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ANNUS MIRABILIS 2024
The people who settled along the River Nile invented a calendar which is used even today. The Nile is one of the longest rivers in the world. Egypt is a hot and dry desert. The Nile that flows right through Egypt used to flood Egypt every year. The flood water left behind a thick soil called silt which was good for growing crops. People settled along the Nile more than 7,500 years ago. They made a calendar based on the Nile’s yearly flood pattern to keep track of when they should plant crops. The calendar had a year of 365 days divided into 12 months and three seasons. This calendar brought prosperity to Egypt and it turned out to be a very powerful civilization. Later as and when a calendar was adopted by other civilizations they too prospered. And that was the magic of a calendar.
Transporting from 2023 to 24
Today, every event and episode happening on this planet is recorded in a calendar: So welcome to the calendar of 2024. The year 2023 witnessed two deadly wars: The continuance of the Russia-Ukraine war and the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war when the world had just about recovered from the ghastly impact of COVID-19.
The Chinese monastic teacher in his book ‘365 Days for Travellers’ says ‘Oh great, compassionate Buddha! At the beginning of the new year, I will look upon Everything in the past as a yesterday that has passed away, Everything in the future as a today that is newly born’. Each New Year springs up new hopes, and each coming year throws up new goals, where you roll back old scrolls, to live in with your new roles. The new year betters the best that has gone by.
2023 has been a good year for our country. 2024 is expected to be better—Annus Mirabilis. But yes, watch out, because a recession in the West, or a West Asia conflict may spoil the party.
The challenge of global warming won’t be lenient on India. Erratic weather patterns and air pollution will continue to be a matter of great concern. It is already affecting human health, wildlife, food production, clean water access and the economy at large. Home to nearly 18% of the world’s population, the country is looking to transform its fast-growing infrastructure and energy systems to reduce heat-trapping emissions on a massive scale.
What can we expect politically and economically?
Should India be looking at 2024 with hope or apprehension is the big question? To me, it would be a sort of mixed bag. Even if the micro factors are encouraging there would always be the global (macro) factors that could be detrimental to India. The Modi Government appears to be returning to power in the 2024 general elections. The question is whether the BJP will win 272 plus seats in the Parliament or will be less than a full-fledged majority. Narendra Modi will most certainly return as PM but his challenges in 2024 will be more rigorous than in 2023, especially in the field of foreign affairs and the glide of the economy.
The adverse global factors would be the ongoing wars that will impact us negatively. Though the Russian-Ukraine war is heading for a stalemate. The Israel-Hamas war continues to rage the world. It will be a tightrope walk for the government to steer India through the dark alleys of these wars. If both wars end with quick negotiations, the world will be a better place to be in. Maritime safety would be the new emerging challenge. In addition, the sword of China’s salami slicing and incursions still hangs over India.
For GenZ, Bard’s long-standing idiom ‘the world is your oyster’ will continue to adorn the environment with myriads of global openings and jobs in the new sectors, barring the AI that threatens to take away jobs. Industrial production is likely to be up. Start-ups and SMEs would be the major job providers.
Our neighbours, both Bangladesh and Pakistan are poised for elections in January and February 2024. It wouldn’t matter who wins in Pakistan as nothing much will change. However, if Bangladesh has a change of government (ouster of Sheikh Hasina) it could make things tougher for India, since the next regime could be friendlier to China, just like the Maldives. Elections are also due in the two major anglosphere countries: The USA and the UK towards the end of the year. The results would impact the global standing of India. As of now we could do with our fingers crossed and watch the emerging situation. India has learnt to live with both the Republicans and the Democrats in the US with equal ease and discomfort in the past. A Labour Party victory in the UK could jeopardise or delay the prospects of a free trade agreement like the bullock-cart journey of Lord Babington Macaulay from Madras port to Ooty in the 19th century. But then FTA is not a big game changer.
The country is poised to grow by 7% in the current fiscal 2023-24. 2024-25 should be equally good unless the US and Europe slide into a deep recession. Internally, our economy is almost at ease, especially, because state spending tends to be high in election years. We have not only the Lok Sabha elections ahead of us but also state assembly elections in Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim, with Maharashtra, Haryana and Jharkhand (Jharkhand in January 2025) to follow later in the year.
The most awaited event of the century, rather centuries, comes alive in 2024 which is the inauguration of Ayodhya Ram Mandir on January 22. It not only has a religious and political significance but also economic. After the temple’s consecration, there will be a huge spurt in pilgrimage to Ayodhya and Varanasi.
Jammu & Kashmir’s elections are slotted for 2024, but the big point here will be the restoration of this UT’s statehood before September 30, as stipulated by the SC bench that validated the nullification of Article 370.
