India is the second-fastest growing economy in the world ; its industrialists own businesses in Europe ; its popular culture has gone global ; it is the largest working democracy in the world ; its young people are coveted for their intellect and skills ; it makes some of the smartest cars in the world ; it is among the top nations for biotechnology ; it pioneers mobile phone software ; it is moving fast on space exploration ; it is a bookish nation ; it is steeped in religions but keeps the state secular ; its artists and writers are conquering the world and even more so its glorious food of infinite variety .