A tribute to Indian Beauty

Indian girls are famous all over the world for their unique beauty. Their striking exotic features which are very different from white, Black or East Asian features. India is a kaleidoscope of many races including Caucasians (Aryans), Mediterranean, Mongoloids, Dravidians, Australoids. Inhabitants of Andaman and Nicobar Islands are closely related to the Black race. Over the 5000 years of continuing civilization history these races have mixed together to produce a very eclectic mixture of cultures and of course beauty.

Relevance of Miss Universe and Miss World

“Beauty pageants might be seen as irrelevant today but it is indeed a daunting task to be beautiful, stress free, calm, articulate, intelligent all at the same time. It takes a Lion’s heart to be flag bearer of country with 1.3 billion people in an event which still gets hundreds of millions viewership from all over the world.”

India has the second largest diaspora population in the world and they have achieved great success everywhere in the world. This year Miss World 2014 Competition had 7 Indian origin Beauties, 2 penetrating Top 10, India and Guyana.  Last year 5 Indian origin beauties competed at Miss Universe.

Miss Universe 2010

At Miss Universe 2010, 2 of the TOP 5 were of Mixed Indian origin, Jamaican Yendi Philips and Filipino Venus Raj.

India has produced great and memorable beauty queens. Aishwarya is a legend and so far the most successful Miss World ever. Sushmita and Lara Dutta are remembered for their answers which are rated amongst the best at Miss Universe ever.

Asha Bhatt: Miss Supranational 2014

Lara score a score of 9.9/10 at Miss Universe 2010 which is highest ever. India is also the Only Country to win Miss Universe and Miss World both in the same years twice, 1994 and 2000. It is also the only country to score a back to back victory at Miss World by winning in 1999 and 2000.

http://bitvie.com/lara-dutta-winning-answer-rated-best-ever-miss-universe/

 India won Miss World 3 times in 4 years itself speaks the power of Indian beauty and Brains.  With 7 Big 2 crowns (Miss World and Miss Universe) India enjoys a very respectable position in the pageantry. With 7 Big 2 crowns (Miss World and Miss Universe) India enjoys a very respectable position in the pageantry.

This performance is commendable as the there was never a huge popular support from the Indians in general. This year India has won Miss Supranational, Third after Miss Universe and Miss World in terms of production quality. Also India won 3 other minor crowns this year. Indian beauty is certainly on roll.

Aishwarya Rai and Sushmita Sen : A fairytale start in 1994

In 2000 India won 4 major pageants, Miss Universe, Miss World, Mrs. World and Miss Asia Pacific.

Let’s have a look at their profiles of Indian contestants this year.

Miss Universe 2014

Miss Universe 2014 taking place at Doral in Miami Florida has 6 Indian origin Beauties, 2 of them partially Indian and rest completely Indian

Picture Courtesy: India’s Next International Beauty Queen

1.     India : Noyonita Lodh (completely Indian)

2.     Malaysia: Sabrina Bennett (completely Indian)

3.     Mauritius: Pallavi Gungram (completely Indian)

4.     Singapore: Rathi Menon (completely Indian)

5.     Guyana: Niketa Barker (Indian-Black)

6.     Netherlands: Yasmin Verheijen (Indian-German-Chinese)

At Miss World 2014

Miss World 2014 which happened at London in December had 7 Indian origin beauties. 2 of them Miss Guyana and Miss India reached Top 10.

Indian Beauty Queens

India has following Major crowns in beauty pageants

5 Miss World  (1966, 94, 97, 99, 2000), 6 runner up. First Ever Back to Back

2 Miss Universe (94, 2000), 11 year semifinal placement streak, 4 years finalist streak

1 Miss Supranational (2014)

3 Miss Asia Pacific (1970, 1973, 2000)

3 Miss Asia Pacific World (2012, 2013, 2014) F

1 Miss Earth (2010)

2 Miss Intercontinental (1978, 1997)

In addition to this Indian girls have won 14 other minor titles including all versions of Tourism queen International/Tourism queen (Malaysia Version)/China versions

Indian beauty stands in a league of its own as unmatched as our women are.

  

A wonder that is India

If there is one book that every civil service aspirant is advised to read before starting arduous preparation for the toughest examination of India ,The UPSC examination also known as the IAS exam colloquially ;it is the book authored by A.L. Basham aptly called " A wonder that was India ".

It has been in print for past 50 years now and still serves as a stepping stone for foreign origin students of Indian history.

Though I am not a big fan of the book but I am choosing this as the title for my first post with a slight change in the title but that does justice to this land of wonders that I call my motherland. India is a country stereotyped in many ways  We associate ourselves very strongly with our religion.. I remember going to Varanasi ghats with my father as child and I was left wondering why the tourists visiting the country would pay money just to watch a Hindu funeral. But is it necessary to have stereotypes of a land as ancient , as living , as vibrant , as diverse as India .  As it happens with most 'silent' type kids there were things which I could not understand at that time and then there are things which I don't understand even now. Why people worship the idols for a few days only to be immersed in the river a few days later . Why the girls I could play with as a 5 years old child would not be allowed to play with the boys a few years later. Why the railways stations are so dirty despite the never ending  announcements seeking passengers co-operation in keeping them clean. Why the traffic man treats the blue/red beacon cars differently. Probably it was that time when I was dreamed of being in one such car.

Years later I have gained some understanding of my country. I have talked to travelers visiting India second time , just to feel what its like to be in a chaotic place . Ah... that feeling so elusive in their native countries. Tourists who want to leave India blaming some old wise man who suggested them to travel to this 'exotic' land but didn't warn them of the consequences of travelling to a country of 1250 million people where nothing seems to work at the first sight , at least not the way they are used to back home.India is a country with a civilization that goes back 5000 years from present and has retained many of its ancient charms despite numerous challenges and constant attacks on its territory.  India has perfected the art of assimilation without any loss of identity making her culture a kaleidoscopic mix that has no parallel in this world.    Continued.....