Half A Decade Later: Reflections and Resolutions for 2025

As the clock strikes midnight, ushering in 2025, I find myself revisiting an old tradition—penning down thoughts on the cusp of a new year. It’s been more than half a decade since I last wrote such a blog, but the call of introspection and the pull of shared reflections are too strong to ignore. So here I am, rekindling the habit, with the hope that these words resonate with those seeking clarity amidst the noise of resolutions and retrospections.

2024: A Year of Milestones and Challenges

The year 2024 was no ordinary year. Globally, it bore witness to the relentless march of artificial intelligence, which continued to redefine industries, ethics, and economies. Climate change, ever persistent, demanded global attention as extreme weather events from wildfires in Canada to unprecedented floods in South Asia reminded us of nature’s fragility. The ongoing conflict in Eastern Europe and Middle East remained a grim reminder of geopolitical tensions.

In India, 2024 marked a significant political shift. My state of Odisha—a region close to my heart—experienced its first cyclone season without Naveen Patnaik at the helm. His decades-long leadership left a legacy of preparedness, but the transition underscored the importance of resilience and adaptive governance. The country also celebrated its burgeoning achievements in space exploration, with ISRO’s continued success in lunar and interplanetary missions becoming a point of national pride. Meanwhile, the G20 Summit hosted in Delhi showcased India’s leadership on the global stage, reinforcing its role as a mediator and policymaker in a polarised world.

Odisha, my home state, continued to stand tall in its cultural richness. The Konark Dance Festival and the Rath Yatra in Puri captivated hearts worldwide. However, challenges like coastal erosion and the struggle for balancing industrialisation with ecological preservation remained pressing concerns.

The Question of Resolutions

New Year’s resolutions often polarize opinions. Some see them as futile—promises broken before January ends. Others view them as necessary resets, aspirations etched in hope. Over the years, I’ve wavered between both camps, questioning the essence of resolutions.

The truth lies somewhere in between. Resolutions are as effective as the systems we build to sustain them. A vague promise to “get fit” pales in comparison to a structured plan involving realistic goals, timelines, and accountability. The same applies to broader aspirations like “reading more” or “being kinder.” Resolutions are not inherently flawed; our approach often is.

Looking Inward

The past year has been a mirror reflecting our strengths and weaknesses, both personal and collective. For me, the introspection has been profound. Why did I stop writing? Was it the lack of time, inspiration, or confidence? Perhaps it was all three. Restarting this blog feels like a small but significant step toward reconnecting with myself and the world.

Hopes for 2025

As 2025 begins, I hope to see the world inch closer to harmony. I hope for technological advancements that are inclusive, for climate actions that are impactful, and for policies that prioritise humanity over division. Closer home, I dream of an Odisha where tradition and modernity coexist, where its youth find opportunities without abandoning roots, and where its natural beauty thrives against all odds.

For myself, I aim to write more, think deeply, and live mindfully—not as a resolution, but as a way of being.

A Toast to the Future

To all who read this, I urge you to reflect, not regret; to resolve, but with reason. Here’s to 2025—a year of possibilities, a canvas waiting for the strokes of our intentions and actions. Let’s make it count.

Happy New Year!

Resuscitating in a New Year!

The year 2018 that showed us various ups and downs at personal, national and global stages, in social, economic and political aspects has waned to its end. We have, yet again, another New Year to welcome and vow to resolutions attempting to better ourselves!

In the marine neighbourhood, India witnessed political crisis and turmoil, in Maldives and Sri Lanka. Cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan became the 22nd Prime Minister after Nawaz Sharif was cobwebbed in the Panama Leaks controversy.

Amongst all, Afghanistan was at the receiving end this season. The déjà vu of ‘Reign of Terror’ in Kabul made the world come together as a single nation. To its contrast, the refugee problem in Europe started to be seen as a threat, now being treated with strict rules and seen with suspicion.

The biggest tectonic shift - the Brexit - still happens to be the most yet-to-be-comprehended global political happening.

The failing state of Syria had witnessed civil war since the Arab Spring. The war, with Russian intervention, finally ended in Aleppo, the largest city in Syria.

