The economy may currently be teetering close to recession if not actually in recession and onion prices may be making us cry. Women’s safety issues and accused criminals fleeing the country may make us angry. But there have been some headlines that are cause for cheer and which give us hope.
Godman Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was found guilty of rape and sentenced to life in prison. Given the tremendous money power and political clout that the man and his organisation wield, this conviction can be viewed as a significant triumph of justice and of judicial integrity.
For a while, it seemed as though India and Pakistan would engage in yet another pointless, devastating war. However, the leadership on either side of the border managed to restrain the more strident voices baying for war and the escalation of the conflict was averted.
Wg Cdr Abhinandan Varthaman became a national hero. For once it wasn’t glamorous film stars and overpaid cricketers in the limelight. It was a soldier earning just praise for his bravery and his composure when in enemy custody. It was a country, for once paying attention to the work our men and women in uniform and the sacrifices they make each day to keep our country safe.
Dogs in blankets was a trend on Twitter – a platform usually known for the hate people direct at each other. For a change, the tweeple were laughing together and sharing something nice.
The video of a CRPF jawan feeding a little Kashmiri child with disabilities went viral. The story of Panullah Ahmed who broke his Ramzan fast to donate blood also made headlines. Both stories served to remind us why being an Indian is wonderful.
Stories such as this one about Dutte Chand’s gold medal reminded Indians that there are sports other than cricket; and sporting heroes other than cricketers. Several other times in 2019, we had cause to cheer the achievements of other athletes such as Hima Das as well in the track and field arena.
P V Sindhu won a gold medal at the Badminton World Federation – it was something that no Indian had achieved so far. This achievement brought Sindhu on par with some of the finest athletes India has ever produced.
Corporates, individuals, NGOs as well as the authorities are trying to tackle the scourge of plastic waste. Not only are people realising how serious the problem is, they are doing their bit to try and bring about change.
The struggle for women to gain entry into the military has been a long and arduous one. After Indian women found their footing as officers in each of the three branches of the military, we had our first women fighter pilots not so long ago. Now women will be inducted into the Corps of Military Police as well.
The Indian obsession with fair skin is undeniable, as is our prejudice against darker-skinned people and nationalities. They say the acknowledgement of a flaw is the first step towards positive change and a film about colourism did exactly this. Clearly we have made those fledgeling beginnings in several important areas.
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