Two roads diverged in a wood, and
I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the
difference.
----------Robert Frost
There is a time in everybody’s
life when life offers two choices: One right and One Wrong. This is the time to
trust your instincts, use available information and experience, assess your
abilities, respect your spirit, follow your conscience and keep faith in
universal scheme of things. Year 2018 has led us to this crossroad as an
Individual, Punekar, Maharashtrian, Indian and as a Global Citizen. We need to
take this call in 2019. And it has to be right else we will be going back in
time and be labeled either unfortunately as people who took wrong decision or
gloriously as people who made right choice.
As a Global Citizen, every
country is at steps to take a call where one needs to think beyond Nationalism
and think as a part of very closed, interlinked world sharing same concerns.
2018 has taken us close to disaster on environmental fronts. We saw floods,
tsunamis, volcanoes, earthquakes, storms creating disasters. This is the
gravest situation and humanity has to make very wise decisions in 2019.Paris
turned into National muscle flexing completion. Some countries chose a path of
extreme sense of Nationalism in Americas (US, Brazil), Brexit, Right wings all
in Nato and erstwhile Warsaw pact countries. US politics was in turmoil
throughout though economy did well. The slump is stocks have warned of global
recession trends for 19 unless taken some wise decisions. US legislators and
people have a choice although with very complex mechanisms. World also has to
take wise decisions on trade, tariffs, visas to avoid actual and cold wars. There
were many shooting incidences in US which needs good governance to avoid such
human disasters. Iran sanctions pose great challenge in Middle East politics
which saw turmoil in Yemen, Qatar and Saudi capital after killing of
Khagosshi. US pullout in Syria and
Afghanistan will create a vacuum in the regions creating instability in 2019.
Russia has gained much confidence and credibility after soccer WC 2018 will
have more impact on world politics. China is also on crossroads on feasibility
of its economic model and international domination. India has had say in Srilanka, Maldives as
well as has problems due to US pullout in Afghanistan. It should be vary of
Himalayan countries of Nepal and Bhutan though especially Chinese influence
(for whom border issues still need to dealt carefully). Pakistan saw Imran as
puppet PM staged by Army, but there is no change in terrorism and outlook
towards India. US cut in aid will hurt where it hurts most as well Chinese will
claim their pound of flesh.
Technology stocks battered in US.
Facebook and Google had many controversies on all fronts as they try to
encircle our day to day lives. The investment models will tweak for value
adding companies and guidance are revised. But basic flaws in market as
witnessed on 07 still remain to threaten markets worldwide in 2019. Musk with all his issues
in the governance bets on space travel and driverless cars. AI Machine
Learning, Data Analytics, Cloud, DevOps have added new dimensions to
technology. Intersteller travel, Mars missions have opened few new
possibilities. Retail, food, entertainment, travel, healthare, hospitality are
at crossroads, to make their choices of business model with new technologies
and their possibilities, challenges. Unfortunately we did not see much
happening in Digital Security front as we remiian still vulnerable. We need
solid breakthrough in alternate and clean energy. Social Media will have biggest say in every
domain.
As an Indian, we are the people
who have to decide in 2019 if we need take back development and reforms back by
decade as in 2004 (though policies of NDA in early 2000s saw us at benefits of
boom in late 2000 enjoyed by UPA1 which resulted in disaster in UPA2. Indian
voters as shown in state election in Hindi belt don’t care about fiscal
deficit, structural reforms, corruption. The grass and roots want overnight results
after years remaining detached from development. In 2014 they surely wanted a
change resulting in BJP majority (technically NDA). We in last four and half
years have not seen any major corruption happening though much is claimed by
opposition in Rafale case. They even don’t trust courts. In fact every party
reacts to court decision depending on which side it stood. But fact remains
that courts have lost some credibility in some frivolous and arbitrary
decisions as in Sabarimala. Ayodhya dispute is beyond courts as courts can
treat them as property dispute. Judiciary under Justice Mishra saw some reforms
but the existing collegium system needs to be reevaluated. They somehow are
bound by rules which lose higher picture.
Opportunist opposition will go heavily on loan waivers and subsidies
which will be disaster for economy. Their proven corrupt and inept leadership
will have their say in governance if elected.
If there has to be option it has to evolve beyond current options that
may be projected by opposition. Whether
the bold decisions on demonetization and GST have had the structural impact or
not is yet to be proven though is fiercely debated by experts who have taken
sides based on their affiliation. Common
man had supported demonetization back in 2016 but has not seen any changes.
