternoons.

The metropolis would experience one of the highest tide of 5.05 m in the last 100 years on July 24, 2009. Additional Commissioner of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Kishore Gajbhiye said this.

''Mumbai will experience probably the biggest high tide. In July 2005, when the city had experienced floods, the high tide was of 4.85 m. On July 24 this year, the high tide will be of 5.05 m. This year, the city will experience high tide on 22 days during the Monsoon,'' Mr Gajbhiye said.

''On July 23, the high tide will be of 5.01 metres. If the high tide will be accompanied by heavy rains, the city will witness floods. In such a situation, people should take due care and not leave their homes,'' he said.

A meeting of the Disaster Management department of the BMC for pre-Monsoon preparations took place recently. Officers from police, government, army, CRPF, Meteorological department, Central Railway, Western Railway and other government departments attended the meeting. Monsoon preparations by all the departments are in full swing. De-silting work of the Mithi river had been completed 80 per cent by the Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA), Mr Gajbiye added.

On 26th July 2005, combined with the high tides, an unbelievable 944 mm of rainfall, contributed to over 400 deaths in Mumbai region. It would be good to take note of the below dates and review your entities plans & preparations to meet any contingencies this monsoon season.



Days to watch out for this monsoon, with expected level of high tide in metres. The danger level, says the Disaster Management Cell, is 5.05 m high tide on July 24



Citiziens should not Panic and spread rumours, they should not move out of the house unless very urget on this days. Don't hesitate to call 108 for any information on the rains, compile all necessary documents in a file and keep it handy. Citizens risiding on ground floors should keep their belongings at heights, park your vehicles on high ground, where there is no water logging.

Prisoners can stand for an election in India but can not vote

World describes India as The world's biggest democracy, may be this is a reflection of what India wants. I doubt it ???.

India's people want to look ahead, but our politics and policies hark back to the past. Major national political parties sounded the bugle for the forthcoming elections over the weekend, it was depressing to see none of the them articulate a vision for India going forward. If one party invokes Gandhi, the other invokes Nehru and Indira. We still have time to alter the agenda for the elections. And I hope the discussion will be about next 5 years rather than previous 60. Because India deserves better.

New agenda in ongoing General Election 2009 - Prisoners can stand for an election in India but can not vote. Does This make any sense? The Constitution of India and the representation of the Peoples Act provide basic foundation of the Electoral System in India. Since India is a democratic country, the office of the Chief Election Commissioner plays a vital role in the election system of the Nation. It is very common to say but it is a fact that a person, who is not convicted and who is simply under trial, simply a prisoner cannot caste his vote from jail or otherwise from a place where he is detained but he can very well contest election from jail. Is it not a flashy or mockery of law that who cannot caste his vote but he can become an M.P. M.L.A. or Minister.

There are several instances in our country, where people have contested elections, while in jail, and some of them have also won
and become M.L.A.'s or M.P's, very strange to hear though.....

If u know Mohammad Shahabuddin, one of India's most notorious Criminal-Politicians, is the Member of Parliament from Siwan, Bihar, with the Rashtriya Janata Dal party of Lalu Prasad Yadav. He is currently serving a life sentence for kidnapping with intent to murder, and is facing trial in more than thirty criminal cases including eight of murder, twenty of attempted murder, as well as kidnapping, extortion, etc he is part of the ruling United Progressive Alliance government of Manmohan Singh. So question here is why this was allowed then... are the laws in India made for common man ? or for criminals ...

Close to 2 lakh citizens in the country are eligible to vote but cannot. And it is not because they do not have voter ID cards. It is an irony in our election law, which states that You can contest elections in India behind bars, if your conviction is less than 2 years. But you cannot vote. And that is because the Representation Of People Act under Section 62(5) does not allow prisoners to exercise their franchise. Of the 3 lakh prisoners in the country, only about 30 percent have been convicted and are serving sentences. The rest are undergoing trial.

