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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