At the domestic level, India has spent most of 2018 reeling in the aftermath of key policy changes, economic and political scandals, and brewing internal conflict, while playing a more visible role on the global stage.

The year began with the Bhima Koregaon violence in Pune on January 1, which culminated in widely publicised and contemptible arrests of Dalit rights activists in August. The year ended with alarming reports of turmoil from the RBI the CBI and the Supreme Court, three institutions that form the cornerstone of democracy.

The year also witnessed a disquieting surge in nationalism as evinced by the Ram Mandir movement 2.0. Demands for the contentious temple loom large on BJP’s political banner, the national discourse and the Supreme Court’s roster, while the movement itself teeters dangerously on the edge of historical reenactment. Also shaking things up are the nationwide farmers' agitation and Assam’s National Register of Citizens (NRC) debacle, putting country’s marginalised communities on the map and pitting them against the central government. These are but some of the issues that have testified to BJP’s misplaced political priorities more than ever, courtesy some excellent media coverage.

Ever since Congress president Rahul Gandhi mentioned the smoking gun during the 'No-Confidence Motion' against the BJP, the Rafale deal and its many iterations have been a national talking point for the better half of the year. Reliance Defence CEO Anil Ambani's entry in the offset contract sparked the most raucous criticism of cronyism from the opposition, who questioned the decision making process. The top court’s verdict earlier this month, however, came, as an early Christmas gift for the centre, when they ratified the deal but an error in the court’s document later brought its clean-chit under suspicion.

In the political spectrum, the nine states that went to polls to elect their state representation this year, four key saffron states lost to the opposition either led by or comprising Congress. In the north-eastern region, however, BJP won big and clinched most of the states including Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura.

The case against tampering of ballot machines also made headlines.

Setting the note for BJP’s evanescing stronghold was Karnataka in June, where the the saffron failed to form the government being the winner. After a week of dramatic wrangling and a quick post-poll alliance, the JDS-Congress coalition staked a claim to form the government.

In the second round of Assembly polls, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh delivered key victories to Congress from the BJP. All three states are reeling from a massive agrarian crisis.

Scripting a new chapter in the history of the 36-year-old regional party founded by his father-in-law late N T Rama Rao with the sole aim of taking on the Congress, TDP supremo and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu buried the hatchet and vowed to work with it to dethrone the BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Alongside rise of cow vigilantism and saffronising names of cities the agenda for Ram temple in Ayodhya remains at the fore of Hindutva politics.

The three cornerstones of democracy - the RBI, the CBI and the Supreme Court - witnessed an unprecedented turmoil, perhaps the first in India's history. The autonomy of the bankers' bank clashed with the government's interference. CBI chief Alok Verma, who was responsible for leading the Rafale investigation, was sent into exile after his second-in-command Rakesh Asthana levelled charges of corruption against him. The protector of the Constitution was itself at the verge of collapse when four of the top judges appeared for media briefing against the CJI.

This was also the year of urban naxalism. Government’s increasing attacks on media and academia, especially those working for the marginalised communities.

More importantly, for the centre to hold, politically motivated revisions to India’s history must be forsaken with immediate effect. With the polls looming ahead, it does well to remind ourselves that as long as Indian democracy – the largest of its kind – prevails, the power rests with the people. The country is headed for a fresh round of elections in the new year with the hope that the political leadership, irrespective of who comes/returns to power, recognises what people really need: jobs, basic rights, healthcare, education and development of the masses, and essentially not statues, temples, JIO university, gau rakshaks or growing economic disparity.

In August, India’s first all-female commando team was formally inducted into the Delhi Police by Union Minister Rajnath Singh, that broke the male hold on the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team in the country.

In February, 24-year-old Avani Chaturvedi became the first woman in India to fly a fighter jet alone. The flying officer flew a MiG-21 Bison, which possesses the highest take off and landing speed in the world.

The #MeToo India hashtag was the defining moment of the year 2018. The movement may have come home a year after shocking the US with high-profile sexual misconduct allegations in the creative industries, primarily Hollywood. 

The repercussions/consequences of the historic 8^th November 2016 decision of ‘remonetisation’ (or ‘demonetisation’, as what you may call it) are yet to be documented. 

