The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

 

2021 has started and what a hectic year it has been personally.  Life as they say is comprised of fifty shades of Gray (no this has nothing to do with the film by this name). Nothing is right or wrong: Black or white. But these are the days of Polarization. You have to either be right or wrong. You are with me or against me. And Yes, I support this polarization. Surprised? That too when it's natural in life to have truth somewhere halfway there.  There were Gods and there were demons with humanity somewhere in between throughout ages. But these days it is different. There is a time in life when you have to take a position.  And these are those days for one to take a stand. Either pro or anti. A blatant example is Terrorism. You can be either against it or are yourselves a terrorist. There is no justification of any 'injustice' done to one religion/region. As George W Bush said in his famous and maligned speech. He was ridiculed for nothing those days. But he headed few initiatives that ensured that  9/11 was not repeated in the US. Now it may incite few reactions that this justification of polarization is provocative but  I believe proactivity and action are more worth than reflective passive opinions and inactivity.  Thus I am taking a stance to hail the good, regret the bad, and fight against the ugly.

Year of Reset

Impossible is Nothing, says a Nike Slogan. This is proven again in 2020 but more aptly by rephrasing this slogan: Anything is possible. It was 2020. To mark the end of this dreadful year, I stuck symbolically to my home state and went to a state beach near Westport hosting a natural  9/11 memorial to CT residents lost then. On that clear day in Sep 2001, this point saw the collapse and smoke arising from twin tower debris. 1st Jan 2021 was not that clear day, so could just see the outline of the distant Manhattan skyline. The ritual to be around these waters, started since I landed on these shores, was completed. Like me, Millions of people all over from the globe have entered this continent on these shores. So these waters offer a good backdrop to go philosophical in the globally local context.

Kharagpur Made Man

#MSDhoni, #Kharagpur, # IndianCricket

There is something about Kharagpur that is mystic to my mind. There is  Air, Water, Soil, Railways, IIT, old markets, cycle rickshaws, ground, greenery, muggy summers, thunderstorms, cold winters, marshlands and then there is a railway station. It's just another rusty and sleepy town in the eastern Indian country landscape. This  Railway station was renowned for having the longest platform. Landing on that platform to start a career is common to batches of engineers who shaped the future of the country and world.  Vinod Gupta, Arjun Malhotra, Arun Sarin,  Suhas Patil, Sunder Pitchai, Arvind Kejriwal,  just to name a very few among scores of success stories across the sectors. On this platform, another young man started his journey and what journey was it!. Yes, you are right: M S Dhoni is the name.  The story is known to all and  Rest, as they say, is history. Ranchi takes credit but its Kharagpur which made him...

अमेरिकन इतिहासाचे धडे

 

ह्याच जुलै महिन्यात मी अमेरिकेच्या कनेक्टिकट राज्याची पुण्यातील सदाशिव पेठेची तुलना करणारा लेख लिहिला . तो बऱ्याच जणांना आवडला आणि तो सकाळ मध्ये छापून आला.  

ESAKAL Gautam Naik Post

तो लेख लिहिण्यापूर्वी , कनेक्टिकट राज्याचा इतिहास आणि भूगोल ह्या विषयांवर सगळी माहिती माझ्या कन्ये कडून घेतली. बालादपि सुभाषितं ग्राह्यम हे म्हणतात ना तसे झाले.  हीच माझी कन्या जेंव्हा आठवी पर्यंत महाराष्ट्र बोर्ड च्याइतिहास शिकली  त्यात तिने कधीच रस घेतला नाही अपवाद फक्त  इयत्ता चौथीचा ज्यात महाराजांचा थोडा फार का होईना इतिहास शिकवलं गेला.   इथे तिला अमेरिकेत इतिहास इतका आवडायला लागला. तिला इथल्या ,अमेरिकन इतिहास AP कोर्से मध्ये  पाच म्हणजे पूर्ण पॉईंट्स मिळाले. तिने इथल्या शहरा मधील हिस्टोरिक सोसायटी मध्ये शहरच्या इतिहासाचा प्रोजेक्ट केला. खूप अवांतर वाचन केले. ह्याला कारण म्हणजे ज्या पद्धती ने त्यांना इतिहास शिकवतात ती  फार आपल्यापेक्षा फार वेगळी पद्धत आहे. आपल्याला जर इतिहास घडवणारे तरुण तयार करायचे असतील तर त्यांना इतिहास चांगला माहित असला पाहिजे. काही लोकांच्या मते इतिहास जितका कमी शिकवला किंबहुना नाही शिकवला तर भारत तंटामुक्त होईल. मला काही असे वाटत नाही. माझा ह्या लेखामागचा उद्देश हा अमेरिकन शिक्षण पद्धतीतले चांगले गुण जाणून घेणे हाच आहे. इथे अमेरिकेत पण मोठे वाद आहेत. विशेषतः काही संवेदनशील विषय जाणीवपूर्वक वगळण्याचा. त्या तपशिलात पण मला फारसे शिरायचे नाही.

