HAPPY NEW YEAR 2025

So one more year of Christian Calendar has got over! Before we get engrossed into Nitty Gritties, one should frankly confess that majority of the Hindus are unaware about First Day of the year according to Hindu Calendar.

Like any Year, 2024 was full of ups and downs, victories and defeats, loss of crucial parliamentary seats by BJP, new Parliament building, India becoming 2nd biggest manufacturer of micro chips used in mobile phones, Ati-Brishti, Ana Brishti, rise in global temperature, worst landslide disaster at Waynaad, deadly Hathras stampede killing 120 persons, re-emergence of caste and reservations as key issues in Indian politics, achievements and losses, births and deaths, drought and flood, Olympics and Paralympics, Tests and One Dayers, retirement of Rafael Nadal, Argentina new World Football champions, D Gukesh becoming World Chess champion, India becoming Asian Women’s Hockey champion, inauguration of Temple at Ayodhya, Ambani’s marriage extravaganza, long public outrage over R.G.Kar rape case, continuation of Russia-Ukraine war, G-20 meet at Brazil, emerging challenges from Artificial Intelligence, change of Governments in Bangladesh and Syria, political crisis in South Korea, Consumer Price Index inflation lowest since 2019 but food inflation still high, GDP growth rate of 6.6% lower than 7.5% in 2023, victory of Trump in U.S.elections, stoppage of Israeli action against Hezbollah, no solution to Gaza strip crisis, failure of climate pledges at COP 29, arrest and long detentions of two Chief Ministers, embarrassing ethnic violence in Manipur, successful test flights at new international airports at Jewar and Navi Mumbai, Expiry of Ratan Tata, sad demise of Dr.Manmohan Singh, Jimmy Carter, record winter rainfall, etc, etc.2025 is bound to begin with new year resolutions which we mostly do not fulfil. The New Year may see likely return of AAP party to power in Delhi, possibIlity of passage of One Nation, One Election Act and many more positive and negative developments on several fronts.

Let us hope and pray that in 2025, overall health and nutrition status of both children and women (both crucial for family) record improvement.

With these words, let me wish you and all in Family A VERY HAPPY & PROSPEROUS 2025.

(The author is former Chief Secretary of Sikkim)