The Year That Wasn’t – 2012

The Year That Wasn’t – 2012

Every morning brings with its new promises and hopes that beholds the life – altering power of touching lives and generations. It carries in its heart moments of inspiration, aspirations, love and hatred, brutality and kindness, vigour and lethargy, injustice and justice, confusion and equilibrium.  The first morning of 2012 was even special. As it brought along with it the promise and potential of a year that would be exemplary in the history of calendar years marked by unprecedented events that would be recorded in history for posterity!

The year began on a high note as one of our ex – ministers tainted for corrupting the Commonwealth Games 2010 and accused of siphoning off the amount of money with zeroes in it that would leave a trail blaze if it would crawl on the earth, cheating criminal conspiracy and forgery amongst others was denied bail by the Delhi High Court. In a landmark judgement the court over ruled the logic of “bail should be a rule and jail exception” and rebuked the leader for taking such a stance despite being a democratic leader. Later this year when he requested to be allowed to go witness the opening ceremony of London Olympics, he was asked if he was willing to go inaugurate a sports gym in the remote corners of the state for the underprivileged which would be built with his money. The request seemed to have put the gentleman in a shock as he has not spoken since then. And has not been heard of too!

In keeping up with its landmark judgments and tightening it’s noose around the miscreants of the society, especially those serving the public, the Highest Court of India denied bail to yet another minister,  an ex- minister of Telecom & IT, who was accused of cheating the Indian Government of close to 30 Billion USD in relation with the 2G scam.  The court also noted that it was up to him prove his innocence than the centre to prove him guilty now. He was been given an ultimatum that on failing to do within year, the Government will be bound to cease his assets, auction them and use the money for improving the telecom infrastructure of the country which has been set back by years due to the controversy.

The judiciary seemed to be on a roll this year in meting out apt justice. The public voice around the country seems to be heard.  The Government instead of its previous high handed attitude towards the public that puts them in power in the first place is taking a more careful approach.  Certain pundits have pointed out that the change in attitude has come with the recognition of the fact that the youth is waking up to its voting right, its freedom of speech and rights of citizenship in a democratic, republic country.  The suppressed anger amongst the citizens are now been given a platform to be vented via forums such as India Against Corruption.  Recently, a charter has been submitted, a petition has been filed, signed by more than 20 million people to not allow election tickets to anyone who has any criminal history. This will go a long way in ensuring we have people in power at least for the next generation whose judgement of criminals will not be affected by the fact that some of them have shared bread in some jail in the past.

2012 also the implementation of an Act which will no longer allow anyone without a college degree to apply for an Election seat anymore! A senior leader chuckled in Parliament that this might mean our country might run short of supply of leaders looking at the current trend.

Freedom of speech was an aspect that has been paid special attention with cartoonists and media being requested ( and not warned, threatened with a gun, murdered in the dark alleys, called a Maosit on National Television ) to be careful of what they print and represent. A more tactful approach has been requested to be considered, one that will not demean the Government and its leaders and the one that will allow them to ask valid questions as well.  Almost in hindsight, some politicians have been asked to develop some sense of humour too!

Justice was finally delivered to Indians when main accused of 26/11 blasts in Mumbai was made to clean the sewers of many cities across the countries as part of his punishment. Identifying that death sentence was probably apt but far too easy for such heinous crime, the mass murderer was made to go through a series of community service in the very country he planned to blow up. Ranging from sewer cleaning to washing tonnes of clothes for old people, to earning the daily wage for a few labours to sweeping highways, Ajmal Kasab was made to realise that he was no messenger of God as he claimed. He finally got dengue whilst cleaning animal excreta and died a lonely death.  No virgins were waiting for him there either! Maybe next lifetime Kasab, you will go to a school!

But our dear country’s plight did not end there as one might have wondered. Whilst Kasab planted bombs to blow up the city, there are new band of terrorists that are walking the streets. Recent incidents have showed that they are an even more dangerous brand of assassins, much on the lines of medieval men who sometimes wore good clothes, looked exactly decent and civil but were eating up the society from inside but attacking the modesty of our women. Some of the incidents have been so mind numbing and brutal that scientists have decided to conduct a study to check whether these creatures are actually humans or are some sort of animals or are a result of degenerative mutation. Animal right supporters have objected strongly against these creatures being compared to animals though quoting its hideous to compare the two. With rising number of rape cases being registered every day, the Government in an unprecedented move has decided to allow the special session in Parliament where in amendments to existing laws against such crimes will be discussed. In the meantime, all convicted rapists have been branded on their behinds with a hot metal rod stating – “I’m a rapist! Stone me to death!”

Despite the sad nature and turn of events, whenever people have come together and protested their rising angst and discomfort against the apathy and inaction of state authorities, the central Government and the enforcers of the law, what has been heartening to see that unlike in the past where lathi charges and tear gas shelling was a common sight on the unarmed public, silent protests have been encouraged, and instead of going into hiding and calling youths and educated college students members of mafia, dialogues have been encouraged. Suggestions have been asked for, television appearances to calm the public has been made and instead of coming to meet the public surrounded by commandoes, and the politicians are being more humble.

Identifying social reform at its grass root levels, schools and colleges have been served notices to start including courses that will teach young boys to not objectify women, to respect women and to treat them as equals.  They will be judged very strictly every three months by their fellow women teachers & student. On failing the course, the girls/women can decide what course of action should be taken.

Other significant news this year saw India winning 50 gold medals in London Olympics this year, in addition to 30 silvers and 20 bronzes. World records were set in swimming & athletics. The contingents were given a rousing welcome on their return home and paid hefty bonuses for making the country proud. Insiders suggest sponsors pulled their money from non performing cricketers and decided on giving it to these winning athletes.

Also to make headlines this year was the decision to not grant learning licenses for students below 18 years of age. While this decision drew a lot of flak, the move stems from the logic to encourage youth to start making better use of public transport. Some have welcomed the move.  The Government decision to cut on fuel prices has provided a sense of relief too. This came on the back of the decision to revoke the limitation of the official drinking age to be 25. Acknowledging that the official number attached to the definition of an adult is 21 which empower them to vote, the Government has restored the faith that they can be responsible with the glasses in their hands too. However, since then the police have taken active measures to check on drunk driving to ensure things don’t go out of control.

Talking of police, special mention needs to be given to them for their change they have undergone this past year. The potbellied sergeants have been asked to go back to training camps to regain their fitness; the officers across the country have been equipped better with faster vehicles, newer weapons and advanced trainings. The change in stance is visible too.  One prime example being unlike in the past, where the common people were forced to stay inside on curfew, be it the death of any leader or the event of any misdoing, the police now encourages the public to continue with their daily life, to go about their business, promising that they don’t need to be worried, for their protection is in safe hands. This has seen the state revenue to go up considerably as there are fewer bandhs and lesser holidays on working days.

Finally, some bit of the Mayan prophecy did come true as an earthquake shattered a central jail which housed tainted politicians being tried for years for corruption, rapists who got away lightly with erroneous punishments and terrorists who were eating fruits after drinking the bloods of thousands. They all died under the weight of their own misdoings. Good riddance after all!

All in all,2012 was a year where promises were brought to action, the common mass dying under the weight of taxes got some reprieve, the Government decided to end their slumber party, the voices of people were heard and public servants being made answerable. Some say a democracy is reborn! Some say I am day dreaming! I choose to see as parallel truth for truth is nothing but what I perceive, truth is what I believe, truth is what I bring into action!