Making of History

A few weeks back, I wrote a post covering History and Geography of the state of Connecticut USA which is my current address and its parallels in the History and the Geography of Pune India which is my permanent address.  It was well appreciated by friends and as well as experts. In fact, it was published in the overseas supplement of leading Marathi daily. 

Connecticut: Sadashiv Peth of USA

They say a child is the father of the man. During this course of writing the post, I learned all the CT and New England History lessons from my daughter Riya. Same Riya of the old who did not enjoy History taught in Pune with a striking exception of Std IV history which taught them in the blandest and politically correct version the History of Shivaji Maharaj. Though a latecomer in the US system (as a high school freshman) after a course in Western Civilization in Freshman year she opted for AP US History and got a maximum of 5. She took extra efforts to know the local history of the town and also was interested in chapters of the American Revolution, Civil war, the Civil Rights movement, and so on.

The point of this blog is not about Riya but about stark differences in the way we teach history in India and how they taught her in the US. If we want to create youngsters who can make history you need to educate them and make them understand the history and be a part of the progression of Humanity. Here I do not want to get into any debate about nationalism or anything about the dividing lines of History. I know some people think that not teaching History will erase conflicts. Though I do not want to argue this line of thoughts I want to highlight some positive things we can learn from the US system. There is a huge debate even in the US about the wrong focus of the US to exclude controversial topics. But even that is beyond the scope of this post. 

Where Do You Live?

Which part of this very big city you live in? I want the name of the locality and your address. I am not a policeman nor a delivery guy.   I am not a Tax or Collection agent. I am not a pesky marketeer who wants you to buy something you don’t need. I am not a stalker. I do not want to take you on a date. I am just your friend and want to chat with you anything under the sun and for that, I need to know where do you live.

This city has four localities.

कठीण समय येता विनोद कामास येतो.

कठीण समय येता
विनोद कामास येतो.

इथे मी  विनोद कांबळी किंवा खन्ना किंवा इतर कुठल्या ही विनोद नाव असलेल्या माणसाबद्दल बोलत नाही . लोक मुलाचे नाव विनोद का ठेवतात ? पु ल म्हणतात नवस करून  नऊ महिने जीवापाड जपून दिवस रात्र स्वप्न बघून जन्माला आलेल्या मुलाचे नाव आई वडील विनोद कसे काय ठेवतात हे आजवर नाही समजले

माझा संदर्भ विनोद म्हणजे हास्य किंवा हसणे हसवणे हा आहे  .

आपण आनंदी राहण्यासाठी काय नाही करत. सकाळी सहा वाजता उठून आपल्याला आवडत किंवा आवडत नसलेल्या कामासाठी जातो. काही लोक स्वतः ला (लोक)ल अक्षर लावून लोकल सारख्या कोंडवाड्यातून प्रवास करतात. असल्या लोकांना आपण मुंबईकर म्हणतो . राब  राब  राबतो. कशासाठी पोटासाठी पु ल म्हणतात तसे आणि नंतर खंडाळ्याच्या घाटापलीकडल्या स्वर्गात (पुण्यात) निवृत्त  होण्या साठी. कदाचित ह्या  नवीन सहस्रकात ही आयुष्याची सार्थकता नसेल कदाचित पण खूप पैसे मिळवायचा.   कशाकरिता? खूप खायला, फिरायला मजा करायला थोडक्यात आनंदी राहायला.हसून आपण आनंदी राहतो . हसवून आपण आनंद पसरवतो  मग हसा  हसवा, आणि आनंदी राहा ना.