The ban on voting strangely does not apply to those under preventive detention. So for instance, a notorious person detained under the Goondas Act, can cast his ballot. But a person imprisoned for a relatively minor offence cannot vote. It defies the constitution. It defies common sense. And how can you treat those under preventive detention differently from under trials ?? it makes completly no-sense.

Its really a very hard time for India, to stand on its toes, otherwise days are not so far to see situation like in Pakistan here. An MP should have leadership quality and should be approachable. I would say there should be a law to qualify for contesting election, otherwise country would face serious leadership problem. Many people are there to represent our contry with vision. A need for the youth is the need for country. Our PM and President should act not just to manage their chair.

It is no doubt true that the criminalization of Politics is a matter of hot discussion throughout the Nation and all attempts are being made to check it and ensure that at least no criminal should be allowed either to contest election or to caste his vote. Very recently, pushing ahead with its agenda of keeping criminals out of politics, the Election Commission has suggested that any person convicted of a crime for more than six months be debarred from contesting elections for six years. Hopes so it gets in paper soon.

I guess one day India will get clean image MP's and MLA'a, When we say clean image, we mean corruption as well as no criminal
background. In the present case we don't seem to have too many leaders who qualify to be the PM of our country.

Happy Makar Sankranti - "Til gul ghya, god god bola"

"Til gul ghya, god god bola" -(henceforth, let there be only friendship and good thoughts between us).

Makar Sankranti marks the commencement of the Sun's journey to the Northern Hemisphere (Makara raasi ), signifying the onset of Uttarayana Punyakalam, and is a day of celebration all over the country.

The day begins with people taking holy dips in the waters and worshipping the Sun. Traditionally, this period is considered an
auspicious time and the veteran Bhishma of Mahabharata chose to die during this period. Bhishma fell to the arrows of Arjun. With his boon to choose the time of his death, he waited on a bed of arrows to depart from this world only during this period. It is believed that those who die in this period have no rebirth.

The Indo Gangetic plain begins this day with taking dips in the Ganga and offering water to the Sun god. The dip is said to purify the self and bestow punya. Special puja is offered as a thanksgiving for good harvest. According to folklore, girls who take the holy dip get handsome husbands and boys get beautiful brides.

Til and Rice are two important ingredients of this festival. In the rice-eating belt of Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh, people have a special rice-centric meal on this day. Also known as Gangasagar Mela, on this day, people come from all over India for a ceremonial cleansing in the river Hooghly, near Calcutta.

Maharashtra - when two persons greet each other on this festive day, they exchange a few grains of multi-coloured sugar and fried til mixed with molasses and say "til gul ghya, god god bola" (henceforth, let there be only friendship and good thoughts between us).

Gujarat - the pandits consider Sankranti as an auspicious day to grant scholarships and certificates of merit to students who have successfully completed their studies in philosophy. In a Hindu household, new utensils are purchased and used for the first time. Brightly coloured kites dot the skies on this day.

Karnataka - men, women and children attired in colourful tunics visit friends and relatives and exchange pieces of sugarcane, a mixture of fried til, molasses, pieces of dry coconut, peanuts and fried gram. The significance of this exchange is that sweetness should prevail in all the dealings. As part of the festival, cows and bulls are given a wash and the horns are painted with bright colours and decorated with garland, and are taken in a procession in the village to the accompaniment of pipes and drums. In the night a bonfire is lit and the animals are made to jump over the fire.

It is a big event for the Tamils and the people of Andhra Pradesh. The Telugus like to call it 'Pedda Panduga' meaning big festival. The whole event lasts for four days, the first day Bhogi, the second day Sankranti, the third day Kanuma and the fourth day, Mukkanuma. One month preceeding Sankranti is called Dhanurmasam and is also an auspicious period. People wake up early, take bath and go around the streets singing devotional songs. Houses are whitewashed and farmers clean their warehouses. Colorful rangoli (muggulu) are drawn in the front yards of every house during this month. These artistic floral designs are drawn on the floor with rice flour or fine powder from limestone. These patterns are decorated with marigold placed on cowdung balls. Colorfully dressed young girls go round them singing songs.

