Year of Revolution, lack of leadership, sad exits and world cup....

2011 was a very strange year. It started with lot of promise with markets buoyant. Indian economy was shining as compared to Europe, US and things were finally looking promising as it was felt that world has recovered after 2007 great recession. Worldwide things remained same; curious, cautious and no solution was found for Europe crisis. The things did not turn out as bad as it were projected in the US market. Thanks to that, IT story still has another day to survive. Also new technologies like cloud and some interesting innovations in Mobile space have driven many corporate IT spending. Real estate industry as usual chose to hold on the rates but had to offer discounts and thus correction was applied. But real danger to Indian economy arisen in form of non action by the govt. UPA1 did well in 2008 to shield India from crisis. But UPA2 as bungling it is on other fronts have been so static that investors lost confidence by last few quarters of 2011, resulting in fall of rupee, flight of capital outside and many such effects. Inflation which was out of control by start of year at least has some respite by the end thanks to good monsoon and some real corrections.
The reason for govt failure to act can be attributed to gamut of corruption scandals that rocked UPA2 and public revulsion in form of Anna movement, froze some key decisions in economy. FDI in retails was again bungled. Govt acted very late to control Free fall of rupee. By then it could do nothing as real reason was flight of capital outside India as confidence levels were brought down.
The real involvement of media (which is controlled by vested interest and money making)and electronic social media (which is totally democratic and free till Mr sibal intervenes), in Anna campaign in April and August was really a matter of study for future public movements. There was leadership vacuum as no strong political will was displayed in incumbents and team anna filled that vacuum projecting Gandhian Anna. Anna and his team were severely criticised by establishment but one cannot deny the effect it has on corrupt polity. Arm chair crictics have a lot of food for thought. But role played by Dr subramaniam swamy in exposing 2G scam is exemplary how judiciary is inadequate to trap main culprits who are still at large. Corruption is the main issue which has to be tackled and we need mechanism. Though Lokpal may not solve everything but it can be a good start. All critics of Anna ignore this fact.
BJP as opposition failed, congress is in crisis, there was room for regional players and there were regional heroes like Nitish Kumar, much vilified Modi playing development, mamtadi ousting 36 years of Marxist rule, Mayawati talking on crown prince and so on.
In Maharashtra, DF govt led by Prithviraj chouhan has nothing to display except infightings between NCP and Congress. With municipal elections in 2012, BJP sena has joined hands with RPI athawale faction though there is lot of infighting and they need some serious action to challenge cunning tactics by both congresses. MNS is growing strong with some distinct mass appeal and can play key role as party pooper for opposition.

For Pune city, we had good rains ensuring water supply. But planning and implementation lacks for managing crisis as we had faced in 2009. DP was approved and so was metro amidst chaos. Elections due next year have caused lot of activities and sops for aam punekar. Road situation has not improved with more vehicles. Accident incidents have gone up.PMPML falters. Ganpati immersion had lot of controversy though festival had some mellowed and useful trends. Noise pollution in Diwali reduced. We still have seen no winter in 2011. Sawai was great and so was support to Anna in Pune. World cup celebrations were amazing. Biodiversity issue was also controversial. We saw load shedding for few days before Diwali. Crime rate has increased as a matter of concern and organized crime has settled in Pune. Domestic violence and cyber crime has increased making pune more unsafe. We saw lot of politics involved in Police posting...
Wordlwide, we have seen revolutions in Africa and middle east. This year is thus called year of revolution. The lack of leadership or tyranny of leaders resulted in their fall with democratic social media role played its part. Europe also lacks strong leaders to resolve financial crisis in southern European countries. The richer and stable northern European economies have refused to bail out laggards. We saw riots in UK which surprised us all. US also has seen weak leadership in Obama to push forth finance stimulus to revive economy and reduce unemployment. Also its bungling in Iraq, AFpak are monumental. Only saving face has been hunting of Osama bin laden. Japan has worst crisis in form of tsumani and nuclear tragedy but they have shown typical Japanese discipline and resolve. Africa needs good leaders to solve basic issues and conflicts. South East Asia also suffers from world slowdown and natural disasters. China story has cracked with internal fault lines visible but we don’t get real picture at all with govt censorship. Pak has gone one year closer to anarchy with Imran seen as only saviour but India hatred still continues. Kashmir has calmer year with bumper tourism summer. Interlocuters failed but there is a revived hope to resolve the unrest.
Terrorism has again shocked us in Mumbai and Delhi blasts and as usual investigators had no clue and our resolve to fight terrorism still remains hazy. We cannot act against afzal or kasab. Our investigators fumbled, our intelligence had no clues. After comparative lull in 2009/10 (except Varanasi and GB blast), we have again seen new face of terror. Though we claimed to solve some cases but vigilance remains an issue and everything is at mercy of fate. Though fight against naxalism has some break throughs.
This was also year of sad exits by stalwarts in film, music, sports, technology. Pt Bhimsen Joshi, Pt Sultan khan, Jajgit singh, Bhupen Hazarika, Tiger Pataudi, Devanand, Shammi Kapoor, Srininvas Khale, Steve Jobs, dennis Ritchie and list goes on.. This was real loss for all move,art lovers and tech followers.
Indian cinema dealt some unusual topics and challenged the establishment with films like Delhi Belly, Rockstar, Dirty Picture. Also there was a tourism brochure film like Zindagi milegi na dobara. First half of 2011 was commercial disaster due to world cup, IPL, exams, but second half saw many movies do well.
Marathi theatre had new life with big names back to stage and some old plays revived. Music scene saw many youngsters taking centre stage. Indian English literature saw many new comers.
International sports saw revival of Federer, great year for djoikovic, Spanish teams doing good in club level, Indians did well in Golf, shooting, boxing, archery and lot to look forward to in London 2012. Indian tennis saw end of Indian express. Saina Nehwal has now to conquer next level which is top most. Politics though continued in sports in India esp hockey. Next year will have London Olympics and euro soccer for which draws are interesting.
Finally this year was year for worldcup, Indian team did what was waited for 28 years. After slow start against minnows and a tie against England and loss against SAfs, team did well in matches that matter. Yuraj, dhoni, gambhir, sachin, zak, raina, everyone playing crucial parts including much maligned munaf and nehra. Capatin cool played crucial role in all matches by captaincy, wicket keeping and an innings in final and that final six. Role played by Kirsten as coach and his support team also must be thanked. The scenes all over India esp at wankhede when all team was crying and lifting the man who waited most for it: the little master were amazing. Administrators faltered by some inane scheduling and IPL resulting in injuries ahead of important England tour. This lost us world no1 status which we had carried since dec 6th 2009. Also many tongues wagged that india is champion in Indian condition while ignoring fights we had in SA and Aus in past. But real defining moment will be in aus after year end. That will really define mettle of the team.

