2016 through the MyInd Lens
- In 2016 Year End
- 07:40 PM, Dec 30, 2016
- Shashank Davanagere
The best (or worst depending on your point-of-view) part of December is that we get a chance to look back and analyze what kind of changes happened. 2016, has been quite unpredictable considering Britain voted to leave EU, Donald Trump was elected as the 45th President of the USA and at home, Demonetization happened. Let’s try to understand 2016 through major events that happened over the course of this year.
January
- Airbase at Pathankot was attached by terrorists, resulting in death of 7 security forces personnel.
- Riots took place in Malda over comments made by Kamalesh Tiwari.
- IAF Corporal Abhimanyu Gaud was crushed to death by a speeding Audi in Kolkata
- A student, Rohith Vemula, pursuing his PhD, committed suicide at Hyderabad. And media fueled fire without bothering about facts.
- Bhumata Brigade tried to create outrage on ‘Shani Shingnapur’. They would be in news again this year.
- The P5+Germany and Iran reached to conclusion over Nuclear enrichment and sanctions on Iran are lifted.
Policy Decisions
- The Modi government starts declassifying Netaji Files. The declassification would continue throughout the year.
February
- February was marked with protests over Vemula’s suicide where facts were rendered immaterial.
- India tried to mend its relations with Nepal after Madeshi agitation
- An outbreak of virus - Zika in Brazil just ahead of the Rio Olympics sent jitters across world.
- In a case, which many felt was judicial overreach, the SC started to hear notices on entry into Sabarimala Temple. Majority of the Hindu women launched a very successful #WeCanWait campaign to counter it.
- David Headley’s confessions and new evidence on Ishrat Jahan vindicated action taken by the Gujarat Government.
March
- Bomb attacks ripped apart Brussels.
- Murder of RSS and BJP workers remains unabated in Kannur. BJP releases a book detailing the murders.
- Irrelevant Left gets a new icon in Kanhaiya
- Marshall Islands sues India and eight other countries over modernization of Nuclear weapons.
- RSS changes its dress for first time.
Policy Decisions
- Game changing Real Estate Bill passes in Parliament.
- The general Budget sees increased allocation to Agriculture, some sensible reforms, and then sees some rollbacks!
- The Raisina Dialogue is launched.
April
- A flyover under construction for more than 7 years collapsed in Kolkata.
- The farce of Bhumata Brigade tries to repeat at another temple
- China blocks India’s bid to label JeM chief Masood Azhar as a terrorist.
- PM Modi visits Brussels, US and Saudi Arabia.
- India tries to secure and strengthen its ties with Maldives
- Unlike Malala, the Handwara girl’s courage and conviction is not recognized
- A paper flag in NIT Srinagar fires the imagination of the Nation.
Policy Decisions
- UDAY initiative to improve the financial health of electricity distribution companies in various states is launched. 18 states get on board.
- PM Modi attends the Nuclear Security Summit (NSS)
May
- A second generation immigrant Sadiq Khan gets elected to the prestigious post of Mayor of London.
- Karti Chidambaram’s back in limelight and this time for the raid on Sequoia as Aircel-Maxis and Sharada scams continues to haunt the Chidambaram family.
- Augusta Westland returns to haunt Sonia Gandhi.
- India and Iran sign 12 major agreements. Chabahar Port development takes center stage.
- Indian liberals get into a Traffic Jam over Buddha.
- BJP wrests Assam, Congress Collapses, Jayalalithaa and Mamta retain Power.
- ISRO successfully tests Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV).
- Defying all these odds, Leicester City wins English Premier League.
June
- A terror attack kills 50 in Orlando gay club.
- And an attack in Istanbul international airport kills 41.
- China blocks India's NSG entry as the chess match continues.
- Nepal Indian relations reach nadir amidst the Madeshis’ agitation
- #Brexit Wins - United Kingdom scripted a new chapter for itself when it opted to move away from European Union
- Close at home, Raghuram Rajan exits as the Governor of RBI.
- PM Modi’s jet setting continues with visits to Afghanistan, Qatar, Switzerland, US and Mexico
- PM Modi addresses a joint session of the US Congress and recognizes a new “Symphony In Play”.
- Amaravati again becomes the Capital of Andhra Pradesh after 2000 years.
- Eternal fighter, Anil Kumble returns to Indian Cricket as Coach.
Policy Decisions
- National Agriculture Market with the ambitious goal of doubling income of farmers by 2022 is launched.
July
- Qandeel Baloch’s murdered by her brother for “bringing dishonor” to her family.
- A “coup” in Turkey takes place which only serves to strengthen Ergodan.
- Terrorists kill 20 in a café in Dhaka.
- A terrorist and son of a headmaster, Burwan Wani is killed by Army.