हसण्याचे महत्व आपण दुःखात जास्त ओळखतो

परवाच कोणाच्यातरी बोलण्यात पुराव्याने शाबीत असे आले. तुम्हाला वाटेल की  मी  आता हरितात्या सुरु करतो की काय . पण जर पुराव्यानेच विनोदाचे महत्व  शाबीत  करायचे  असेल तर करोनाच्या दुःखात सगळ्यात काय जोरात असतात ते करोना चे जोक्स , व्हाट्सअँप फॉर्वर्डस, टिकटॉक चे विनोदी व्हिडिओ (चीन चा निषेध). एकमेकांना पाठवून आपण दिलासा देण्याचा आणि उभारी देण्याचा प्रयत्न करतो.

What were your Resonance Moments?

Remember your last climb to Sinhagad. You had climbed until the final gradient. You were tired and thirsty. But you saw the break in the wall and few trekkers sitting on it like a parapet way above. That was your destination. The gradient got further difficult. But then you reached that moment when the body and mind resonated with a rhythm. Breathing also got aligned. You didn't feel anything but a desire to reach that point. You kept walking. For the next ten minutes, you experienced those moments which I call Moments of Resonance. Then you got rewarded with Kandabjai and Tak. You can replace Sinhagad with any other trail or climb you had in the past. 

When I was climbing from Ghuttu to Panwali, a 6000 ft climb, on the second day of my first Garhwal trek, I first time felt the experience and intrigue of Himalaya. Thanks to the fold mountains, you see the horizon and feel that sense of hope that climb will end there. But when you reach that point you again see some flat land and a further climb. It was an unending journey that day. But still, the body found a rhythm and I started walking with my mind focusing only on the steps. I then experienced moments of resonance for the last half hour of the climb.  The reward that day was an amazing view of the valley with meadows, trees, snow-capped peaks beyond, and of course Panwali village of two huts. We stayed in one of them which was a guest house, the other was a cattle shed.

When I did Wari, I found these moments of resonance climbing Dive Ghat. Mind and body resonate with the chants of Gyanba Tukaram and your existence gets aligned to reach the resting point.

Shatrughna, Nakul, Sahadev and 97 Kauravs

Many of us are viewing the reruns of Old Doordarshan Serials like Ramayana, Mahabharata, Chanakya based on the Indian Cultural Epics.  That reminded my highschool days when there used to be curfew each Sunday morning on the roads. Each episode was discussed in our society. Every Sunday morning family viewing during the breakfast of Hindusthan Bakery Pattice/Idli/ Bread Omelets. Coming to the present, my daughter, a part of the new generation who is a high school Senior here in a traditionally rich New England town in the USA wants to know about Mahabharata.  I remember her avid interest in watching a new version of Ramayana on NDTV Imagine as a kid in Pune. So interesting are these epics that every time you watch or read about them, you gain a new insight or aspects which have far more interpretations and analysis.  Another day I was also watching an all-time classical comedy Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai episode. Some movies, plays, series are kind of cult in our household. Naturally, for a comedy lover like me, most of them are comedies. Shantecha Karte, Asami, Varyavarchi Varaat, Sarabhai, Saujanyachi, Eka Lagnachi goshta, Ashi hi Banvabanvi, Dhoomdhaaka, Moruchi Maushi, the list is quite long. Named a very few.   In one of the episodes of Sarabhai, Indravadan ridicules Roshesh that he will get the role of Nakul Sahdev in Mahabharat and get relegated to the role that won't have any dialogue in the play and Roshesh will be standing throughout the play holding a spear. This statement though created immediate laughter, this created another deep thought process. What it is to be a subtext of the main script in the scheme of things. In Mahabharat, Nakul has only one significant role in Killing Shakuni in the war. or was it Sahdev? No mention anywhere otherwise. Bharat in Ramayana has an episode of Bharat Bhet in Ramayana. What about Shatrughna? On Kaurava side, Duryodhan, Dusshasana as well as Vikarna who opposed the disrobing of Draupadi have been mentioned, but what about 97 other Kauravs. Their names though maybe documented in some ancient script are unknown to the mainstream.

