Prof. Rasal Singh
2021 reminds me of a riddle: What’s worse than finding a worm in your apple? Finding half a worm in your apple. What’s scarier than a gloomy year of pandemic? A second year of pandemic. Like other countries across the globe, India too has been grappling with the social and economic fallouts of COVID-19, on top of the public health catastrophe. Every year has its share of good and not so good events, some are life-changing while the others paradigm-shifting events, from the coronavirus to farmer protests, poll violence, Olympic gold, and economic fallout, the country witnessed all. As we bid farewell to 2021 here is a rerun of all the events which grab headlines this year.
India hit by second covid wave and the rollout of vaccination thereafter
Though, 2020 had a brief period of relative normalcy before COVID-19 upended everything. In 2021, the pandemic has dominated our lives since day one. From Jan 1 to Dec 10, 3·3 million people died from COVID-19, a much higher number than in 2020. The delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 established itself as the dominant variant globally. India had a devastating second wave of infections, peaking at more than 2·7 million on May 3. Shortages of hospital beds and supplemental oxygen resulted in needless deaths, reaching almost 29,000 on May 17. All in all, the significant inefficiency, dysfunction and acute shortage of the healthcare delivery systems in the public sector simply failed to match up with the growing needs of the population at the time.
But then again, every cloud has a silver lining, and there is always some ray of hope at the end of the day. For instance, we did make considerable progress in vaccine distribution and manufacture, among other things. The country began its vaccination drive on January 16, 2021, for healthcare workers which were later extended to people over 60 years of age and those above 45 with specific comorbidities. In the next phase from April, vaccinations for all above the age of 45 years was approved and finally, it was expanded for everyone above 18 years of age from May 1.
The initial pace of the vaccine drive led to several experts raising questions on whether India would ever be able to successfully inoculate its mammoth population. But even amidst the initial vaccine hesitancy and politics surrounding the jab, the nation proved everyone wrong. The first big milestone came when India decided to celebrate PM Modi’s birthday in September with a landmark number of vaccinations. The country successfully achieved the feat by vaccinating a record-breaking number of 2.5 crore citizens on a single day on September 17. India’s next big achievement came a month later in October, when the nation’s COVID-19 vaccination coverage crossed the 100-crore number, marking a ‘Vaccine Century’. There were celebrations across the world to honor the momentous occasion. As of December 22, India’s COVID-19 vaccination coverage has exceeded 138.96 Crore (1,38,95,90,670).
However, the world sees a resurgence of the pandemic late in the year, as the highly infectious Omicron strain spreads at an unprecedented rate. With initial vaccine immunity wearing off, governments try to counter the virus with booster shots and a return to restrictions.
Post poll violence in Bengal
Bengal post-poll violence refers to the alleged murders, rapes, and vandalism that happened in numerous West Bengal districts following the announcement of the results of the 2021 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election. The violence erupted just hours after the Trinamool Congress (TMC) won a third term in office in May.
The West Bengal Government failed to properly investigate accusations of alleged violence during the assembly elections in May and April, according to the Calcutta high court.
Farmer’s Protest
The months-long farmers’ protests that erupted in November 2020 and reach its peak during 2021 finally drew close to an end after the bill to cancel the three farm laws was passed in both houses of the Parliament.
While the farmers’ protests were afflicted by a range of menaces, but nothing came close to the siege of the Red Fort by protesters during the tractor rally on January 26, 2021 and the attendant riots that erupted in the national capital. From losses worth Rs 60,000 crores to the egregious subversion of the elected government to the insidious resurgence of Khalistan sentiments and to a host of criminal activities such as murders, riots etc., the farmers’ agitation has been a grave assault on the national security, public exchequer and our fundamental values.
Controversial retrospective tax law scrapped after long wait
The Government passed a bill to scrap the controversial retrospective tax that was introduced in March 2012 on Friday. It has taken the NDA Government several years to finally scrap the controversial tax rule – a move that has been welcomed by a host of economists and foreign businesses. The bill was introduced to amend the Income Tax Act, 1961, and is aimed at scrapping tax demands for past payments from companies. The Government has also agreed to settle ongoing disputes and pay refunds to companies that were penalized under the controversial law.
Delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics finally held, and India’s triumph story
The 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo were held after a delay of one year from its scheduled 24 July to 9 August 2020 frame because of the pandemic. It was the first time in history that the Olympic Games were rescheduled.
On August 7, the javelin thrower ended India’s wait for a first Olympic medal in athletics. With an 87.58m long throw, Neeraj Chopra sealed a top podium finish in Tokyo – which was also India’s first Olympic gold since Abhinav Bindra (Shooting) created history in Beijing 2008. While in a team event a resolute Indian men’s hockey team rewrote history as it claimed an Olympic medal after 41 years. Also, PV Sindhu created history after winning the bronze medal in badminton in Tokyo Olympics
India registered their highest-ever medal tally in both; the Olympics and Paralympics at Tokyo. While the country won seven medals (1 gold, 2 silver, and 4 bronze) at Olympics, the paralympic contingent returned with an incredible 19 (5 gold, 8 silver, and 6 bronze). Two para-athletes; Avani Lekhara and Singhraj Adhana (both in Shooting) won twin medals at the Games.
Tata Sons’ successful bid for Air India a transformational move for the country’s airline sector
Announced on 8 October, the deal will see the Indian conglomerate – through its Talace special purpose vehicle (SPV) – obtain the long-ailing Air India for INR180 billion ($3.2 billion), of which it will pay INR27 billion in cash, while assuming INR153 billions of Air India debt. Consequent to the acquisition, the Tatas will own a 100% stake in Air India (a full-service airline operating in domestic and international markets) as also 100% in its subsidiary Air India Express (a low-cost carrier airline that focusses on short-haul international operations especially in the Middle East market) and 50% in the joint venture Air India SATS (airport services on ground and cargo handling). The total permanent and contractual employee strength of Air India & AIXL is 13,500.
Harnaaz Sandhu brings home Miss Universe title after 21 years
In the field of glamour, India’s Harnaaz Sandhu made the nation proud by bagging the long yearned-for Miss Universe title at the 70th edition of the beauty pageant event in December. Harnaaz brought home the prestigious honor, 21 years after Lara Dutta won it in the year 2000. Sandhu was crowned Miss Universe 2021 in a glitzy ceremony held at the Red Sea port of Eilat by her predecessor Andrea Meza of Mexico. Apart from Miss Universe, the 21-year-old has multiple pageant titles to her name including Femina Miss India Punjab in 2019 and Femina Miss India 2019, where she was placed as a semi-finalist.
Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav
Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav is an initiative of the Government of India to celebrate and commemorate 75 years of progressive India and the glorious history of its people, culture and achievements. It is an embodiment of all that is progressive about India’s socio-cultural, political and economic identity. The official journey of “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav” commences on 12th March, 2021 which starts a 75-week countdown to our 75th anniversary of Independence and will end post a year on 15th August, 2022.
India’s top military official, Bipin Rawat, dies in a helicopter crash
General Bipin Rawat, India’s defense chief, was one of 13 people killed in a helicopter crash on December 8, raising doubts about the future of the military reforms he was leading. Rawat was the country’s first chief of defense staff, a position created by the government in 2019.
COVID-19 remains a pervasive influence over life in India and across the world. And yet, even as a new surge in cases portends a winter of uncertainty, a look back at the past year offered many reminders of just how much more we now know about this global threat, the remarkable importance of vaccines and other public health measures, and the resiliency of humankind. As 2021 draws to a close, we are experiencing a slow but steady return to normal, with the world hoping for a brighter 2022. The year 2022 will bring its own set of challenges for India. How effectively the country and its people emerge from the pandemic as the third wave is just around the corner, the constant domestic turmoil, and an adverse regional climate will be key determinants of how India manages to face the new challenges ahead.
(The author is Dean, Students’ Welfare, Central University of Jammu)
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