Banking reforms and reduction of NPAs is a fact but it is attributed to
different reasons by experts on both sides. There is definite change in
governance. Some ministries have made impact eg Railways, Infrastructure,
Foreign ministry. We are proud of institutions like ISRO, DRDO with space,
rocket, and missile technologies. Our economy also a part of global markets
suffered to oil and dollar price. Situation eased out in the later part of 18.
Markets lost lot of value thanks to global meltdown and political reasons. As
we said Nationalism is challenge worldwide but as Indian we really should be
focused on development rather than insecurity of erstwhile opinion makers.
Erstwhile powers houses and mainstream media with vested interest have tried
successfully to create image that this government is not inclusive and not
everyone feels safe. Moreover they have taken in arms cause of poor who really
suffer using subsidy and loan waiver route. We need to be vary with these
attempts as we have experience similar policies that ruined our nation for
sixty years after independence. The forces which are against India who sponsor
problems in Kashmir and rural India through Naxalism will find sympathizers in
ruling coalition. Urban and Rural
cleanliness ignored for last sixty years is showing results. Terrorism which
has been moderately kept at bay will rebound. Though this column may sound pro
government but as democracy we need strong opposition which should be capable
and well-meaning and this column does not find any viable option unless
Rajnikanth provides a super human angle. Let this column know if there is any.
As a Maharashtrian, I feel
society divided on caste lines as a sinister campaign by opposition to play it
using reservation card. Fadanvis has led successfully from front against
opposition but has difficult road ahead of 19 state elections. The corruption
which was at forefront in all cooperative and related movements has been
curbed. Fiscal discipline and investment friendly policies have helped. But
then who cares? All we are worried are caste based identities and corruption as
road to success.
As a Punekar, we should try to
better citizens by following traffic rules, cleanliness, safety and sense
during picnics. We have seen flexes can be lethal. We have seen unseasoned
floods due to burst pipelines. We have seen traffic issues due to road and
metro works. But lest hope they vanish in 2019. Let’s hope we have vision to
resolve water issues. Construction and real estate needs to be streamlined to
avoid urban and semi urban disasters especially in fringe areas. We need to
grow more trees.
In sports we had a great Soccer
world cup in terms of competitive matches, skills, tactics, upsets, use of
referrals. French played exceptionally well to stop series of upsets from
Croatians. Belgians. English and hosts played well. German, Argentine, Spanish, Portuguese stars
waned. Federer started with bang in Australian Open, Nadal kept his reign at
Roland Garros but Joker reigned at Wimbledon and New York. Women saw four
different winners while Serena shined on as well as off the field. Indian did very well in Asian Games where
heroes from our hinterland ruled our hearts. Indian Hockey team went into top
seeing though failed in WC and Asian Games.
Badminton saw a great year with lot of stars emerging and proving at top
most levels. Mary Mom is star of the year for her top position. We expect
nothing less than gold at Tokyo Olympics.
Indian Cricket had a year where it fought hard in foreing grounds. They
were near yet to far from victory in England. We also did well in SA. But with
win at MCG in the last test of 18 they stand on crossroads in 19 to win series in
Australia. MSD returns in ODIs to wind best balance for 19 WC. Women’s team
also did well. Cricket saw ball tampering scandal as well as fall of Srilankan
and WI cricket as well emergence of NZ.
In Films and Entertainment we saw Rajani taking
honors with 2.0. We had good movies like Badhai Ho , Raazi, Andhadhun doing good. Stars
failed to deliver with exception of Akshay. We had some popular web series
which tweaked model. Television saw return of KBC. Indian Idol had some quality
singing and compeering. Judges had their own set of problem and we had
undeserving winner. Marathi films did well and we have great expectations from
19 releases. This is birth centenary for Pula, Gadima and Babuji. 1919 was
great and let’s hope we have same a century later. We had new talent and venue
for Sawai Gandharv.
In 18 we lost Atalji one of the
two greatest PMs of India. We also lost Patangrao Kadam in state politics and
Karunanidhi in national politics. We lost Sridevi, Lalan Sarang, Mrinal Sen, Ajit Wadekar. At world stage we lost George
Bush Sr, Paul Allen, Stan Lee, Anthony Bourdain. Apologies for any miss in
obituary.
We had lot of events in 18 which
really keeps us at a Crossroad which is very crucial for future. Time to be Wise and Careful…
Author Runs blog: http://nayakgiri.blogspot.com
Author Runs blog: http://nayakgiri.blogspot.com
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