As 2012 becomes a thing of the past, I am right now in a very pensive mood recollecting what occurred during the year and what beholds us all, the members of
Blue Caramel, in the new year 2013.
Year 2012, to say the least, has been a year filled with challenges and at the outset promised much more than it has actually delivered in the end. Following my
STEP theory, the analysis can be elucidated in the following paragraphs.
1) Socially- The malaise that India has faced in the societal frame work for time immemorial sees no ending and on the contrary forces seem to be at work to widen the divide between social groups. Vicious online and campaigns on the cell phone were instrumental in creating an alienation of the people of the
North-East this year. Rumor mongers had a field day this year, when thousands of people from all over the country migrated back to their own homelands in the North East after they were threatened through social media for so called murders of Muslims in their states. It virtually led to a collapse in governance and a mass exodus.
Rapes and honor killings went on unabated this year. But the most horrific was the rape, mutilation and murder of the "
Brave Heart" of Delhi, a 23 year old paramedic who fought death for 13 days before finally succumbing to her injuries in a hospital in Singapore. The incident ignited a mass movement of the youth who wanted better governance and swift justice. The small spark thus ignited could turn into an inferno in the new year, if lessons are not learnt and remedial actions not taken.
2) Technological- Though technological advancement is an area is a field which India can boast of, 2012 saw a complete technological failure, when the wanna be "Super Power" had to go literary "
Power"less for two continuous days, when the Power grids of the country collapsed. This unprecedented gaffe led to a lot of mockery of India in the international arena.
3) Economic- The Indian economy has had to withstand a lot of pressure in 2012 because of the world wide recession. Companies like the
Kingfisher Airlines are on the verge of bankruptcy because of financial mismanagement and obstinacy. But on the other hand many have also recorded impressive growth showcasing the resilience of the Indian economy. But the divide between the economic "haves" and "have nots", unfortunately has widened resulting in the making of ticking time bombs of discontentment that just wait to explode, anytime.
4) Political- Political stagnancy and polity paralysis has been the hallmark of the year 2012 for India. Though the degree of it was higher when the year started and has gradually become better as the year went by, on the whole, political parties cutting across the
political spectrum, have given the feeling to the public that they have taken the masses for a ride. Less of constructive deliberations in the parliament and more of rhetoric outside, more of corruption, more of nepotism, has made the word "Politician" more dirty this year.
So, what future beholds?? I for sure am not an astrologer, so I am not in a position to enumerate what the future holds?? I on the contrary believe that let future be future and lets not try to predict it. As the protagonist played by Ben Affleck in the movie "
Paycheck" realizes
if you know the future then you loose hope as it then becomes a certainty and if you loose hope then you loose life itself.
But going by the happenings that have surrounded us in
2012, in all probability it would not be very unwise, if it is concluded that
2013 promises to be a much better, happier and prosperous year than 2012 was. But then did not 2012 begun the same way with lots of promise??
