Nicely put. here are my 2 cents, if you choose Java
1. Don't try to do too much (JSF, Spring, JMS, Hibernate etc) its easy to get lost in the jungle there. Take small steps.
2. Try to contribute to some open source project like Lucene or Play!
3. Java jobs are aplenty in Pune region, so best luck!
1 year? Try to nail it in 2 months. Try to learn JSP/Servlets, Spring, Hibernate or Play! framework. Showcase something on GAE. Usually money chases talent, so give ur best at building skills.
