Compressing a whole year in just 500 words is the hardest task ever, I try my best! 2008 was another roller-coaster ride for India, and our Sensex is the truest testimony for it. What say? It broke all records as it went past the 20,000 mark around the beginning of the year, only to tumble down to meager 9500 now! As the year comes to an end, consumers are rejoicing though. Oil prices crashed about 75%, cars and realty prices are expected to fall, and air travel could be cheaper. Happy new year, guys…!!!
The year recorded an enviable GDP growth for India, and industry was riding on high as the estimates were higher than 9%. But the dream could not last long, as the Subprime crisis in U.S.A. took toll on all the countries not excluding India. There was a talk of India being decoupled from global economy that is now being rubbished! The burning issue of farmer’s suicide was finally answered, and a record 60,000 Crore Rs. bail-out package for the debt-ridden farmers was announced. Its still a question, how much of it really went to the ‘needy’ and the ‘greedy’?
Indian Industry was not very keen on acquisitions this year as it was in 2007. The total acquisitions were down by 39%, the top deal so far is the pending acquisition of Land Rover and Jaguar by TATA (and who else?). TATA turned heads globally one more time this year by announcing the world’s cheapest car, NANO. The car was set to ride in markets back in September, but the biggest hurdle in its manufacturing turned out be Mamata Banarjee who forced RatanTata to shift his plant from West Bengal to Gujarat . I hope that 2009 puts some more feathers in Tata’s cap.
Sports India had a lot to cheer about this year. India found its first ever individual gold medal through Abhinav Bindra. Boxer Vijender and wrestler Sushil Kumar brought more smiles as both won bronze pushing India ahead in the medal list. Cricket undoubtedly continued to be the most favorite television sit-com. IPL 20/20 added a few more hours gluing Indian to the TV sets. IPL broke all the TRP records on its debut itself, making BCCI the richest cricket board in the world. Cricket fans shaded a few tears as their idols Sourav Ganguly and Anil Kumble called it their day. Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar continue to be ‘Class A’ players , and I hope that they do. Mahendra Singh Dhoni is perhaps the most successful Indian captain in the history by any measures (statistically, financially or popularly). I wish that he lifts the 2011 world cup for us.
On a sad note, India was tested for its patience once again, as series of bomb blast ripped apart metro-poles and few other cities. Islamic activists targeted New Delhi, Bangalore, Ahmadabad, and Jaipur. The peak had to be 26/11 Mumbai attacks. Terrorists with AK47 and hand-grenades rattled the security and killed over 170 people and damaged CST, Taj Mahal hotel and hotel Oberoi-Trident, landmarks in India’s financial capital. Its aftermath is still being felt. Not only civilians, but highest police officials and many Jawans lost their lives in protecting us. A salute to them!
‘Picture abhi baki hai mere dost!!!‘ We are not done yet, we have learned our lessons, perhaps the hard way. In response to protests against terrorism, Home minister, Maharashtra CM and deputy CM were sacked. For the first time in history of independent India, people reacted to change things around them and they did. It is a movement that is silently shaping up, and I wish that in 2009 every Indian becomes a part of it. We need change, too!!!
For all the TIMEZ readers, I wish a successful, happy and healthy year 2009. Let the party go on. Thank you all!!!
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