The year 2018 was the most happening year in Odisha history. Be it positive reports or controversies, the State remained in news both in national and international media this year. The outgoing year in some ways was a political throwback. The tussle between the State and Centre over some key issues and the internal rift within political parties were in the news throughout the year.

The first-of-its-kind Patnagarh parcel bomb blast, the lawyers-cop spat that disrupted the judicial procedures for more than two months, reactions against the anti-Odisha remarks made by journalist Abhijit Iyer-Mitra in context of Odia culture and her pride possessions made the headlines. The non-operational status of the newly inaugurated Jharsuguda airport under the UDAN scheme attracted criticisms.

However, towards the last quarter of the year, it was Odisha in the world eyes. The ''Make in Odisha Conclave" witnessed 183 investments worth Rs 4,19,574 crore. Then came the much awaited Men's World Cup Hockey which garnered much appreciations and applause for the efforts put in by the locals.

Each time a year ends, wallowing in and living life to the zenith marks the trend of this transition phase (remember to cause minimal damage to resources though!). Amidst all this suddenly we become self conscious and jot out a schedule for the new season. It would be moronic to spend the eve of the new beginning without an attitude for oneself and care for the society!

The world is educating. So should all of us – not with degree but morally and ethically. It is time for us to act with a sense of responsibility towards everyone and everything. For this we have to have a strong zeal to change our perception and look at things from the respect of the entire humankind. A simple yet effective resolution, like “I shall, no matter what, speak the truth”, can be effective and yield results rather than faking tens of resolutions. 

This time I would want you to not only prepare your own ‘can be adhered to’ plans but also look inwards instead of outwards. I am sure this would give you a lot more satisfaction, a feeling of content and energy to go the extra mile – remember it is seldom crowded!

Cavett Robert once said “Character is the ability to carry out a good resolution long after the excitement of the moment has passed”.


                         Happy New Year 2019
                            Jai Jagannath :-)

Recharge, Reform, Reset this New Year

As humans, we like the concept of a new start, particularly as a way to break bad habits and start anew. Although many cultures celebrate the New Year at different times, the solar-based 12-month Western calendar has become a part of our common psyche, pretty much across the globe. We ponder and discuss all the interesting occurrences that happened the foregoing year: the good times, the bad times, the frustrating times, and the fun times. We share what valuable lessons we learned from our experiences, what God showed us and how faithful He was through all of it.

The year 2017 was a happening one – sea changes cutting across political and social horizons – local, national and international. Reports of the killing of the self-proclaimed “Caliphate” of the most active terrorist organization of the world today – Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi – have given a sigh of relief to the world. The world now eyes on the Korean peninsula where the North Korean leadership treats n-weapons as mere stones and sticks!

It was a proud moment for India when the single PSLV-C37 put into orbit a record 104 satellites from seven countries (96 from the US of America), giving ISRO a global applaud. BrahMos, the supersonic cruise missile in the world, was successfully test fired from Sukhoi-30, adding India to the club of superpowers in space and defence technologies!

Many Constitutional positions of the Indian Union witnessed new swearing-ins including that of the President, the Vice President, the Chief Justice of India, and the Chief Ministers of Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Bihar. The saffron continued to flourish but with unprecedented jolts from the oldest political party of the country. RaGa taking over the charge of the INC President could stir the political scenario in the new year. The famous midnight Parliament session passing the much awaited Goods and Services Tax Act was a history in the making.

The year 2017 was the year of victory for the Muslim women of India when the Supreme Court, in an historical judgment, declared the practice of ‘Triple Talaq’ unconstitutional. Adding to that, to give effect, the Lok Sabha has already passed the ‘The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill 2017’. Among others, the famous 9-year old Arushi murder case remained unsolved as the Talwars were acquitted by the Allahabad High Court. The self-made God-man, the infamous Gurmeet Ram Rahim, was sentenced to 20-year jail term with other penalties. The good moment came in again when towards the end of the year India won back the Miss World title with the 21-year old Manushi Chillar getting the crown. The ‘Padmavati’ and the ‘Hrithik-Kangana’ controversies surfaced long time during the year. The world converged to Odisha when the state government put up a state-of-the-art Kalinga Stadium for Athletics Meet and the World Hockey League.