Today with Yesterday and No Tomorrow

It was a popular joint in Manhattan, Two gentlemen used to meet there each morning for breakfast: Mr. Yesterday used to handover its baggage and instructions to Mr. Today. Eventually, Mr. Today would meet Mr. Tomorrow to do the same. This was happening since the beginning of the inhabitation of this place by humanity.  There was a cataclysm one fine day thanks to some unknown virus originated from the Far East and Mr. Today is still waiting for handing over its baggage to Mr. Tomorrow as Mr. Tomorrow did not turn up at all. What should Mr. Today do?

A few months back I drove into NYC, met someone, crossed the great GB Washington bridge to enter NJ where I was booked into a hotel close to Exchange Place which gives you a wonderful view of Manhattan. Yes, it was new years eve and could overlook festivities though the main one far-off across the Hudson at Times Square. Our hotel also hosted a party. There were seasons festivities all around to welcome the new decade. I saw the first rays of 2020 and the decade of the 20s embracing the Manhattan skyline. Optimism was in the air. Many had planned ambitious resolutions and actions. Highs of the 2000s were drowned by the 2008 crisis. But 2010 did fairly well to recover in this part of the world. But Back in Homeland, we had a challenge to the India story which had raised from lows in the early 90s till say 2018. Impacts of well-meaning and long due GST reforms and ambitious Demonetization, as well as RERA, acted like by-products of much-needed cleaning of the Indian system corrupted for 70 years created few questions marks on Indian Story especially in comparison with China. We had just about a new virus in a city of China most of us never heard of. Everything was running fine. Like, everyone, I had plans for 2020 and beyond.

Remembering Dada Kondke in Corona Days

There was a song in the old Dada Kondke Marathi film:

गेली सांगून ज्ञानेश्वरी की  माणसा परीस मेंढरं बरी
Google Translation says:  It is said that Dnyaneshwari, that man is a fair sheep

Human Translation says: Great 11th Century Maharashtrian Saint Dnyaneshwar said in his epic commentary on BhagwadGita titled 'Dynaheshwari" that Lambs are worthier than humans.

Just to digress that human intelligence is effective than Artificial one. But that's for debate on another day. Just as all other things are on full stop lets stop all other topics but focus on an immediate hashtag that is trending: Corona (or Go Corona). Though I admit that I am myself sick of all those corona forwards, humor and memes but still I join herd mentality

Can we call Mainstream media a Killer of democracy having silenced the voice of Majority?

Its Media's Job to bring forth what people think, aspire and support. That assumes that the Majority is always correct since we live in a democracy. While some in media believe that they should support what is correct and point out what is incorrect irrespective of what majority supports. This approach assumes that what they in media think is correct. In that case, it is not a democracy but meritocracy ie what few elites in media think is correct. Thus media becomes undemocratic when they oppose the majority. That's the biggest flaw of mainstream media. Social media provides an option for all to voice their opinions in a democratic manner. But Elite media thinks social media as an army of trollers and thus term it as a very shallow and non-serious platform. They keep on publishing/telecasting opinions of elites who think they are right and yet cry that those in power even if they are elected democratically to suppress democracy and kill the constitution even if the constitution is followed to its last word. This is what is happening when all those in media oppose CAA and kill the voice of the many maybe those in the majority who support CAA. All we read/hear the judgment without any sound reasoning that is how NRC is bad and intolerant and how protestors who constitute the elites, those heavily influenced by politics and maybe in fewer numbers are correct.

Gear Up

Two thirds of 2019 is gone and we head towards last four months of the decade. This is the time to gear up. Gear up to celebrate the festivities waiting for the remainder part of the year. Gear up to recoup after long summer and unprecedented rains, cyclones, floods. Gear up to face new challenges like economic downturn, emerging market dynamics, wars, terror, extreme polarization and so on. Gear up to meet personal goals targets that we usually plan for the next Calendar year. This calendar change would usher in the new decade of 2020s. Lot was said about 2020 as landmark in human history. But signs are dangerous as we stand precariously to let our offspring live in a world and an environment they cannot salvage to continue their existent. The latest fires in Amazon forests have led us into an irreversible situation for climate and environment. It’s high time for the world to gear up, unite and fight the things to minimize further damage, do things to help us recover the situation. As we usher in celebrations, we pray to the Lord of Wisdom and Remover of Obstacles to help us do that. Ganapati Bappa Morya

