It’s 31st December – officially New year’s eve and I’m here to record the 2021 news highlights. I had called the year 2020 as Gritty 2020and hoped that 2021 would be kinder..however as the year winds down still under the shadow of Covid 19 with the new Omicron variant threatening to run amok well into 2022 and beyond.. I’m sitting in a rain battered Chennai recording the highlights of the year that’s just ended..
7. Over the Top Popularity of OTT : The year 2021 saw the rise and rise of OTT. Cinemas in the metros not able to attract audiences due to covid restrictions. And elsewhere discerning audiences kept away from mainstream cinema for lack of interesting content. Most of them turned to Over The Top platforms that streamed movies 24/7 right into their drawing rooms. Chennai and rest of India woke up to refreshing content of Malayalam cinema and marvelled at the amazing acting talent of actors like Fahad Fazil, Nimisha Vijayan and many more. Jai Bhim a Tamil movie about a tribal woman’s fight for justice ( realistically portrayed by Malayalam actor Lijol Mol Jose) for her husband’s illegal capture and eventual death in custodial torture was released in Amazon Prime and soon raced to the very top with a 9.4 rating in IMDB overtaking movies like Avatar and even the all time classic Shawshank Redemption! Hope this OTT wave will usher in a new era of content driven cinema rather than inane macho heroism oriented ‘masala’ films.
6. Chennai flooding: in what appeared to be a replay of the deadly deluge of December 2015, Chennai was battered by heavy rainfall in November 2021– dampening Deepavali festivities. Again, yesterday on December 30th, Chennai citizens were caught completely by surprise by the ferocity and volume of the rains that defied the ‘moderate’ predictions by weathermen and put a full stop to all New year celebrations -already stifled by the new Omicron variant induced restrictions. At the time of writing this article, it’s still raining and it’s going to be a wet start to New year inside our homes..
5. The Rising Son -M.K.Stalin: Focusing still on Tamil Nadu, the year saw the rise of Kalaignar’s son to the top post of Chief Minister quite comfortably. With Amma and Kalaignar out of the equation, Stalin’s ascension was just a matter of time. Stalin went about the job with gusto and won accolades from the people of Tamil Nadu for his astute selection of ministers and for appointing subject matter experts as his personal advisers. By cycling in track suits and trainers and halting at roadside tea-shops for a quick chai and photo-opp or riding the metro trains, he has captured the imagination of younger generation as well. He also received praise for not going after ‘Amma’ followers but rather ensuring continuity whether in terms of retaining the Health Secretary or not tampering with Amma Canteens. Also, I personally appreciate him for not immediately inducting his rising son -Udayanithi into the council of ministers. At the time of writing this piece, Stalin is seen wading through the rain battered and flooded roads of Chennai. In 2022, let’s wait and see how Stalin’ll rise up to the occasion and whether he’ll keep his head above water.
4.Farmers’ Protest: Before the second wave of Covid 19, there was another wave swelling in India. On January 26th, the protesting farmers descended on to the New Delhi’s Red Fort – breaking down barriers and fighting pitched battles with the police. Visuals of protesters climbing on to the flag post to fly their regional flags beside India’s National flag was flashed across the country and shocked the Nation. The protests continued unabated throughout the year with neither side giving up. Finally, the Central Govt yielded and officially agreed to most of the demands by the farmers and the three controversial legislations was abolished and the protesting farmers called off their year-long protest by December 9th.
3. Attack on Christians: More deadly than the Covid wave or the wave of farmers protest is the rising hate crimes against minorities..especially against Christians in recent times. In 2021, these attacks became more violent and frequent. What was hitherto confined to North -specifically Uttar Pradesh, came down South to BJP ruled Karnataka with the tabling of a controversial anti-conversion bill. Even while the bill was debated and eventually passed in the state assembly, attacks intensified against churches -with mobs raiding peaceful gatherings and terrorising pastors and worshippers. Coming as it did during the Christmas weekend, it was a not so Merry Christmas for Christians in Bangalore, Karnataka and indeed in many parts of India..
2. Deadly Delta variant : triggered by jingoist political rhetoric, gullible people started believing that India had overcome Covid 19, and by February, the population had discarded masks and other covid 19 protective protocol. Much against expert medical advice and common sense, in several states the election rallies and religious festivities went ahead in full swing. By April 2021, India paid a huge price for this callousness when the deadly delta variant stuck the people with a vengeance. By May 2021 hospitals across the country ran out of lifesaving oxygen and hapless citizens turned to social media to plead for oxygen. With over 4 Lakh cases reported daily, India literally gasped for breath as people died from a shortage of oxygen and hospital beds rather than by the disease itself. Till date no official data on covid patients who died due to lack of oxygen is available
1. VacciNATION : India opened up Covid vaccination in January 2021 with new hope and much fanfare. However, there was no takers initially and India even started exporting vaccines abroad in what is termed as Vaccine Diplomacy. India miscalculated the demand locally and by April when the second wave hit, there was a scramble for vaccines – but there was no supply! Around May 2021 India stopped all vaccine exports to meet the overwhelming demand within the country. In the same month union minister Prakash Javadekar boldly declared that Vaccination in India will be completed by December 2021. According to BBC India desk, as of 30th December 64% of India’s adult population is fully vaccinated and with vaccine hesitancy creeping in against the backdrop of new variants, the 100% target remains a distant dream. With the demand coming down since September 2021, India has again started exporting vaccines mainly to its Asian neighbours and to African region. But, as the Omicron scare looms large..with experts recommending booster doses for vulnerable population and vaccination for children, India may again have to re-think on exporting vaccines and focus on meeting the local demands in 2022 and continue educating people on the benefits of vaccine.
Will 2022 be any different, is Omicron really the beginning of the end of Covid 19? After floundering and stumbling throughout 2021, I’m not too sure..
Excellent....
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