The debate between the citizens and the current government remains that of privacy rights. With the government increasingly stressing upon Aadhaar for nearly everything, some believe that their privacy is at peril. When the government itself does depend so much on ‘gmail’, what guarantee can it promise to its citizens about their personal details being safe and secure! The public sector cannot depend on the private sector in this age of severe inequality. The government must learn from the Chinese establishment and fund for our own Googles, Facebooks, and Twitters. Just making the Chinese Army retreat from Doka La would not make India what we want it to be.

Plenty of us make resolutions this time of year. It’s never too early – or too late – to reset our habits and behaviors. The idea of New Year resolutions conjures up different feelings among different people. Some doubt the significance of resolutions in real life, while others doubt their ability to stick to their own resolutions. Some feel disappointed over their past failures with resolutions, while others feel tempted to make new, bolder ones.

It is a time for the maintenance check-up. Build your knowledge and skillsets, be unselfish and give back, spend less time on e-media and more in person. Always challenge yourself. Never compare, for comparison is a slippery slope that never leads to measuring up. The reality is we were created in God’s image. Our worth is determined by the one who made us, which means we are free from the burden of having to earn or prove our value. We are fearfully and wonderfully made. DO NOT depend on others to be happy. Whatever you give the power to make you, you also give the power to break you. An identity attached to someone else valuing you is a fragile one. The defining factor of our self-worth should be the source of our happiness. This way, whoever He places in our lives to love us can add to our fulfilled hearts rather than fill them for us.

Resolutions are a cliché; everyone plans but seldom follows. Get into the fifth gear, expiate your follies, and be hell-bent upon achieving what you desire. Act towards becoming a responsible citizen - both for the present and the future humankind. God Bless!

Happy New Year 2018 to All☺
Jai Hind Jai Jagannath

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Is India at her strategic best with China at a precarious position in the PoK post Uri and Surgical Strikes?

Pakistan downplaying and rejecting the first-of-its-kind surgical strikes made by India on the terrorist launch-pads located in PoK certainly shows the adeptness of our military expertise over theirs. India have got worldwide acceptance of the strike and the big powers (US and Russia) have asked Islamabad to eliminate terrorist camps sprouting in Pakistan. China, in this case, has caught itself in a catch 22 situation. Supporting Pakistan would bring in international defamation, and it can definitely not support India that it has always been envious of!

China that invests heavily in Pakistan for the CPEC and other superstructures, cannot afford to allow Pakistan’s economy go topsy-turvy. CPEC would offer the Chinese a strategic advantage over India and the Indian Ocean region. Just after India claimed that it had conducted surgical strikes across the LoC and destroyed several terrorist camps, China asked Islamabad and New Delhi to settle the matter bilaterally using political and diplomatic means. Recently, China announced that it had blocked a tributary of the Brahmaputra to facilitate work on one of its "most expensive" hydropower projects in Tibet. Brahmaputra waters remains an emotive, volatile issue in India's northeast, particularly Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. This might come in response to India’s announcement of reviewing the Indus Waters Treaty. In addition China has also extended the technical hold on India’s move to get Masood Azhar (JeM chief) listed as a terrorist by the UN. China’s involvement and its inclination towards Pakistan can now be felt.

The issue of Balochistan (where the CPEC meets the Arabian Sea at Gwadar Port) concerns China. Internationalising the issue by Narendra Modi has also affected Chinese stand in the global forum. So the Chinese, at the moment, are not the happiest with India.

Should there be another Indo-Pak war, history says China has never helped Pakistan directly in its war against India. But when its own investments are on stake, it might take some drastic steps. The hinting is already being seen.

Whether India is at a beneficial situation right now is more or less vague. The current situation might look in our favour but we shouldn’t get carried away boasting of it. I’m afraid such chest-thumping could enrage the opposition in taking bolder steps.

It has now become difficult for China and Pakistan to proceed with the CPEC project. I’m sure things won’t be smooth. China should just understand the folly it has committed by announcing a $46 billion project involving disputed territories!

We have avenged, our stand was clear. Pakistan’s denial should NOT worry India. India does not want things to get escalated. The message has gone clear that India can long for offensive defense. But India should be ready for any misconduct on the part of Pakistan. Saying this India should now not be obsessed with Pakistan, and rather look inside for development of the nation. We do have a lot of issues to address to.

