All are on high energy to ring out the old and ring in the new with the passage of time. While welcoming the new year with optimism during Covid-19 pandemic, it is also important to look back at the outgoing year that was filled with paradigm-shifting events.
From the tragic death of CDS General Bipin Rawat in an IAF chopper crash to the scrapping of the three controversial farm laws, India witnessed noteworthy events galore in this turbulent year.
CDS General Bipin Rawat in IAF chopper crash
olor: rgb(34, 34, 34); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; white-space: pre-wrap;">December 8, 2021, will be marked as a ‘Dark Day’ for India, with the loss of 13 great lives in an Indian Air Force (IAF) chopper crash. The entire country mourned the sudden death of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, his wife and 11 other defence dignitaries. General Rawat along with his wife Madhulika Rawat were on board the IAF’s ill-fated hi-tech Mi-17V-5 helicopter that crashed near Coonor in Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu.
Three controversial farm laws scrapped
Agitating farmers started celebrations across the country after PM Modi in a television address on November 19 apologised to the farmers and announced repealing of three controversial farm laws following a year long protest in the borders of Delhi. The farmers ended a year of mass protests after the Centre scrapped three farm bills.
The farmers had been protesting on the Delhi borders for over a year demanding to repeal three farm laws ” The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, The Farmers’ (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act and and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act.
Miss Universe title
Harnaaz Sandhu made India proud after she was crowned Miss Universe 2021 at the 70th Miss Universe 2021 held at Eilat, Israel, on December 12. The 21-year-old model from Chandigarh won the title beating Paraguay’s Nadia Ferreira and South Africa’s Lalela Mswane. 
Oxygen CrisisThe devastating second wave of Covid-19 pandemic caused India’s healthcare system to disintegrate. In the months of April and May, hospitals around the country ran out of oxygen for which the Covid patients died due to oxygen shortage. In view of this, many firms as well as the State Governments set up oxygen plants on a war footing to save precious lives in the fight against deadly Covid-19.
Pegasus leak
A database of an Israeli surveillance technology firm NSO Group that sells a spyware called Pegasus was accessed by a Paris-based media nonprofit Forbidden Stories and Amnesty International. The database contained data of government clients of Pegasus since 2016. The leak revealed that the data of more than 300 Indians including 40 journalists, leaders in opposition parties, a Supreme Court Judge and two ministers of the PM Modi cabinet were under surveillance through Pegasus.
2020 Tokyo Olympics and ParalympicsOlympics 2020: India won a total of 7 medals (1 Gold, 2 Silver and 4 Bronze) at the 2020 Summer Olympics held between July 23 July and August 8, 2021, in Tokyo. On August 7, athlete Neeraj Chopra won India’s first-ever gold medal in Javelin throw at the Tokyo Olympics.
Paralympics 2020: India’s tally at Tokyo 2020 Paralympics was higher than Tokyo Olympics as the country won a total of 19 medals (5 Gold, 8 Silver and 6 Bronze). The events were held between August 24 and September 5 in Tokyo. The 5 gold medalists at Tokyo 2020 Paralympics included ” Avani Lekhara (Women’s R2 10m air rifle standing SH1), Sumit Antil (Men’s javelin throw F64), Manish Narwal (Mixed P4 50m pistol SH1), Pramod Bhagat (Badminton at Men’s singles SL3), Krishna Nagar (Badminton at Men’s singles SH6).
Cruise drug bust off Mumbai coast
On October 2, Eight people including Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan were arrested by Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) following a raid conducted on a Goa-bound luxury cruise ‘Cordelia’ off the Mumbai coast. Several were arrested for allegedly possessing and selling banned contraband during the rave party on the cruise.
Aryan Khan was sent to Arthur Road jail. Aryan was granted bail by the Bombay High Court on October 28. He walked out of jail on October 30 after spending more than three weeks in the cell.
Inclination towards clay drew me towards Kaavi art: Sagar Mule
Goan artist Sagar Suresh Naik Mule who calls himself son of the soil, got instant fame soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioned about his Kaavi artwork in his address, ‘Mann ki Baat’. The incident kept Sagar busy attending to people from all walks of life who are pouring into his home at Adpoi to see his artwork. Sagar is also getting inquisitive calls from unknown people who are curious to know about ‘Kaavi’ art.Overwhelmed by these visits and calls, the…
