2024: A year of loss, absurdity, and hope for tomorrow
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Dipak Kurmi
As the calendar winds its way toward the final pages of 2024, it’s time to reflect on a year that, to many, felt like a strange cocktail of turmoil and triumph, absurdity and opulence. It was a year marked by assassinations, attacks, and unrelenting wars, yet also punctuated by absurdities and moments of surprising joy. From the murder and mayhem that gripped the globe to the glimmers of humor and heroism that shone through the chaos, 2024 has certainly given us a lot to chew on. And yet, like clockwork, the world spins on, stubbornly indifferent to the miseries and marvels of human existence. Even Sunita Williams continues her journey in space, an apt metaphor for the sense that, no matter how bizarre things get, life doesn’t stop.
One of the most unexpected turnarounds of 2024 came in the form of the “Tu Mera Hero Contest” in India, a contest that raised a few eyebrows, particularly when Amit Shah himself seemed to have had a hand in pushing forward an unlikely winner—Babasaheb Ambedkar. For many, the notion of Ambedkar as the “hero of the year” was a profound nod to his enduring relevance in modern India. Alongside him, a young chess prodigy named Gukesh Dommaraju, the third youngest Grandmaster in history, captured the Nation’s imagination, proving that India’s prowess extends far beyond the cricket field and into the intellectual realms of the global stage. It’s not every day that a chess player’s moves are considered heroic, but for Gukesh, his meteoric rise to fame has given him a hero’s mantle in the eyes of millions.
On the more controversial front, 2024 kept us on our toes. The public conversations around Babasaheb Ambedkar and the Constitution sparked fiery debates, casting a long shadow over political discourse. Meanwhile, India’s showbiz elite provided their own set of provocations.
But if there’s one cultural shift that stood out, it was the deepening of the Americanisation of Middle India. What was once a slow trickle of global influence has now reached a fever pitch. Today’s urban school children speak in accents ripped straight out of cartoons, their identities fractured by a warped mix of global fantasies and the occasional token nod to their cultural roots. The resulting disconnect between India’s youth and their own heritage is an unsettling development, one that perhaps signals a deeper existential question for the country. Are we losing touch with what makes us uniquely Indian in the pursuit of global trends and viral content ?
Despite these strange undercurrents of culture, 2024 was also the year when entertainment provided us with an equally curious mixture of nostalgia and novelty. In the peculiar world of pop culture, where celebrities morph into brands, and songs become anthems of the bizarre, these oddities have a way of embedding themselves in the collective psyche. Even if we don’t fully understand why, we can’t help but tap our feet to the rhythm of it all.
However, beneath the glitz and glamour of 2024 lay the heavy shadows of loss. For those of us who grew up in the throes of India’s cultural renaissance, this year felt like an endless march of goodbyes. Rohit “Gudda” Bal, the maestro of fashion, passed away under tragic circumstances at the young age of 63. Though not a personal friend, Bal had an extraordinary ability to make those around him feel special and seen. His contributions to the world of couture, especially his deft weaving of Indian heritage with global sensibilities, have left an indelible mark. His death, much like his life, felt like a poignant reminder that beauty, in all its forms, is fleeting.
The world of music, too, lost one of its greatest talents—tabla virtuoso Zakir Hussain. The sudden cessation of his magical rhythms was a moment of collective grief for fans around the world. Zakir, with his infectious charm and boundless generosity, had always been a man of the people. His ability to connect with fans, whether through a selfie or a heartfelt hug, endeared him to millions. To lose him felt like the final beat in an unforgettable concert of life.
The year’s final blow came with the passing of India’s beloved “Turbanator,” Dr Manmohan Singh, former Prime Minister of India. At 92, Singh’s departure marked the end of an era in Indian politics. His tenure as Prime Minister, often marked by a quiet dignity and a commitment to economic reforms, left an indelible mark on the Nation. Despite his many accomplishments, the Bharat Ratna remained an unclaimed prize during his lifetime—a glaring injustice, made all the more tragic by the fact that he was awarded the honor only after his death.
2024, in its essence, was a year defined by loss. We mourned the loss of icons and innovators, each leaving behind a legacy of passion, talent, and determination. Yet, as we close the chapter on this tumultuous year, we can’t help but hope that the coming year brings us something brighter—a spark of hope in the midst of the darkness. The world will continue to face its challenges, but with the wisdom and resilience we’ve gained from the past, we’ll carry on. And who knows? Perhaps 2025 will surprise us all with its own moments of wonder, proving that even after the darkest days, there’s always the possibility of a brighter tomorrow.
As we step into 2025, let’s hold on to the hope that it will be a year of miracles—Annus Mirabilis, if you will. Here’s to a year that surprises, delights, and, perhaps, even redeems us from the chaos of the past.
