Year 2008 Highlights

Year 2008 Highlights

Let us glance through some of the issues that were in India’s Mind while it crossed over to 2008.

• A troubled neighborhood – Jehadis in Pakistan, LTTE in Srilanka, Anti-junta protests in Myanmmar, phase of political transition in Nepal, and, poverty and political instability in Bangladesh.
• Former Pakistan PM Benazir Bhutto assassinated.
• The Bali Road Map adopted during UN Climate Change Conference at Bali, Indonesia leaving India with much to crave for.
• Protesting ethnic Indians under ‘HINDRAF’ in Malaysia refusing to settle easily.
• India trying hard to get Nuclear Deal with US to fruition.
• ‘Admiral Gorshkov’ beginning to sour India’s relations with the Russians.
• Modi’s stunning return to power in Gujarat and BJP’s victory in Himachal.
• Violence hit Orissa reeling in shock after celebrating a ‘Black Christmas’.
• Gujjar agitation in Rajasthan creating a ruckus.
• ISRO’s plan made public - to see chandrayaan 1 orbit the Moon by end of 2008.

All said and done, for India, this sure was a moment for self introspection. Wrongs committed in 2007 were to be undone, mistakes committed were to be learned from, while a couple of tough New Year resolutions-to-keep were to be adopted. Let us find out how India fared in the Year 2008 and whether or not, it honored its commitments and kept its resolutions.

National Issues – 2008

India opened its innings rather impressively with the Government of India notifying the Scheduled Tribes and Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006. However, not all was well in January which also saw avian epidemic – ‘Bird Flu’, surface again, this time in Birbhum District of West Bengal. Fortunately, no case of humans contracting the bird flu virus - H5N1 has been reported in India so far, ever since the first time it surfaced in 2006. Opening month of 2008 also saw French president Nicolas Sarkozy arrive in New Delhi to attend 59^th Republic day celebrations as its chief guest.

Let is glance through the chronology of major events that mattered for India in 2008.

Political

In 2008, as many as 10 states went to polls. During the first half of the year, Left front, MPA (Meghalaya Progressive Alliance) and DAN (Democratic Alliance of Nagaland) formed Governments in Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland. However, what came as surprise element was Congress’s latest victory in Delhi, Rajasthan and Mizoram. While it was widely felt that congress would be voted out of power, especially in Delhi, due to anti-incumbency wave that has resulted from, amongst other things, rise in prices of essential commodities and raging inflation, Congress still managed to emerge a winner. Congress not only retained Delhi, but also recaptured Rajasthan from the BJP and Mizoram from MNF. Even the recent terrorist attacks in Mumbai didn’t jeopardy congress’s victory.

BJP on the other hand retained Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh but lost Rajasthan to congress. Earlier this year, BJP also formed Government in Karnataka.

• Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) launches hate campaign against migrant north Indians in Maharashtra, particularly in Mumbai.
• Amarnath row brings to an end Congress-PDP coalition in J&K
• UPA Government wins 22^nd July trust vote in parliament.

Violence, Crime, Terror and related issues

• Blasts rocked cities of Jaipur, Bangalore, Ahmadabad and New Delhi claiming many lives.
• Suicide attack on the Indian embassy in Kabul kills 58 people, while injuring 170. Two Indian diplomats amongst those killed.
• Trinamool Congress backed KJRC resorts to violence to stall the setting up of TATA’s small car factory at Singur in West Bengal.
• Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati and four disciples are killed by unidentified assailants at his ashram at Jalespata and violence against Christians in Orissa’s Kandhamal district follows.
• Alleged right winged extremeist like Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur and Lt. Colonel Srikant Purohit, a serving Army officer, arrested for suspected involvement in Malegaon blasts.
• In a biggest ever terrorist attack, 183 persons are killed in Mumbai.
• Union Minister for Minority Affairs, A.R. Antulay stirs fresh controversy by hinting foul play in ATS chief Karkare’s death.

Obituary

• Baba Amte (94) passes away at Anandvan, Warora, Maharashtra.
• Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw passes away at 94 in Ooty.
• Former PM Chandra Shekhar dies battling blood cancer.
• Former PM V.P. Singh passes away at 77. He was battling blood cancer for the past 17 years.
• CPI (M) veteran leader Harkishan Singh Surjeet passes away at 92.

Other events that made headlines

• Kalka-Shimla Railway line is included in UNESCO Heritage list.
• Aravind Adiga becomes the fourth debut novelist to win the coveted Man Booker Prize for his novel, “The White Tiger”.
• Chandrayaan 1 successfully launched on 22^nd October from Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota.

