Designing a web based game that would run in a browser - Where should I start?
Step 1.  Design a good game.
Step 2.  Be sure that it fits the HTTP model of simple request/reply GET/POST processing.  Be sure that the game is still good.  Some people try to do "real time" or "push" or other things that don't fit the model well and require lots of sophisticated GUI on the desktop.
Step 3.  Find a web framework.  Django is okay.  Others are good too.
Learn the web framework.  Don't start with your game.  Start with the tutorials.
Step 4.  Rethink your game.  Be sure that it fits the framework's model, as well as the HTTP model.  Be sure that the game is still good.  In particular, if your focus is "more about data models than graphics" then you have to really be sure that your game's data model fits your framework's capabilities.
Step 5.  Rethink your framework.  Is Django still the right choice?  Perhaps you need to go back to step 3 and learn another framework.  There's nothing wrong with learning a second framework.  Indeed, until you learn another framework, you won't fully get Django.
Step 6.  Now you should have enough background to actually implement your game.
I would like to design a web based game preferably in Python ( using Django maybe) though I'm open to any language other than Java/Flash/ActionScript. The idea I have in mind is more about data models than graphics and will leverage social networking sites. I would like to extend it with a mobile web interface in the future. Please give your invaluable suggestions and recommend some resources with which I can get started.