(The writer can be reached at [email protected])
As the calendar winds its way toward the final pages of 2024, it’s time to reflect on a year that, to many, felt like a strange cocktail of turmoil and triumph, absurdity and opulence. It was a year marked by assassinations, attacks, and unrelenting wars, yet also punctuated by absurdities and moments of surprising joy. From the murder and mayhem that gripped the globe to the glimmers of humor and heroism that shone through the chaos, 2024 has certainly given us a lot to chew on. And yet, like clockwork, the world spins on, stubbornly indifferent to the miseries and marvels of human existence. Even Sunita Williams continues her journey in space, an apt metaphor for the sense that, no matter how bizarre things get, life doesn’t stop.
One of the most unexpected turnarounds of 2024 came in the form of the “Tu Mera Hero Contest” in India, a contest that raised a few eyebrows, particularly when Amit Shah himself seemed to have had a hand in pushing forward an unlikely winner—Babasaheb Ambedkar. For many, the notion of Ambedkar as the “hero of the year” was a profound nod to his enduring relevance in modern India. Alongside him, a young chess prodigy named Gukesh Dommaraju, the third youngest Grandmaster in history, captured the Nation’s imagination, proving that India’s prowess extends far beyond the cricket field and into the intellectual realms of the global stage. It’s not every day that a chess player’s moves are considered heroic, but for Gukesh, his meteoric rise to fame has given him a hero’s mantle in the eyes of millions.
On the more controversial front, 2024 kept us on our toes. The public conversations around Babasaheb Ambedkar and the Constitution sparked fiery debates, casting a long shadow over political discourse. Meanwhile, India’s showbiz elite provided their own set of provocations.
But if there’s one cultural shift that stood out, it was the deepening of the Americanisation of Middle India. What was once a slow trickle of global influence has now reached a fever pitch. Today’s urban school children speak in accents ripped straight out of cartoons, their identities fractured by a warped mix of global fantasies and the occasional token nod to their cultural roots. The resulting disconnect between India’s youth and their own heritage is an unsettling development, one that perhaps signals a deeper existential question for the country. Are we losing touch with what makes us uniquely Indian in the pursuit of global trends and viral content ?
Despite these strange undercurrents of culture, 2024 was also the year when entertainment provided us with an equally curious mixture of nostalgia and novelty. In the peculiar world of pop culture, where celebrities morph into brands, and songs become anthems of the bizarre, these oddities have a way of embedding themselves in the collective psyche. Even if we don’t fully understand why, we can’t help but tap our feet to the rhythm of it all.
However, beneath the glitz and glamour of 2024 lay the heavy shadows of loss. For those of us who grew up in the throes of India’s cultural renaissance, this year felt like an endless march of goodbyes. Rohit “Gudda” Bal, the maestro of fashion, passed away under tragic circumstances at the young age of 63. Though not a personal friend, Bal had an extraordinary ability to make those around him feel special and seen. His contributions to the world of couture, especially his deft weaving of Indian heritage with global sensibilities, have left an indelible mark. His death, much like his life, felt like a poignant reminder that beauty, in all its forms, is fleeting.
The world of music, too, lost one of its greatest talents—tabla virtuoso Zakir Hussain. The sudden cessation of his magical rhythms was a moment of collective grief for fans around the world. Zakir, with his infectious charm and boundless generosity, had always been a man of the people. His ability to connect with fans, whether through a selfie or a heartfelt hug, endeared him to millions. To lose him felt like the final beat in an unforgettable concert of life.
The year’s final blow came with the passing of India’s beloved “Turbanator,” Dr Manmohan Singh, former Prime Minister of India. At 92, Singh’s departure marked the end of an era in Indian politics. His tenure as Prime Minister, often marked by a quiet dignity and a commitment to economic reforms, left an indelible mark on the Nation. Despite his many accomplishments, the Bharat Ratna remained an unclaimed prize during his lifetime—a glaring injustice, made all the more tragic by the fact that he was awarded the honor only after his death.
2024, in its essence, was a year defined by loss. We mourned the loss of icons and innovators, each leaving behind a legacy of passion, talent, and determination. Yet, as we close the chapter on this tumultuous year, we can’t help but hope that the coming year brings us something brighter—a spark of hope in the midst of the darkness. The world will continue to face its challenges, but with the wisdom and resilience we’ve gained from the past, we’ll carry on. And who knows? Perhaps 2025 will surprise us all with its own moments of wonder, proving that even after the darkest days, there’s always the possibility of a brighter tomorrow.
As we step into 2025, let’s hold on to the hope that it will be a year of miracles—Annus Mirabilis, if you will. Here’s to a year that surprises, delights, and, perhaps, even redeems us from the chaos of the past.
(The writer can be reached at [email protected])