International Relations

On the International front, there was an unprecedented rise India’s stature. With the US calling India its staunchest ally and the European Union according India status of a ‘strategic’ partner, India not only rose in its self esteem but was also considered an emerging super power world over. While India pressed hard for bringing in reforms in the UN Security Council and other international agencies like World Bank and IMF, it was supported not only by major powers of the west but also Asian giants like China and Japan.

However, there certainly were eyebrows raised, when it came to India being given special concessions by the NSG and IAEA with regards nuclear technology. While China and Pakistan, not openly opposing India’s nuclear deal with the US, did take the entire episode with a pinch of salt. On the other hand there were countries like Ireland, Switzerland and New Zealand amongst the others that form a group advocating non-proliferation, who unequivocally raised objections to India being given special considerations.

With Barack Obama winning the US presidential election, India has its eyes fixed on him. Obama is understood to be a man who would continue to combat terror with an iron fist. From his press addresses, he has made it clear that terrorist activities would not be tolerated even if that meant using force. By saying this he was referring to Pakistan-Afghanistan border areas that are known to harbor terrorist training camps. Latest reports also indicate that Obama may appoint a Special India Envoy in his team.

Some of the major events that shaped India’s International relations

• India-US nuclear deal inked.
• Chinese claim Arunachal’s Tawang District as their territory.
• Pakistan’s new government offers to work with India against extremism.
• India-Africa summit hosted in New Delhi. Both pledge to work together as partners to meet the economic and political challenges facing them.
• India decides to go ahead with Iran-Pakistan-India Gas pipeline ignoring US pressure.
• India and France sign pact for civilian nuclear technology.
• Russian President Medvedev visits New Delhi for the annual Indo-Russia summit and the formal conclusion of the 'Year of Russia'. Year 2009 to be ‘Year of India’ in Russia.

International Personalities Who Made News

• Barack Obama – made history by becoming the first African American to be elected for the top job at White House.
• Michael Jackson – converted to Islam and changed name from Michael to Mikaeel
• Michael Phelps – American swimmer who has won 14 Olympic gold medals, more than anyone in history.
• Fidel Castro - the undisputed leader of Cuba from 1959 until 2008, when he stepped down making way for Raul Castro.
• Ingrid Betancourt - the 47-year-old Colombian-French citizen, held for 6 years by FARC (Revolutionary armed forces of Colombia) from 2002 till she was rescued in 2008.
• Robert Gates - who assumed leadership in pentagon in 2006 under Bush Administration, is to continue in Obama’s new administration.
• Asif Ali Zardari – President of Pakistan and husband of late Pak PM Benazir Butto. With Islamic militancy on rise and Pakistan on the verge economic collapse, he has a big job in hand.
• Carla Bruni – Supermodel-turned pop-singer, made headlines for her affair with French President Sarkozy. After a brief romance they married on 2 February 2008 at Paris.

Indian Economy and Business – 2008

The year 2008 hasn’t been a joy ride for Indian economy and business. With the global melt down following the US sub-prime crisis of 2007, the business world over was affected in one way or the other. Generally speaking, business in India, towards the end of 2008 looked sluggish. Throughout the year 2008, galloping inflation sent the Indian economy into a tizzy. Though the SENSEX crossed 21,000 at the start of 2008, it began collapsing thereafter at a worrying rate to reach a 16-month low of 12, 575 in july.

Amidst an eventful January that also witnessed a fuel price hike, Tata unveiled its 623 cc Nano which it claimed, would be world’s cheapest car, costing Rs.1 lakh only.The roaring inflation that neared 13% by middle of 2008, was to a great extent, due to spiraling crude oil prices which hovered at an all time high of more than $140 per barrel during second and third quarter of 2008.

Let us glance through some of the major events that shaped Indian economy and business through the year 2008.

Money and Capital Market

• Reliance power raises $ 3 bn within a minute. This becomes India’s biggest IPO.
• C.B. Bhave takes over as SEBI chairman.
• Duvvuri Subbarao was appointed the 22nd governor of the Reserve Bank of India.

Mergers and Acquisitions

• HDFC Bank and Centurion Bank of Punjab announced their merger, creating India’s largest bank in terms of branches.
• Japanese drug firm Daiichi Sankyo buys a majority stake in Ranbaxy for over Rs. 15, 000 crore
• India’s largest IT services company Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) acquires Citigroup’s BPO arm Citigroup Global Services (CGSL) for $505 million (Rs 2,424 crore) in an all-cash deal.

Corporate World In News

• Tata group is world’s 6^th most reputed company in ‘Global: 200’ compiled by Reputation Institute, USA.
• The Ambani Brothers named among the world’s 100 most influential and powerful by ‘Vanity Fair’.
• Tata relocatedsNano plant from Singur to Sanand in Ahmedabad. .
• Reliance Industries (RIL) Chairman Mukesh Ambani with net worth of $20.8 billion, displaces Lakshmi Mittal to become the richest Indian in the world.