Let’s wait for someone else to make the next move!

Poor Women Participation... What I propose to do when I become an administrator

Among the top 50 most powerful women outside the US, according to a list by Fortune, we have India’s top three women bankers – SBI chief Arundhati Bhattacharya, ICICI head Chanda Kochhar and Axis Bank CEO Shikha Sharma. At the same time India ranks 103 out of a total of 141 countries in terms of women representation in politics with less than 12% female representation. A paradox!

Today in the 21st century, although we talk of gender equality and justness, such debates are confined to pen and paper. The ground reality is different. Women are still the subordinated section of a family – restricted to low education, lack of freedom to work outside, and cursed for not delivering a male child! But was this system prevalent in ancient India? Scholars believe that in ancient India, women enjoyed equal status with men in all aspects of life. Patanjali and Katyayana suggest that women were educated in the early Vedic period. Rigvedic verses suggest that women married at a mature age and were probably free to select their own husbands. Scriptures such as the Rig Veda and Upanishads mention several women sages and seers, notably Gargi and Maitreyi. However, this egalitarian status declined with the foreign invasion, notably from 500 BC.

To remedy the low participation of women electors, India in 1994 established quotas through the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments to reserve 33% of the seats in local governments for women. The Women’s Reservation Bill (108th amendment) has also been introduced in the Parliament to reserve 33% of the Lok Sabha seats for women, but the bill is yet to be passed.

As an administrator, I shall stress to improve the social imbalance through following measures:
1) Educating Women: One of the key challenges faced by women is lack of education which hinders their political involvement. We recommend bridging this gap by providing quality education to women in the country. Awareness about their rights and privileges as mentioned in the Constitution can only be ensured once women are appropriately educated. Educated women not only contribute to national growth but also become aware of their rights, are able to take care of their children and contribute to health and well-being of the family.
2) Ensuring Safe Workplace: If the working environment is safe, more women would join the workforce.
3) Skilling the Mid-aged: Vocational trainings and camps can help in making the not-so-educated housewives to get into some productive work. SHGs should be encouraged and properly funded.
4) Voice Against Inequality: Sensible citizens should protest against any gender inequality in any sector of the society. The issue of gender-based violence and provision of safety and security of women should be addressed on a priority basis to promote gender equality in the social and political arenas. Although the Government of India has initiated the National Mission of Empowerment of Women in 2014 with the broad objective of gender empowerment, the progress of this project is not up to the mark.
5) Help Resolve Conflicts: Women are vulnerable to social ills and a slower justice system breaks their career. A faster trial would allow them to start afresh.

There are a various other schemes launched by both the central and state governments to empower women. The results are yet to be felt. It is thus imperative to strengthen its functioning and implementation.
In addition, there is need for capacity building of prospective women leaders by imparting leadership training to the female members of political parties. Women empowerment was a part of the famous MDGs and the current SDGs.

Even when they comprise 50% of us, absorbing their rights wholeheartedly is the unfinished business of the 21st century!

"I raise up my voice—not so I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard...we cannot succeed when half of us are held back." ―Malala Yousafzai

INDIA IS RICH, INDIANS POOR

Mark Twain once said, “India is the cradle of human race, the birthplace of human speech, the mother of human history, the grandmother of legend and great grandmother of tradition. Our most valuable and most constructive materials in the history of man are treasured up in India only”. Both geographically and resource-wise India is a blessed nation since the evolution of mankind. With ample access to oceanic resources and a huge land border, protected by the Himalayas, we have been uniquely positioned in the globe. Water, coal and iron are amply available. The Indus Valley Civilisation stands out as an epitome of our rich history of entrepreneurship. The works of rishi Kannad (including the Laws of Motion) in 600 BC and Arthashastra by Chanakya in 400 BC, shows the intellectual erudition on the Indian subcontinent when the rest of world was still uncivilised. From the empire of Ashoka the Great to the riches of Devagiri Kingdom, from the huge trade routes spanning the oceans to legendary gold hordes, India has seen it all before the Europeans turned this sacred landmass into resources center for exports of raw materials from India and imports of finished goods into India, thereby leading to a collapse of local industries.