- JUNO is successfully inserted into Jupiter’s Orbit. Juno will orbit Jupiter until 2018 and then crash into the planet.
Policy Decisions
- Major Cabinet Reshuffle takes place with lots of changes.
- HRD goes to Prakash Javadekar and Smriti Irani is shifted to Textiles.
August
- Designs for Scorpene get leaked leading to anxiety in Indian Navy.
- China defies South China Sea verdict and hopes India forgets NSG snub
- PM Modi defangs opposition by condemning Gau Rakshaks vigilantism.
- The New Educational Policy, brain child of ex-MHRD turns out to be a damp squib.
- Lockheed Martin offers Joint Venture for production of 4th Generation F-16 C/D Block 70.
- Verizon agrees to buy - the once most famous site on the internet - Yahoo!
- Shuttler PV Sindhu wins Silver at Rio under guidance of Pullela Gopichand.
- And Wrestler Sakshi Malik wins Bronze.
Policy Decisions
- PM Modi refers to Balochistan and POK in his Independence Day address and sends Pak into frenzy.
- The largest tax reform in Indian history - GST is passed and ratified!
September
- Cauvery issue burns in Karnataka.
- Government and Judiciary lock horns over NJAC.
- Jungle Raj is back in Bihar as Nitish Kumar looks lost.
- PM Modi visits Vietnam which further irks China.
- India and the US sign the Logistics Exchange and Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA).
- Terrorists attack our Army base in Uri resulting in death of 19 soldiers.
- And finally, India strikes back by surgically eliminating terrorist launch pads in PoK.
- Additionally, the Modi government starts to revisit the Indus-Water treaty.
- Reliance Jio is launched.
- Talgo runs successfully between Delhi and Mumbai at speeds close to 150 kmph!
- GSLV takes ISRO into higher weight orbits.
- And ISRO also masters the Multi-Burn Technology.
- A star puzzles Astronomers around the world with rumors of Dyson Sphere and aliens!
October
- Maratha Protest rock Maharashtra
- Bob Dylan wins Nobel Peace Prize.
- The 2G, 3G and 4G Spectrum Auctions net money for Government.
- India tries out BRICS-BIMSTEC Diplomatic Outreach.
- India Russia try to remain stronger together.
- Infighting intensifies in Mulayam Singh’s family.
- Triple Talaq takes center stage with SC asking Government for its opinion.
- And the Modi government bites the bullet on Triple Talaq.
- India and rest of countries pull out of SAARC to make it more irrelevant.
- Indians boycott Chinese lamps for Deepavali over NSG snub.
- NASA’s Rosetta Mission comes to an end with deep insights.
Policy Decisions
- Ministry of Water Resources recognizes the Saraswati River of yore.
- India ratifies the Paris Climate Agreement.
November
- Terrorists burn 25 schools in Kashmir
- Subedar Grewal commits suicide and some media and political parties try to politicize it.
- Bangladesh takes Islamic terrorism head on.
- Violence in Jakarta as Islamists rise.
- India Israel work on strengthening ties
- PM Modi visits Japan. Modi-Abe bonhomie remains intact.
- India doesn’t let UK dictate terms in battle of trade vs immigration.
- In a dramatic fashion, Cyrus Mistry is removed from TATA sons. Spat gets ugly.
- What many thought impossible happens as Donald Trump wins the election to become the 45th POTUS.
- And after preaching to the contrary, it is the Democrats who act as sore losers.
Policy Decisions
- One word takes India by storm - Demonetization.
- Indians rise to Modi's Mahayagna call in the fight against black money.
December
- India and Tajikistan strengthen trade links.]
- Pakistan Repatriates Afghan Refugees as Pak-Afghan fight escalates. []
- One-upmanship between jugaad finding Indians and Government continues over Demonetization. Over 600 raids happen across India.
- O. Pannerselvam is sworn in as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. And a power struggle starts in Tamil Nadu.
Policy Decisions
- PM Modi takes a different route on Defense, IB, and RAW Chiefs appointments.
- MEA amends Passport rules. Sanyasis can now use their Guru's name instead of Father's or Mother's.
Obituaries.
Heavyweight champion – Muhammed Ali; Musician – Prince; US Supreme Court Justice - Antonin Scalia; Former Israeli President and Prime Minister - Shimon Peres; Atticus Finch’s creator Author - Harper Lee; Actor - Gene Wilder; Actor - Alan Rickman; Man who eradicated Small Pox - Dr. Donald Henderson – were amongst those who passed away.
A few more:
- Dictator and Conscience Keeper of the world - Fidel Castro.
- The CM of Jammu and Kashmir, Mufti Mohammed Sayeed.
- The King of Thailand.
- Amma J. Jayalalithaa.
- Chanakya of Tamil Politics Cho Ramaswamy.
PumBhaava Saraswati, Sri Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna garu.
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