Or your standards are very low (Just kidding)

My biggest problem is, besides procuring a SIM, is to keep it alive. I don't travel to India frequently enough to keep my SIM alive.

Is there a way to keep it alive for a year without spending a fortune?

As far as procuring a SIM is concerned, I don't like having to get one in someone else's name. People with Indian ID think getting a SIM card is as simple as asking for one and forking out a dollar or so.
Not quite.

I had been on the run for two days on my way to Badrinath, and on getting there, I found, to my disappointment that I was to be accorded absolute peace by iDEA. No calls, no e-mails. My SIM card was happy and my data plan was at peace too.

Since it was three days before closure of the temple for the winter, all but one mobile shop, were closed. He too refused to sell me a SIM without a proper Indian ID. He suggested that wasn't worth the effort trying to get a SIM for a couple of days. iDEA resumes it's service halfway between Badrinath and Joshimath. A hotel employee lent me his phone for one day. I just wanted a SIM. I was able to call my wife so that she could call me back. He would not accept any money either.