India never learnt from past terror attacks

The lapses in handling the Mumbai terror attacks were similar to those of Kandahar plane hijacking and previous terror attacks but India has not learnt lessons for its previous mistakes in handling a crisis situation, thats really very sad for us

For almost over sixty hours, Mumbai, the financial capital of India, witnessed a series of terrorist attacks, multiple hostage crisis, mindless killings, fierce gun battles and at the end, a disrupted life. The terrorists have struck major targets including luxury hotels and a Jewish Center frequented by Westerners and elite Indian only to be holed up later inside these buildings with innocent civilians as hostage. Their demand was the safe release of Mujahideen held in Indian prisons. Prior to this, they also have targeted at least seven more places and went on a killing spree on that fateful 26/11 Wednesday evening.

An unknown outfit, Deccan Mujahideen claimed responsibility for the attacks. However, for quite some time now, this name game has been a part of Pakistan based terror groups desperate attempt to give a homegrown Indian flavor to this ongoing Jihadi terrorism in the region.

Of course a collusive local hand is quite possible in this sort of terror operations, primarily for logistical support. Looking at the whole incident, it is beyond doubt that these highly trained terrorists have undergone specialised terror training at various camps located somewhere in Pakistan administered Kashmir or Karachi.

It doesn't take any great wisdom to believe that Pakistan based and Kashmir centric terror tanzeems are behind most of the terrorist acts perpetrated on Indian soil. Among them, Lashkar-e-Toiba, Jaish-e-Muhammad and Harkat-ul-Jihad Islami have been leading from the front in the so called Islamic Jihad against India. With strong Saudi Wahabi link and proximity to the notorious ISI, LeT's activities are not always clandestine in Pakistan. It operates openly with its so called political wing Jamat- ud- Dawa, nurturing dreams for a "God's government" on the lines of Sharia laws in Pakistan and elsewhere. It preaches Armed Jihad as shortest route to reach god and heaven. LeT is the one which has introduced such type of Fidayeen missions in Jammu and Kashmir and intermittently striking India's heartlands with its tactics of indiscriminate shooting and grenade attacks.

Its nothing but a massive intelligence failure of our country as Indian security agencies were caught napping again when metropolises like Mumbai, Bangalore and Delhi, country's political and financial centres have always been an obvious target for terrorists who want to cripple the country from all possible fronts.

Former Chief of Research and Analysis Wing B Raman said there was delay in commencing operations by NSG in Mumbai which were akin to what had happened during the Kandahar hijacking.

He said, "They (NSG) did not have the aircraft so they reached Mumbai late. The same thing happened in Kandahar where the response was also very late".

"The commando operations offer best results if taken within two hours of any seize operations NSG has the capability to move a contingent of commandos in minutes. Why that did not happen, I do not know," former Director General of NSG Ved Prakash Marwah said.

Besides delay, lack of coordination between various agencies was also glaring during the 60-hour anti-terror operation in Mumbai, according to experts.

"In Mumbai, nobody knew who is coordinating. There should be someone who should play the leadership role. Either in Mumbai or in Delhi. The person who gives orders to the Navy, Army, NSG, Police. That kind of leadership role was not there," Raman said.

Raman said such things were not happening for the first time. "Every time they are happeing, we are taken by surprise. But we did not have any inquiry. Whatever our mistakes were, we are not correcting them," said he.

At this hour of national crisis, many fear that it could escalate into an Indo-Pakistani crisis as blame game has already begun at the highest level. However, the Islamabad administration has quickly stepped up damage control exercise by promising support in the investigations.

And now the battle is over, the investigating agencies would piece things together to get a clear picture of what had happened and how to fight this menace again in future.

One thing is for sure that to outsmart terror groups, like LeT, it has to resort to proper investigations backed by human and technical intelligence.