The Year That Wasn’t
By – Pamarty Venkataramana
2020 A. D.
The year that wasn’t.
It just tunneled all world.
New thoughts flooded.
Panic struck all lands.
Economies came to a standstill
Kaleidoscope of life now showed online classes, work from home and deserted roads.
Fear gripped the advanced western hemisphere as well as the so-called Third World countries and under-developed countries.
Nobody had a clue excepting to advise precautionary measures like wearing a mask, using sanitisers and maintaining decent social distance.
Vaccination was a magic word that seemed to be bandied by all medical scientists as being akin to the magic wand of a master magician.
Yet, several lessons were learnt.
No longer did people squander wealth and no longer did they neglect matters of health. Since death stalked all corners of the globe,more and more population groups began to recognize the value of life.
2020.
One long hiatus from established lifestyles. Family bonding and renewing domestic relationships became passe’, yet again.
Crime-rate fell drastically.Policemen turned health workers.Political leaders turned cheerleaders. General public were caged indoors.
Television newscasts turned monotonous with only Covid19 casualty figures and speculative talk-shows converting society into a diffident one: incidence of depression and suicide cases registered a marked increase.
Positives?
Evil seemed to be caught face on by the pandemic.Old order appeared to be changing, giving way to a new order. Healthcare systems came to be reviewed. Importance of migrant labour,jobs,agriculture and tertiary sector industries came to be better understood by both Planners and Policy-makers.
Montheists and atheists seemed to turn pious,devout worshippers of the pantheon of God’s they had hitherto criticised.
Villainy scales heights.
An established Communist country, China passed a new Civil Code whereas the majority Parliament of the world’s largest Democracy,India is far from even piloting a Bill to usher in an Uniform Civil Code.
Soldiers had waged decades long fight for ‘One rank one pension scheme’.
Farmers today have taken to streets seeking withdrawal of hastily enacted Laws.
Banking and Finance sectors are as riddled by corrupt practices as are the Corporate and Stock Exchange arenas.
A pandemic has apparently not quelled the rebellious spirit of monsters called traitors, moles, arsonists, gangsters and vagabonds. At the drop of a hat,these sections of society, mysteriously aided by paid-media, rally in no time, destroying law and order. They do not fear Covid19 virus and challenge societal mores.
What must India, that is Bharat, do to create a #NewIndia in the year after ‘the year that wasn’t?’
1. Bring in an #UniformCivilCode.
2. Bring in #PoliceReforms.
3. Tweak existing Laws in myriad little ways.
4. Rein in unbridled Media outlets.
5. Bring in #NewTech:beat #PandemicBlues.
All endeavours of a People’s Government must be to better the ‘quality of life’ of its citizens.
Laws ought to be definite,i.e,there must not be scope for ‘discretionary power’ on part of any Administrative or Judicial Officers.
Police department must be bifurcated with ‘law and order’ function separated from ‘investigation’.
It is as vital to create more and more employment opportunities in order to render the political Frankenstein called ‘caste based reservations’,redundant.
Also, it is equally important to spread the good word that -‘ Jinnah, the father of Pakistan,was a born Indian.So was their first Prime Minister.Thus,all Pakistanis have forefathers who were Indians and not from any other country. Hence, punish bad terrorists and embrace all good old,lost cousins.Show them the way home – towards Sanatana Dharma, the age-old gateway to Universal Brotherhood.
Ignore existence of that tiny terror-hub. Blackout all news about Pakistan.
Allow the Army to do their task.Tame brigands in Press Corps.
Focus on stitching together a common currency for SAARC region countries.
A New Year beckons us.
Revive the plan for developing India into a ‘five trillion dollar economy’.
As we bid farewell to a most challenging year that has exhibited the ‘Emperor’s New Clothes’, let us all wish each other a happy future that turns society into a more sober,a more humane one.
Thank God, 2020 A. D. is bidding us ‘Goodbye’.
God Be with You 🙏
- Myth of Myth - September 19, 2023
- The Witches’ Brew - September 15, 2023
- Institutions as Custodians - September 14, 2023