Games and Sports India – 2008

Sportspersons who made headlines

• Abhinav Bindra wins gold at Olympics.
• Sushil Kumar and Vijender Singh capture bronze in wrestling and boxing at Olympics.
• Ronjan Sodhi bags gold in double trap gold at shotgun World Cup
• Saina Nehwal is ranked world no. 10 and Anand Pawar in top 100
• Vishwanathan Anand wins world title after vanquishing Vladmir Karmik
• Virender Sehwag joins Lara and Bradman to be the only players to score two test triple hundreds.
• Tendulkar is now world’s highest test-runs scorer.
• Anil Kumble and Saurav Ganguly retired.
• S.S.P Chowrasia wins his maiden European Tour event, Emaar MGF India Masters, in Delhi.

Year 2008 started with cricketing controversies involving Harbajan Singh and Andrew Symonds and India loosing the test series with Australia. What however came as a major set back was Indian Hockey team not qualifying for the Olympics.

This year also saw India exploiting the Twenty20 craze by launching the IPL and ICL, prompting fears among boards that its multi-million franchise model could divide player loyalties between doing national duty and chasing money. While Rajasthan Royals won the IPL, Chennai superstars clinched ICL title.

Cricketing juniors, India’s U19 team, also made India proud this year by winning ICC U19 world cup beating South Africa.

Art and Entertainment

Miss World 2008

India's Parvathy Omanakuttan finished first runner up in Miss world 2008. However it was, Russia's Ksenya Sukhinova who was crowned Miss World 2008 after beating scores of international beauties.

Fashion

The year 2008 also proved to be an eventful year in the world of fashion. The two mega events, Lakme Fashion Week and Wills India Fashion week, that showcased some of the most exotic collections, were held in October this year. While Lakme Fashion Week Spring Summer 2009 was organized in Mumbai, Wills India fashion week that unfurled creations of 79 designers pulled the fashion enthusiasts to New Delhi.

Film Awards 2008

At the IIFA 2008, held in Bangkok, it was Chak De India that swept the top awards. Shahrukh Khan won the best actor award for his role in Chak De India. The best actress award went to Kareena Kapoor for her award winning performance in Jab We Met. The Best Film and Best Director award went to the Chak De India team too .However, Tare Zameen Pe was conspicuous of its absence even in nominations.

In the Film fare awards, it was again Shahrukh and Kareena winning the best actor awards, while Amir khan’s ‘Tare Zameen Pe’ won the award for the best film. Amir also won the award for the best director while Darsheel Jaffery bagged the best actor award (critics) for his power packed performance in the same film.

The 39^th IFFI (International film festival of India) which is also sometimes called “Cannes of the East", was held in Goa from 22^nd November to 2^nd December. IFFI 2008 turned out to be a complete entertainer that attracted film makers from all over the globe.

Movies

About 125 films hit the screens this year, but except few like 'Race', 'Jannat' and 'Rock On', most movies bombed, especially the big-budget, mega starrer ones. Notwithstanding recession, stars continued to charge hefty fees for a movie. Shah Rukh Khan, for instance, charged Rs.150 million plus percentage of profits, while Saif Ali Khan demanded Rs.200 million.

Dharsheel Jaffery, the wonder kid of ‘Taare Zammen Pe’, after having bagged the best actor (critics) award at the Film Fare, is all set to entertain the audiences in yet another promising flick ‘Bum Bum Bole’.

Some of the major films this year that did reasonably well at the box office are Jodha-Akbar, Rock On , Race , Jannat, Fashion and Singh Is King.

Year 2008 also saw promising debutants like Imran Khan in ‘Jane Tu ..ya Jane Na..’ and Ranbir Kapoor in ‘Sawariya’ .Ranbir even bagged the best actor (debut) award in the Film Fare Awards 2008. However, for the seniors like Salman khan with three flops - God Tussi Great Ho, Hello and Yuvvraaj, this was not a rewarding year.

However, towards the end of 2008, Shah Rukh made an impressive entry with 'Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi' and it has changed the mood at the box office. He has given both the filmmakers and the audiences something to smile about. Now trade circles in bollywood have their hopes pinned on on Aamir Khan's 'Ghajini'.

Year 2008 also saw some great terror flicks by film makers of all ilk and hue. From Neeraj Pandey's 'Wednesday' and Nishikant Kamat's 'Yeh Hai Mumbai Meri Jaan' to Jagmohan Mundhra's 'Shoot On Sight' and Rajkumar Gupta's 'Aamir', there was a range in its own kind.