One hopes the Indian film industry will continue to give its viewers big hits. On the sporting front, the cricket World Cup T20 matches will be co-hosted by the US and West Indies in June 2024, where hopefully our men in blue will not impress only to disappoint in the end, as they did in the ODI World Cup in 2023. This event will be preceded by Women and Men’s IPL in the March-May period in India. Neeraj Chopra again won the gold in javelin in the World Finals in Budapest and India won 107 medals between 23 September and 8 October in the 19th Asian Games, held in Hangzhou, China.
The Union budget for 2024-25 will be presented on February 1. While this is expected to be a plain vote-on-account, one should not be surprised if the Modi government slips in a couple of pre-election announcements.
The much-delayed Census is vital for implementing not only the delimitation of constituencies but also giving effect to the 33% women’s reservation bill already passed by the Parliament. If the Census begins this year, we will get the results only by 2025 – cutting it fine for the expansion of the Lok Sabha seats by 2029.
The Gaganyaan project will see many test launches during the year. If successful, they will set the stage for India’s first manned space mission. 2024 is the year in which India can truly aim for the skies on all fronts if things go right. And last but not least we wish for a normal monsoon for our food security and rural economy.
New Year storms in with a lot of hope; but the despair of the previous year doesn’t pack off so easily. I guess they both go hand-in-hand. So, learn to live with both for some time.
Posted by Kamlesh Tripathi
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https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com
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Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life-threatening diseases, especially cancer. Our posts are meant for our readers, including children and adults, and have a huge variety in content. We also accept donations for our mission. Should you wish to donate to the cause? The bank details are given below:
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Kamlesh Tripathi’s Publications
GLOOM BEHIND THE SMILE
(The book is about a young cancer patient. Now archived in 8 prestigious libraries of the US which include Harvard College Library; Harvard University Library; Library of Congress; University of Washington, Seattle; University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Yale University, New Haven; University of Chicago; University of North Carolina, at Chapel Hill University Libraries. It can also be accessed at MIT through Worldcat.org. Besides, it is also available for reading in libraries and archives of Canada; Cancer Aid and Research Foundation Mumbai; Jaipuria Institute of Management, Noida, India; Shoolini University, Yogananda Knowledge Center, Himachal Pradesh and Azim Premzi University, Bangalore).
ONE TO TANGO … RIA’S ODYSSEY
(Is a book on ‘singlehood’ about a Delhi girl now archived in Connemara Library, Chennai and Delhi Public Library, GOI, Ministry of Culture, Delhi; It is also available for reading in the Indian National Bibliography, March 2016, in the literature section, in Central Reference Library, Ministry of Culture, India, Belvedere, Kolkata-700022)
AADAB LUCKNOW … FOND MEMORIES
(Is a fiction written around the great city of Nawabs—Lucknow. It describes Lucknow in great detail and also talks about its Hindu-Muslim amity, which is the undying characteristic of Lucknow. The book was launched at the Lucknow International Literary Festival in 2014. It is included for reading in Askews and Holts Library Services, Lancashire, U.K; Herrick District Library, Holland and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library, Mecklenburg County in North Carolina, USA; Black Gold Cooperative Library Administration, Arroyo Grande, California; Berkeley Library, University of California).
REFRACTIONS … FROM THE PRISM OF GOD
(Co-published by Cankids–Kidscan, a pan India NGO and Shravan Charity Mission, that works for child cancer in India. The book is endorsed by Ms Preetha Reddy, MD Apollo Hospitals Group. It was launched at the Lucknow International Literary Festival in 2016).
TYPICAL TALE OF AN INDIAN SALESMAN
(Is a story of an Indian salesman who is, humbly qualified. Yet he fights his way through unceasing uncertainties to reach the top. A good read not only for salesmen. The book was launched on 10th February 2018 at Gorakhpur Lit-Fest. Now available on Amazon, Flipkart and Onlinegatha)
RHYTHM … in poems
(Published in January 2019. The book contains 50 poems. The poems describe our day-to-day life. A few poems from the book have been published in Shillong Times, Bandra Times and Bhavan’s Journal. The book is available on Amazon, Flipkart and Onlinegatha)
MIRAGE
(Published in February 2020. The book is a collection of eight short stories available on Amazon, Flipkart and Notion Press)
AWADH ASSAM AND DALAI LAMA … The Kalachakra
(The story of the man who received His Holiness The Dalai Lama and his retinue in 1959 as a GOI representative when he fled Tibet in 1959. The book was launched on 21st November 2022 by His Holiness The Dalai Lama at Dharmshala. The title is archived in the library of the Department of Information and International Relations (DIIR) Government of Tibet, Tibet Policy Institute (TPI) and the personal library of His Holiness The Dalai Lama. The title is also archived in The Ohio Digital Library, USA. It was recently included in the digital library of the world-renowned company APPLE).