50 50

Life can be described at its best as a 50 50 endeavor. It is divided between happiness and sorrow, success and failure, winning and losing, hope and despair, day and night, winter and summer. At the start of  this summer of 2019, I had a wish list of three things that I had no control over to happen: Mumbai Indians winning IPL, Modi winning general elections and Kohli lifting World Cup. Summer still is at its glory in this part of world while monsoons have set in finally in most part of India ending long summer there. Ignoring IPL to be non-serious matter, on the rest two accounts it was fifty-fifty verdict. While India and Modi won riding on a very effective campaign, lack of opposition and support of aspiring India, Virat lost it thanks to bad selection and decisions, half an hour of bad cricket at crucial moment. This column has said lot about why India won when Modi won. Though we will delve upon what next after the election and what needs to be the agenda for Modi2.0, but while analyzing World Cup we should also now focus on what’s next. As many serious thinkers will find it childish to equate cricket with National cause, but for this column cricket is passion while politics is a way of life. Cricket this time was 50 overs matter and in Indian Politics its about 50 % absolute majority and only around 50% of voters bother to Vote.

Summarizing Summer of 19: Indian Victory?

Summer of 69 is immortalized in history of this part of world. 50 years later can it be same for Indians

Summer is here finally in this part of the world. Gone are those chilly days, snow days, shivering, and indoor life. Now it’s the time to give up hibernation, explore outdoors and have fun under the sun. Sadly it is different back home. Furnace keeps burning outdoors compelling us to stay indoors. Thankfully there are Mangoes, Vacations and IPL. Last time I wrote on this forum, a day before IPL final. What a match though not quite good cricket played with dropped chances, bad batting. Brilliance of Bumrah, experience of Malinga and useful contributions by all finally ended juggernaut led by Dhoni and his experienced Brigade albeit by narrowest margin possible. But sure a treat for cricket fans and MI fan within me.

Fan in me also won when Shri Narendra Damodardas Modi was sworn on 30^th for the second time. Lot has been said about this election: Polarization, EVMs, Secularism, Khan Market Gang, Battle of Bengal, South Indian identity politics, topsy-turvy results across three states lost by BJP, End of communist movement in India, Social Media wars, Unnecessary and wrongful intervention of opinions by International Media, meltdown of opposition, rise of stars like YSR Reddy, Stalin and sadly MIM.  For me three things really impacted on ground zero.

To all those who tried all the dirty tricks

Despite all analysis or otherwise, ONLY thing matters is now we have a clear democratically elected well meaning , corruption-free and proactive PM of India unless you take a dig at decision capability of Indian voter or blame EVM/EC like a typical 'elite' who know it all especially liberals , pseudo secular, and antinational , corrupt media (including international ) and politicians/intellectuals/actors and so on.

मराठी पत्रकारितेतील पुरोगामी ज्येष्ठ पत्रकार, संपादक, पुरोगामी कार्यकर्ते नेते ज्यांना महाराष्ट्रातील शेतकरी कष्टकरी आणि सामान्य नागरिकांच्या समस्यांचे आणि जनमानसाचे सर्व खरे मुद्दे कळतात अश्या सर्व काकांना साष्टांग दंडवत. . सरकार च्या चुकीच्या धोरणांमुळे जनता कष्टली आहे आहे , रांजली आहे हे आपले म्हणणे अतिशय योग्य आहे पण जनता आपल्या प्रमाणे सुब्बूद्ध नाही .

विडिओ चा  आवाज  बंद कर रे 

More NayakGiri  at  http://nayakgiri.blogspot.com

Suspense

When I was in school, Exams used to get over by the first or the second week of April and summer vacations used to set in. Then there was a dreaded day of Final Result of that standard around April End. The period between exams and result was the best timespan spent as a child.  No worries of studies, no aftershocks of results and impending tasks for the next academic year. Add to that fun part of travelling, mangoes, friends, books. Thankfully our parents were not so keen on summer camps as today’s parents are.

Now that we are one week into May, we as a country are in same stage: exams over, results awaited. It’s a suspense which is keeping us enthralled, worried, anxious till the D Day of May23rd. Maybe as a Nation it’s so important whether we continue on strong path or get into dark days of coalition and compromises on national causes. Why is all mainstream media except few,  thrusting upon nation that India is under threat under current regime and situation is so intolerant? On the contrary majority of social media voices sound otherwise. But social media is not real world of ballots. Thus we live now in suspense till the last phase is over.  Same is the case for all of diehard cricket fans,  as we wait World cup to unfold the form of Indian Team. Same as we wait for a normal monsoon to solve serious water crisis. World also is observing various events to unfold as northern hemisphere looks forward to summer life.