Well, let bygones be bygones. After independence, with a broken back, India has still managed to stand up erect and establish herself as a major power in the world economy. However, India still continues to be among the poorest nations of the world having about 25% of the world’s poor. The unorganized sector of the Indian economy suffers severely from this menace of poverty. Rural India lacks basic modern amenities and is not properly integrated to the national markets even after 70 years of independence. As per the Rangrajan Committee, the poverty line estimated at INR 1,407 per capita per month for urban and INR 972 per capita per month for rural, we have about 35 crore people below the poverty line. What has gone wrong? Why even after so many efforts we are not able to alleviate poverty? The causes are many. The important ones can be:

1)      Population explosion: An explosion in the population of India hinders the process of poverty alleviation. A high population growth rate would mean high levels of illiteracy, diluted health care facilities and lack of access to financial resources. If the fertility rates are not immediately lowered, India is expected to reach 170 crore by 2050!

2)      Corruption: It is said that corruption has been inherited into Indian culture by the British. Today, it is so deeply rooted in our culture that considerable efforts to eradicate it have a negligible impact. This aspect has to cease to exist and this can start only at the individual level

3)      Land Degradation: This can be a repercussion of a very high growth rate of population in India. Increase in population coupled with limited land resources leads to land shortage which further leads to unsustainable agricultural practices leading to land degradation.

4)      Low Wages: Low wages of the unskilled labourers in the unorganized sector contributes to poor becoming poorer. A low wage would mean lack of education and job opportunities which leads to exploitation by the employer. The worker is unable to rise economically, lives in unhygienic conditions, suffers from illnesses and malnutrition, and gets economically drained. This forces him to get into the grip of the loan sharks and hence becoming poorer.

5)      Social Factors: Large scale inequality, capital deficiency, extravagant spending on social events like marriages contribute their share towards becoming poor.

There are a lot of attempts made by the governments, NGOs and other altruistic institutions to help fight poverty in India. There is some success but it is not adequate to boast about eliminating poverty. The main issue lies in scaling up the attempts made by them. Labour intensive sectors should be promoted to absorb the growing unemployment. Schemes like Make-in-India, etc. are aimed towards this objective. Self-employment through skill development has been made encouraging through schemes like MUDRA, Stand-up India Start-up India, etc. Labour and land reforms are a crucial part in this regard.

I am optimistic of a novel way in which the populace-rich India give in return the demographic dividend and we prosper again. The major aim should be to increase the ‘Total Factor Productivity’ instead of just employment because it is high time we had done away with this menace.

Science vis-a-vis Religion

HUMAN BEHAVIOR and attitudes from primitive times have been conditioned by a belief in God and there is no getting away from religion. Voltaire, an agnostic, once said that if there is no God, it would be necessary to invent one.

Science refers to the knowledge about the structure and behavior of the natural and physical world, based on facts that you can prove by experiments; whereas Religion is one of the systems of faith that are based on the belief in the existence of a particular god or gods. Can these two, one that completely relies on reason and empiricism while the other on faith and sacredness, ever coexist??

Apologists of religion say that religion begins where science ends. So if to one’s thinking science never ends, there can be no existence of religion. On the other hand, many scientists today believe that there may be more things in heaven and earth than ever dreamt of in one’s philosophy. There are areas of human experience that one’s science and philosophy cannot account for, intrinsically beyond rational explanation. The best of those explained and claimed by Uri Geller.

There are moments in life of even the most confirmed atheist when one has a sudden access to mystery of life. Even an atheist reacts to religion and hence an anti-religion eventually becomes a religion itself!!

Abdul-Baha once affirmed - “Religion and science are the two wings upon which man's intelligence can soar into the heights, with which the human soul can progress. It is not possible to fly with one wing alone!”

Should a man try to fly with the wing of religion alone he would quickly fall into the quagmire of superstition, whilst on the other hand, with the wing of science alone he would also make no progress, but fall into the despairing slough of materialism.

So, religion without science is vague and science without religion is immoral and valueless. A mongrelisation of the two is therefore necessary for better understanding of life and an enhanced living.