Year to Year : Optimistic and Hopeful

Impressions of any person, place or period are made of two parts. One relates to external circumstances, as we come to know of through media, another part is the internal response mechanism to any development or event.

Looking at 2022, I would begin on an optimistic note, overall, we saw the world coming out of the clutches of the threat of Covid 19. We still have lingering effects of the epidemic and more apprehensions about its possible return with reports from China.

This year also showed how quick our collective memories function in terms of forgetting the lessons of an unprecedented challenge faced by us as human race in recent times.

The war between Russia and Ukraine captured our attention more intensely, gradually, less news but the challenge of war and destruction of a beautiful country as well as loss of innocent lives continues. The world order seems to be changing, the perception that USA’s support has helped Ukraine put on a brave fight against mighty Russia is gaining more ground with the recent visit of Ukraine president to the Whitehouse.

India played a key role on the world scene in terms of successfully establishing its stand on several issues, including the stand adopted regarding its dealings with Russia. The Indian foreign minister showed on several forums that with calm mannerism and simple words, the strength of a nation can be expressed. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi continued to be the central figure in Indian politics as well as Global diplomacy. The only  leader, who openly and directly conveyed to Russian President Putin, that this is not the age of war. India didn’t stop buying Oil from Russia and while cornered, made it clear that Indian purchase is much less that the European nations. While the world economy has taken a hit after covid, the financial situation of the UK resulted in quick change of its prime minister. As we move towards 2023, Britisher with Indian roots Rishi Sunak, the first Hindu is leading the Great Britain.

My expectations in 2023 are empowered by my hope and prayers. I believe we learn lessons but take time in implementing them, I look forward to the new year with greater awareness of taking care of the environment, leading a healthy life, building harmony and realizing the glory of being human. In addition to International day of Yoga, India gets the credit of drawing the attention of the world towards the significance of ‘Millet’ . Welcome to ‘The international year of Millet 2023 as declared by the United Nations in support of India’s initiative. We will have impactful impressions of India with creative and constructive insight under India leadsG20 as president. While saw massive layoffs, especially in the tech sector in the last few months of 2022 and the big news of twitter takeover by Elon Musk. I hope things would settle down and we will have a healthy, wealthy and growth oriented peaceful new year.

Ashok Vyas

(Poet, Hindu priest, author, program director with ITVGold for 25 years, founder of Heramba Art and Culture center with youtube channel ‘HerambaStudio’. President of Insight for Creativity LLC. Ashok has been working on three books for a few years, all are due to be published in 2023. (insightashok@Yahoo.com)