A step forward...and a step back!!

Today is a special day for India, today we joined the select club of countries who have successfully launched lunar missions. Early in the morning the PSLV blasted off with Chandrayan-I, India's satellite which will map the Moon for the next two years. India has come a long way since the time I remember in my childhood, when the PSLV failed in it's missions to place satellites into orbit, due to technical shortcomings. As of today India's space agency ISRO has successfully placed many a satellite into orbits using the same PSLV, thereby earning name as well as money for the country.
But although the day started off on a happy note, it couldn't be sustained. For starters the stock market opened lower, and crashed by more than 500 points till the end of trading. But there was more in store. The last month or so has seen the secular credentials of the country take a beating- what with the attacks against the Christian community in different parts of the country, as well as one Mr.Raj Thackeray of MNS ranting continuously against "outsiders". Mr.Thackeray's goons have repeatedly attacked north Indians making a living in Mumbai (soon to be supposedly our own Shanghai), but the nadir was reached so to speak, when they attacked north Indian students last Sunday. The poor students had gone to appear in the recruitment exams for the railways. The way they were beaten up, made for harrowing reading!! At last the Maharashtra government woke up from its slumber to file cases against Mr.Raj Thackeray, and he was arrested yesterday early morning. As expected his goons went on rampage and damaged properties as well as hurt people. Mumbai was on siege, so much for the talk of making it Shanghai!! Anyhow Mr.Thackeray became the first from his notorious family to spend a night in the lock up. But that didn't amount to much as the court granted him bail, minutes after sending him to judicial custody for two weeks. So he is free again, to spread more fear and hatred. I wish someone will be able to think above petty politics, and take strong action against him and his goons.
Till that time lets at least cheer for the amazing scientists who made it possible for us to join the lunar mission club....at least we are moving forward in somethings!!