India, March 22 -- I write these lines seated in the lap of nature, basking in the glow of gratitude that comes naturally in such climes. It has been 10 years of a writing journey that has encompassed myriad subjects, subtle deflections, frontal challenges and above all, a delightful sense of being able to create something of substance. Writing is, in many ways, the most blessed of all human pursuits. To be able to instantaneously create words which potentially impact the minds, perhaps even hearts, of thousands of readers, is a feeling that brooks no competition.

This column - Random Forays - began with a promise. The promise of being allowed to delve into a wide variety of topics. Yet, one had no idea that it would last for years; no i...