Lights, Camera, Action...

The Dates are announced, Venues are finalized stage is set. Lights Camera Action….

The countdown began nine months before on this blog is done. The Ideal code of conduct is in place and campaign reaches crescendo. The lead actors, behind the scene directors, not stage actors, light and sound people have taken their positions.

The plot was set much before but plot has taken interesting turn after Pulawama attacks followed by Balakot Strikes. Not that one should politicize the National Calamity/event but the fact still remains that current Political leadership has made it count. The resolve to attack Pakistan on its soil is path breaking and needed all political support which unfortunately was missing. Opposition bravado which followed exemplary line to support Government fell apart after few days. The usual noises jaundiced by their hatred to Modi, undermined national interest by challenging Indian Air Force on the strikes, appreciating Imran Khan’s role and doing everything to harm India. No need to name these noises. But as a patriot, it was a different experience for the first time that India acted and not stuck to usual rhetoric of condemnation etc. International community though was firmly behind India. That was not the case with International Media which somehow has strange habit of safeguarding Paki Interests and ridiculing India. 

Jai Hind

Big Thanks to IAF, Army, Home and Defense ministries and PM for befitting response to attacks. Best tributes to martyrs on Savarkar Memorial Day.

This is a day when one wants to spend whole time on social media. Enemies outside and within are active and we will need to be extremely cautious and responsible citizens. But it’s not the time to get carried away in euphoria. It is the time to be vigilant, united Indians as good citizens ignoring all internal divisions of cast religion etc. Let’s not allow fake intellectuals, political opportunists, arm chair thinkers divide us and use vested media to create hype on nonexistent intolerance, fear etc. Now where are those newbies who wanted to inquire NSA? Though this time there is a deafening silence on veracity of whether strikes actually happened like last strikes but acceptance from Pak has left them without any excuse. Thus they have joined bandwagon to congratulate defense (rightfully so) while ignoring the role of Political leadership and will. This political will was lacking in India since Independence rendering India helpless against terror (remember 26/11 response).  I remember all moments like 93 Mumbai blasts, 26/7 train bombings, Kandahar, Akshardham attacks, 26/11, all those bombs everywhere. We had almost five years of terror free reign though sinister intents tried through Naxalism, Kashmir, NE insurgencies. But we will not take anything lying down. Yeh Naya Hindustan hai...

Though we may not have ended terror but posturing has been great irrespective of results and Pak's position is weakened eitherways. Also now it has given message to international media that india can strike despite threat posed by a  nuclear state like Pakistan which was deterrant for Indian cause due to international community.

Jai Hind.....Bharat Mata Ki Jai

Final Leg

Final Leg

As 2019 has seen end of its first month, coming days are definitive towards shaping of future for many. This is the last leg of definite period be it for entire World and is Most important time for India, Maharashtra, Pune, Indian Businesses and finally Indian Cricket team. We started this column in Aug 18 when we started countdown of nine months leading to April 19. Collectively as a society we should be aware and evaluate all options whether to lead India into chaos of inactive corruption or provide stability while correcting few flaws of clean assertive governance

For World the most important aspect for all the nations should stress upon is Climate. Already we have seen vagaries of nature resulting into deaths and destruction be it extreme cold, heat, draughts, cyclones, earthquakes, floods, tsunamis. Another is widening gap between haves and have-nots creating many socio-political, economic strife resulting into wars and terror. Common playing field for business and strategic cooperation across boundaries is something countries should facilitate.  We have seen such deadlocks during US shutdown, Brexit. Rise of Nationalism across liberal countries is also worrying trend. China’s ambitions have already impacted the region and influenced Korean peninsula , Japan and SE  and south Asia.  Its trade though has been impacted. We need to rein autocratic regimes. South America is facing severe law and order problems like those in Brazil, Venezuela. US withdrawal from Syria and Afghanistan will create vacuum which is dangerous. Stock markets worldwide have taken beating and few experts predict biggest slowdown worse than 2008. Social media and ecommerce is seriously challenged by privacy policies and security.

For India we have 2019 General elections.