Some Important Snippets From India in Last Month

 While a definite view has emerged that I am receiving good financial assistance by working in U.S., the help rendered has its roots back in India. While I served the Indian poor for ten years through several activities, I am being helped in my job with a decent income for the last 14 months. Without the seva you do there will not be any offered to you. I think it works that way for me. Leaving the beautiful home country and not being of service to them is tough. But after all the emergency work done in India for nearly five years, this period of 1 or 2 years can act like consolidating the gains of earlier work. This consolidation can also cool-off the nation before something invigorating strikes back. While I stay away from the nation, I would put together any important happenings back home in this space to amplify the cause in my own little way. More than anything it provides me something to write about and reflect back on home country. Let us look at those happenings in the past month in this instalment. 

Karnataka State Elections: 

The elections for the all-important state of Karnataka happened in the last month on 10th May and the results declared three days later. This is the first major battle in the run-up to the general elections nation-wide next year. Nothing can be deciphered from this but there is a change of guard as Congress won decisively over the other two parties. It is important to note that Congress underwent Bharat Jodo Yatra (BJY), a journey by its leaders on foot covering the entire length of the nation from Tamil Nadu to Jammu and Kashmir. In this yatra, Karnataka was touched upon majorly, covering the state for 21 days – highest among all. The Bharat Jodo Yatra took place for nearly 150 days from September’22 to January’23 covering 12 states and 2 union territories for more than 4000 kms. This kind of march on foot is very common in Andhra Pradesh but never took place at a national level in recent memory. This rare feat was accomplished by the congress top brass to bring hard work to the table before contesting state and national elections.  

The effort definitely helped in clinching the state of Karnataka, just one year before the Loksabha elections. But so much went into the run up to the election day, with the ruling BJP giving its everything in the campaign. The BJP deployed many a national leaders with PM spearheading the campaign for many days. People voted for BJP in equal number as last time in 2018 with 36% share. JDS dropped its vote share from 18 to 13%, with congress bagging the drop and increasing to 43% from 38%. This minor change in vote bank helped congress to bag 135 out of 224 seats and win the power comfortably. The win is narrow for the congress but nevertheless important with all the work done by its state and national leaders in the run up to the election. The win catapulted an old war horse Siddaramaiah to the post of CM, the role which was held competently by him during an earlier 5-year tenure from 2013 to 18. These happenings should be a win for Karnataka and should bode well for the IT hub of the country. More than anything, our sister and neighbouring state with most similar people like AP or TS can take off against this backdrop.

New Parliament Building:

 

The great work happening in the country has once again made it to realize a ‘once in a few centuries’ moment by building and inaugurating a new parliament building for the nation. A monument which is the symbol of the nation’s heritage in future and where all the important laws are discussed, enacted and legalized was built in record time. It can be a simple structure but the one in constant limelight and the one which can hog entire country’s focus in its time. The beautiful buildings were brought to the nation in modern times by IT revolution and these very companies. Many a being were inspired by them and the proposals for the new parliament building emerged in 2010-12. The foundation for the structure of this importance was laid in December’2020 and construction was completed by May’23 notwithstanding the covid pandemic. The building is designed to have a lifespan of more than 150 years. It is designed to be earthquake resistant and architectural styles from different parts of India are incorporated in it. The new complex has 888 seats in the Lok Sabha chamber and 384 seats in the Rajya Sabha chamber. The Lok Sabha chamber can house 1,272 members in case of a joint session – the entire leadership of the nation. The building was inaugurated on May 27 by the Prime Minister in a holy ceremony by incorporating thousands of years old religious rituals. 

This is once again great foundation laid by this generation for a tremendous take-off from a center of power. The huge structure which came up should augur extremely well for the nation, its people who elect its leaders. This is a tall symbol of the result in direct proportion to the good work happening in these times. Many eminent leaders need to preside over, many august discussions need to take place, many important laws need to come out of this hallowed structure in many important decades to come. That which is architectural framework required for these law-makers has been put in place indigenously and it is up to the successive generations to just play in the field so elaborately constructed. The entire nation can pat its back for a moment of this importance and realization of this milestone very quickly. May many more moments like these transpire in the years to come to paint a bright picture in the evolution of the nation.

 

Excellent Year:

 

India had an excellent year just past with GDP growth rate for 2022-23 clocking at 7.2%. The government expects growth could remain around 6.5% in the current fiscal year, despite risks emerging from a global slowdown. But the results beat the estimates indicating a great year for the country. Asia's third-largest economy expanded faster than the forecast of 5.0% by economists. The world's most populous country needs to grow by between 7% and 8% a year and build a strong manufacturing base to create jobs for millions of workers. The aspirations of these millions of people coming into work force are being met currently which is a great sign of a young and resurgent nation.  

This is not it. The Monthly GST collections are clocking record highs. The nation is boosting its manufacturing which is at a 31-month high. The S&P Global India Manufacturing PMI increased to 58.7 in May 2023 from 57.2 a month earlier, exceeding market forecasts of 56.5. This was the strongest improvement in factory activity since October 2020, boosted by strength of demand. Exports surge 14%. Foreign reserves at 11 month high and retail inflation at an 18-month low of 4.7%. On most parameters, the country is doing very well just indicating the ‘consolidation of gains’ period from the times of churning happened in earlier years. These new found standards should augur well for the people of the nation in giving a great direction and outcome.

Unfortunate mishap – triple train accident: 

A devastating crash involving three trains in Odisha has killed 288 people and more than 800 hundred injured, many of them seriously on 2nd June’23. This is the most horrible rail accident of the century. Though the country is blazing all guns in bringing most modern trains to the populace, the safety of these trains remains a major concern. India needs more railways tracks to decrease chances of collision and a safe path for the trains to operate at very high speeds. One always tend to feel that when a train is at high speed in India and that too at night, the question of safety pops up. With the ever increasing traffic on these tracks to cater the millions, this is always a concern.

 

These are some of the snippets in the past month in the home nation. I will try to come up with these more frequently to touch upon the evolving subjects of interest and other happenings.