blog crack

Bhaikaka 

I was on Wikipedia (This thing is so freakin' awesome I can't even stand it! It's got everything! And who puts it all in?) the other day and I started searching around.

I wanted to see just how extensive it actually was so I typed in the most random place I know: Vallabh Vidhyanagar, aka V.V.Nagar, a small town in the state of Gujarat, India (the best state in India as we all know).

To those who live in V.V. Nagar, its not so random, but 90% of the rest of the world has never heard of it, including many Gujaratis. Although, really, it's not so out of the way. It's a university town (Sardar Patel University, SPU) and kids from all around the country go there to study. But still. I thought the powers that be that run Wikipedia would most likely not have it listed.

It should be noted here that much of my family lives in good old V.V. Nagar and I, personally, think it's one of the best places on earth. So, you can imagine my excitement when -- lo and behold! -- they had an actual listing of the town of all towns.

After the British left, they created a total vacuum (they liked to destroy places after they colonized them), and we needed to scramble to rebuild the country. Thus, a whole lot of people needed to be educated. As Wikipedia states, "The reason of foundation of the University and the town was to spread the Education in the Rural Areas of Gujarat . . .SPU proved to be a revolution in Gujarat." It was one of the first places in the state where one could be educated. And it was free.

They even mentioned V.V. Nagar's and Sardar Patel University's illustrious founder Shri Bhailal D. Patel, aka Bhaikaka. Who so happens to be my great-grandfather.

And even though I've been inundated with Patel family propaganda my whole entire life about how great he was and how great the university is, it made me really proud to read about the town, the school and my grandfather from sources who weren't directly related to me. It made me that much more honored.

I mean, if Wikipedia has you on file, you've really made it, right?