BHAVANS JOURNAL
Short stories, Book reviews and Articles published in Bhavan’s Journal: 1. Reality and Perception, 15.10.19; 2. Sending the Wrong Message, 31.5.20; 3. Eagle versus Scholars June, 15 & 20, 2020; 4. Indica, 15.8.20; 5. The Story of King Chitraketu, August 31 2020; 6. Breaking Through the Chakravyuh, September 30 2020. 7. The Questioning Spouse, October 31, 2020; 8. Happy Days, November 15, 2020; 9. The Karma Cycle of Paddy and Wheat, December 15, 2020; 10. Power Vs Influence, January 31, 2021; 11. Three Refugees, March 15, 2021; 12. Rise and Fall of Ajatashatru, March 31, 2021; 13. Reformed Ruler, May 15, 2021; 14. A Lasting Name, May 31, 2021; 15. Are Animals Better Teachers? June 16, 2021; 16. Book Review: The Gram Swaraj, 1.7.21; 17. Right Age for Achievements, 15.7.21; 18. Big Things Have Small Beginnings, 15.8.21; 19. Where is Gangaridai?, 15.9.21; 20. Confront the Donkey Within You 30.9.21; 21. Know Your Strengths 15.10.21; 22. Poverty 15.11.21; 23. Top View 30.11.21; 24. The Bansuriwala 15.1.22; 25. Sale of Alaska 15.2.22; 26. The Dimasa Kingdom 28.2.22; 27. Buried Treasure 15.4.22; 28. The Kingdom of Pragjyotisha 30.4.22; 29. Who is more useful? 15.5.22; 30. The White Swan from Lake Mansarovar 30.6.22; 31. Bhool Bhulayya 15.9.22; 32. Good Karma 30.9.22; 33. Good Name vs Bad Name 15.10.22; 34. Uttarapath—The Grand Trunk Road 1.12.22; 35. When Gods Get Angry 1.1.23; 36. Holinshed’s Chronicles 15.1.23; 37. Theogony 15.2.23; 38. Poem: Mother 14.5.23; 39. THE NAG MANDIR 30.6.23; 40. The Story of Garuda 30.7.23; 41. Janmabhoomi vs Karmabhoomi 31.8.23; 42. The Ghost Town of Kuldhara 15.9.23; 43. The Tale of Genji 15.10.23; 44. The Soul Connection 1.12.23;
SHILLONG TIMES—SUNDAY EDITION
ARTICLES & POEMS: 1. POEM: HAPPY NEW YEAR 8.1.23; 2. POEM: SPRING 12.3.23; 3. POEM: RIGHT AND WRONG 20.3.23; 4. THE GUSH OF EMOTION—WRITING, 26.3.23; 5. THE NAG MANDIR, 7.5.23; 6. POEM: MOTHER 7.5.23; 7. POEM: RAIN RAIN 9.7.23; 8. POEM: YOU COME ALONE YOU GO ALONE 6.8.23; 9. RAIN RAIN (SECOND TIME) 10.8.23; 10. POEM: GURU TEACHER 10.8.23; 11. POEM: AUTUMN … THE INTERIM HEAVEN 15.10.23; 12. POEM: HAPPY DIWALI 12.11.23; 13. OVERCOMING BLINDNESS: LEARN IT THE JOHN MILTON WAY 10.12.23; 14. THE HAPPY PRINCE AND THE HAPPY MAN’S SHIRT 31.12.23; 15. ANNUS MIRABILIS 2024 7.1.24; 16. GANDHI TO MAHATMA GANDHI- Incidents that Shaped Gandhi in South Africa 28.1.24; 17. POEM: TOGETHER BUT NOT MADE FOR EACH OTHER, 11.2.24;
THE ASSAM TRIBUNE
ARTICLE: 1. THE MAGIC OF READING 11.12.23; 2. GANDHI TO MAHATMA 29.1.24
BANDRA TIMES, MUMBAI
ARTICLES & POEMS: 1. POEM: SPRING, 1.4.23; 2. POEM: MOTHER, 1.6.23; 3. POEM: RAIN RAIN, 1.8.23;
ARTICLES IN THE DIGITAL MAGAZINE ESAMSKRITI
29.12.2020: INDICA BY MEGASTHENES; 14.3.22: ABOUT THE DIMASA KINGDOM ASSAM; 10.12.22: GRAND TRUNK ROAD-UTTARAPATH; 5.10.23: THE GHOST TOWN OF KULDHARA NEAR JAISALMER;
(ALL THE ABOVE BOOK TITLES ARE AVAILABLE FOR SALE ON AMAZON, FLIPKART AND OTHER ONLINE STORES OR YOU COULD EVEN WRITE TO US FOR A COPY)
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