on personal side, this year took me to trek in himalayas, and in maharashtra. Fitness focus started till may trek to himalayas was lost in last quarter but again there is new year. This year saw live world cup cricket. also had great personal acomplishment towards end. Could not focus much on riya though. Professionally things were fine with some old pending projects starting. This year saw me taking chairmanship for roundtable. results have beed mixed with some new achievmenst but some losses but half tenure is still there. as usual december had great parties. some involvement with writing for local media also went well but needs some plan. aslo saw me returning to theatre after a long gap. rainy season rituals were fine.

What about 2012? But there is gloom all around especially in Indian polity and economy. There are threats that 2012 will be worse than 2011 on that front. But then there is always hope that things can turn around as they did negatively in 2011. And i definitely don’t believe in dooms day prediction that world will come to an end in Dec 2012, notwithstanding natural calamities and global warming effects we have seen till now. We will still be partying on 31st Dec 2012. Have a great year end and happy New Year.

A sensational act...

King of the months has arrived (though winter has vanished)and lot of festivities planned throughout. Sad start though with demise of Devanand. Evergreen person, great contribution to cinema and timeless music (though he is just front end of that). wish list is being prepared for 2012 which again promoses to be significant year. 2011 has also been great with lot of things done which were pending or which were unique. Though it has seen many stalwarts fading to their end. Wait for this space for the roundup of this year of worldcup...

One very sensational event happened though in Nov. There was a slap to an elder minister. At this onset , i feel it was unrequired and violence is condemnable esp targetted against elder. Totally uncultured and pointless activity in itself.

But there are two points i like to make

Number one is that though its standalone incidence (resulting out of intentional/unintentional security lapse, needs many answers), it represent anger people have against those who have abused power over years. The minister who was slapped, though is famous for not getting involved in any scams (excpet lavasa) , issues. He has political tact of getting across spectrum and has taken his opportunities. But public sentiment barring those who follow him for personal socio-econo-political gains is totally alarming. Here the kind of politics involved has a undocumented casteist tinge which many have denied unsuccessfully. The financial asset decalartion done by this MP was so unbeleivable and was a folklore. Many people have many claims about , but everything is murmur, hearsays. No one has guts to be public about it due to kind of politics involved. But since there is no crossing over of lines, one need not be judgemental without being unfair to the MP. Even suggestions or mentioning of above public sentiment publically is tantamount to defamation and cause for involving wrath of establishment. But there needs to be introspection from this incidence that romours have to be put to rest and concerned individual cannot come out clean unless there is credible effort from him /her to establish sincerity. But politcians dont care. They should learn from this that there is anti politician rage amongst people. They cannot ignore that. Point though is why this minister was targeted and why not those behind scene and have unlimited power for just being a party president. and why not a home minister who has involvement in 2G, why not the face of govt who is PM with economics background (though failed miserable in current downturn). One can argue that portfolio of agriculture is directly responsible for price rise and food infaltion which impacts most for public. some policies of minsitry have been bizzarre but this ministry cannot be singled out. Thus the act was denouncable and irrelevant but has created a real goonj across spectrum

The second point that needs to be made is freedom of expression is at risk. Example way anna hazare was ridiculed. Anna has his style so has thakrey and verbal violence is part of both characters. what anna said reflected innocent anger most have against incumbents. But all parties (who have all grudges against anna and lokpal, and his team which is targeted by govt), media were strongly against anna. Infact even writing or saying against anything/anyone on internet gets defamation threat. The way bandh was followed in Pune was nothing short of hooliganism. then why single out shivesena/mns ? also way politicians lended support made a sense of brotherhood which can be perceived anti people pro elite. though the act to hit an elder is deplorable and shameful, act to douse opposition is also one.
and one important point: pls investigate security lapse because intent of some in power cannot be ignored.. let there be CBI enquiry....