2024: Good, Bad and Ugly

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 also inflicted on people of West Europe. In the second war zone, Israel, more out of its whims & fancies than its hallowed status, continued to take revenge against Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza strip. It bombarded Iranian targets also several times. Latest is the bombing of Yemen based Houthies. There is seize fire with Hezbollah now but not with Hamas.So called negotiations are still on.
Long live modern day Divide & Rule policy !
Sorrow of Gaza
In Gaza strip alone, in retaliation to merciless murder of more than a thousand Israelis by Hamas in October, 2023, 46,006 innocent Palestinians have died while 109,378 people have been injured. Public property and infrastructure worth millions of dollars has also been vanquished. Sanitation and hygiene in this densely populated narrow zone continues to be pathetic. U.N. supported and other welfare NGOs 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 the 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 the pendulum is President Putin who has become a modern day brute imperialist. His lust for blood will never get satiated. Unfortunately, our own PM is trying to teach him basic tenets of Ahimsa. Ironically, whenever he visits Russia or Ukraine, their armies kill innocent children. One is reminded of the 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 the U.S.A, U.K., Germany, Brazil, Italy, Japan, Bangladesh, Syria etc.
First six had a peaceful transition, whereas in the last two, it was owing to bloody and embarrassing conflict. In Bangladesh, upon the forced departure of Sheikh Hasina, its free for all situation. South Korea too is inching towards a phase of extreme uncertainty with the impeachment of President Yoon-Suk-Yeol.
As UNO kept on merely “observing”, it is high time, this white tiger was wound up.
Arrival of HMVP Virus
The Year end also saw the return of another deadly virus HMVP, yet again from China. Few days ago it 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 the 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 dignitaries had significant contributions to make, their absence will be fondly missed.
To me, Dr. Manmohan Singh was the tallest of the lot. As Finance Minister in 1991, he revolutionised the process of economic reforms, which are having a sound bearing on different sectors of economy and polity even now. Later as PM, he fine tuned his efforts with pioneering reforms in the areas of information, right to food & education, MNREGA and ensuring better compensation for acquisition of land for public purposes.
Ratan Tata was a doyen in his very widely known and well respected family who had many firsts to his credit. Being a bachelor, he was in a position to devote his entire life equally to the service of industry and society all over the world. He was an unassuming person, mixing nicely with his work force.He was widely respected for his various works in the Steel City of Jamshedpur.
Jimmy Carter, the former U.S.President died at the ripe old age of 100. He was a sober and extremely popular person. Like many of his colleagues, he was an India lover. Cause of his attachment being appreciable; it was indomitable social work done by his mother Mrs Lilian Carter in the slums of Dharavi in the then Bombay.
If one looks to name the best film director after Satyajit Ray, it was none other than Shyam Benegal. In his long, inspiring and marvellous career commencing with Ankur, and creations, such as, Manthan, Bhumika, Junoon, Kalyug, Bharat Ek Khoj etc, he presented the social reality in such a way that audience from all sections of society would remain captivated.
Zakir Hussain, World renowned Tabla player who represented very effectively the Indian art & culture to the West, both in presence and absence of Pandit Ravi Shanker, was a sensation during his heydays. Apart from having an excellent grip over Tabla, he also would find time to be a Music Director for many films.

Sharada Sinha, living legend of Bhojpuri folk singing and uncrowned Queen of the very essence of Music in Bihar and U.P., too expired in 2024. Apart from her songs in Bhojpuri and other languages, she was playback singer in at least 6 Hindi feature films.
Sushil Modi, the former Deputy CM of Bihar, was a seasoned politician spanning over four decades. In a world full of dishonesty and bickering, he was a beacon of hope. He was honest, very hard working and overall, a sincere individual. Apart from proving his mettle in his home state of Bihar, he left his indelible imprint as Chairman of Empowered Committee of State Finance Ministers on Goods & Services Tax.
Global Warming or Cooling?
Further rise in global temperature by 1.6 degrees 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 icebergs 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 microchips for Cell phones. Country not only began manufacturing upgraded tanks, fighter planes and helicopters, very soon transport planes and latest Rafael planes would be also manufactured in India.
New Parliament & Temple at Ayodhya
Nation got a new Parliament building and a completely renovated Central Vista with a new name – Kartavya 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 being international, were added. There was a remarkable rise in Metro connectivity as well.
Sports Arena
In the highly competitive sports arena, thanks to tremendous boost from PM 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’s Hockey players became Asian champions. Argentina became World Football champions, while champion of champions Rafael Nadal announced his retirement.
Indian men’s cricket team did not perform as per expectations.Women Cricketers, in contrast, did well.
Nature Front
While the worst ever landslide took place at Wayanad, Kerala, killing over 500 persons, slides and sinking of land on the 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 in the 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.
Unjustified Extravaganzas
Mukesh Ambani hosted the biggest ever wedding extravaganza for many days. Similarly, if on a low scale, a tremendous amount of money went down the drain during more than ten lakh weddings held between October and December. Fat Indian marriages, apart from making a deep hole into the pocket of the bride’s father, 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 the African Union may not serve much purpose as such associations have no clout. India’s status as an 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.
Artificial Intelligence
Last but not the least, Artificial Intelligence became a revolutionary and strong force to reckon with. It can aid positive steps as it is 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 the young generation.
(The author is former Chief Secretary, Sikkim)
