Like any year, 2024 had its attractions and distractions, wins and losses, births and deaths, demerits and merits, inevitables and surprises.
Beginning from negatives, Russia-Ukraine war lingered on, so was the case with Middle East. Not only Ukrainians are suffering, miseries are being inflicted on people of West Europe also. In the second war zone, Israel, out of its whims and fancies, continued to take revenge against Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza strip. It bombarded Iranian targets also several times. Latest is bombing of Yemen Houthies. There is seize fire with Hezbollah now but not with Hamas. Bravo, modern day Divide & Rule policy!
Sorrow Of Gaza
In Gaza strip alone, 46,006 innocent persons have died while109,378 helpless people have been injured. Public property and infrastructure worth millions of dollars has been also vanquished. Sanitation and hygiene in this densely populated narrow zone continues to be pathetic. U.N. supported and other welfare NGO's have become regular targets of Israeli attack. Either they are bombarded upon reaching the needy or their passage to them is systematically impeded.
What self-proclaimed protector cum destroyer of world is going to gain, only they would know. In sum and substance, together with paranoid nation Israel, their agenda is worse than that of Adolf Hitler.
President Putin's Designs
At the other end of pendulum is President Putin who has become a modern day imperialist. His lust for blood will never get satiated. Unfortunately, our own P.M. is trying to teach him tenets of Ahimsa. Ironically, whenever he visits Russia or Ukraine, their armies kill innocent children. One is reminded of visit of A.B. Vajpayee to China. When China attacked Vietnam, Vajpayee quietly left for home. But "our world leader" is not Vajpayee. SAD.
Change Of Guard
Coming to victories and change of guard, it happened in U.S.A, U.K., Germany, Brazil, Italy, Japan, Bangladesh, Syria etc.
First six had peaceful transition, whereas in the last two, it was owing to bloody and embarrassing, conflict. South Korea too inched towards a phase of extreme uncertainty with impeachment of President Yoon-Suk-Yeol.
As UN kept on merely observing, it is high time, this white tiger was wound up.
Arrival Of HMVP Virus
The Year end also saw return of another deadly virus HMVP, yet again from China. Few days ago it had made a landing in India, infecting 9 cases. Although said to be less harmful than Corona-19 virus, its target group are children and old persons. Casualties are expected to be relatively on lower side due to umpteen medical infrastructure and readily available awareness and experience.
Deaths Of Important Persons
Renowned persons- Dr.Manmohan Singh, Ratan Tata, Jimmy Carter, Shyam Benegal, Zakir Hussain, Sharada Sinha ,Sushil Modi, etc left for their heavenly abode. As all had significant contributions to make in their respective fields, their absence will be fondly missed.
Global Warming Or Cooling?
Further rise in global temperature by 1.6 degree is a cause of profound worry, more so, in view of failure of climate pledges at COP 29. Due to 'human induced climate change', ocean too was warmest. Glaciers are melting fast and ice bergs are disintegrating. Winter also broke past records. Sustainable Development is being undermined. Unless all get united, earth cannot be saved from further damage.
Notable Achievements Of India
While India became 5th largest economy of the world, it also became 2nd biggest manufacturer of micro chips for cell phones. Country not only began manufacturing upgraded tanks, fighter planes and helicopters, very soon transport planes and latest Rafael planes would be manufactured in India.
New Parliament & Temple At Ayodhya
Nation got a new Parliament building and a completely renovated Central Vista with a new name-Kartabya Path. Also a new temple for Ram Lalla at Ayodhya was noticeable.
Conduct of test flights at Jewar and Navi Mumbai too were path breaking initiatives. Further, a number of expressways and new airports, some of them international, were added. There was remarkable rise in Metro connectivity as well.
Sports Arena
In the highly competitive sports arena, thanks to tremendous boost from P.M. himself, Indians did very well at both Olympics and Paralympics.
D. Gukesh of Chennai became the youngest World Champion. There are other Grand Masters in queue. Indian women Hockey players became Asian champions. Argentina became World Football champions, while champion of champions Raefel Nadal announced his retirement.
Indian men's cricket team did not perform as per expectations. Women Cricketers, in contrast, did well.
Nature Front
On the nature's front, while worst ever landslide took place at Waynaad, Kerala, killing over 500 persons, slides and sinking of land on way to Kalimpong and Sikkim and inside Sikkim led to considerable damage and blockage of highways for weeks. In the same way, human tragedy resulting from a massive religious stampede at Hathras resulted into killing of 120 persons but no one has been found accountable thus far. Another public outrage over R.G. Kar hospital rape case disturbed everyone in the manner akin to Nirbhaya's rape and death in 2013.On another negative front, violence between two tribes at Manipur returned. Both Central and State governments have done precious little to resolve the crisis.
Extravaganzas
Mukesh Ambani hosted biggest ever wedding extravaganza for many days. Similar, if on low scale, tremendous amount of money went down the drain during more than ten lakh weddings between October and December. Fat Indian marriages also contribute immensely to air pollution. But who cares?
World Affairs
On the International front, both G-20, hosted by Brazil and BRICS, organised by Russia were damp squibs. Including African Union may not serve any purpose as it has no clout. India's status as observer at G-7 or similar meets of rich nations, similarly, cannot cut any ice. As regards, Indian sub-continent, while no attempt was made by India to revive SAARC, her participation in other regional outfits of South Asia could be considered appreciable. Thanks to personal initiative of the PM, India became more close to few Islamic nations. Inauguration of a Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi was commendable.
Last but not the least, Artificial Intelligence became a revolutionary and strong force to reckon with. It can aid positive steps as also likely to be misused equally by criminal minded persons.
PM Modi acknowledged its strength and scope during his address to U.S. Parliament. In addition to its utility in many sectors of economy & polity, it is bound to be, rather already being misused. We need to Guard against that to ensure a safe future for young generation.
