31st December 2020

 Musings.......

The year 2020 circa will be for long remembered as the Pandemic year for centuries to come. Even though it was named Novel Coronavirus 19 to depict that the virus outbreak happened in late 2019, the full fledged effect of Coronavirus or Covid-19 was felt world over in 2020. 

Looking back much has changed the world over due to the pandemic. This year showed how misplaced human priorities are- huge spending on defence while neglecting healthcare, being one such example. 

We must remember our year started as a year of protests in India. The Modi Government which in 2019 was elected back with a thumping majority, started to fulfill their manifesto promises.  The initial months of 2020 saw passing of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and NRC. The special status accorded to all the state Jammu and Kashmir was taken away and the state made into two Union Territories of J and K and Ladakh. 

One positive outcome of all this was that the  Protests against CAA-NRC started from the campuses of India. This showed us that there is still hope for a secular vibrant democracy in India in future. 

Participation of women in protests in Shaheen Bagh braving the bone wrenching winter of New Delhi was a sight to watch. 

Internationally major changes happened with the United States literally succumbed shamefully to the virus.  Trump administration was an utter failure at pandemic response and his semi- scientific “gyaan” cost him the re-election. World is looking forward with hope to a Biden Administration in 2021. 

China which initially lost the opportunity to identify the enormity of the situation which started in a Seafood Wet market in Wuhan and curb the spread of the virus, got back on track with its stringent lockdown and test- trace methods so much that the rest of China outside the affected areas were comparatively spared. Although how much we can believe the reports of the Chinese Communists is another matter. 

The race for a vaccine was another interesting thing with Russia coming out with Sputnik-V in breakneck speed. However without a third phase trial this vaccine was looked upon with suspicion. Some Latin American countries like Venenzuela have in fact given orders for the Russian Vaccine. 

Oxford- Astra Zeneca and Moderna vaccines gives us hope. The UK regulatory authority gave approval for the Oxford vaccine recently which gives hope for India too where Serum Institute of India (SII) has teamed up with Astra Zeneca for production of the Indian version of the vaccine. 

Nepal is a neighbour which surprised us with a “ constitutional coup” of sorts where ego clash between incumbent PM and Communist Party leader KP Sharma Oli and veteran Communist leader Prachanda spoiled the party. Subsequently the Lower house was dissolved and fresh elections called for. The people’s mandate seems to have been overridden and now its upto the Supreme Court of Nepal to make a decision. Nepal being India’s neighbours and Chinese interests in the area, makes it an interesting area to look forward to in 2021. 

The protests against Modi Government continued towards the end of 2020 too with the Agricultural bills acting as thorn on the Government. All salutes go the farmers of Punjab and Haryana who are still protesting in the chilling winter of New Delhi, braving the Coronavirus situation, to protect their livelihood and integrity. It remains to be seen if the government bows down and repeal the laws in 2021. 

The Middle East showed some shift in policy with few Arab countries establishing diplomatic relations with Israel. In this unprecedented move facilitated by promises from the Trump dispensation, history was being blended. The Palestinian side seems to have lost the plot and support even among Arab countries. With a change in government and the chances of an incoming Biden Administration retracting Trumps decisions, on the cards, the Middle East would be a space to look into with interest in 2021. 

Another factor the world eagerly waits for is whether 2021 will oversee a worldwide economic recovery, or will it continue to go the 2020 way into disaster.  

Climate change with resultant wildfires in different parts of the world including Australia and Canada, Tornados and Tropical cyclones in our part of the world, 2020 had it all. The intensity and acumen with which climate change is happening is worrisome. It is now a reality that the Paris Climate accords will have to be redrawn and targets changed. Policymakers have gone from preventing Climate Change to living with Climate change, which just shows their failure of sorts rather than good policymaking. 

The general sense is of desperation and silent relief in 2020 getting over. Unlike other years, this time round the world is looking with hope towards a new dawn, that is 2021 which would make this world a better place to live in. 

Let us all learn from past mistakes and prepare and work towards making this world a better place to live in not only for generations to come by, but to us.  

Food for Thought 

RC

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