“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” -Ralph Waldo
Change is the only constant in life. As 2026 unfolds, we find ourselves at a quiet turning point. A new year does not erase the past; rather, it carries the past forward, reminding us to move ahead with greater understanding. The days of 2025 were coloured by contrasting emotions. There were moments of pride and celebration as well as incidents that shook our sense of safety and certainty. The year went by shaping our thoughts, testing our resilience and leaving behind lessons that will guide us into what comes next.
The year began with a religious note in the form of MAHAKUMBH, held from 13 January to 26 February 2025. A regular Kumbh Mela is held every 3 years at four rotating locations, while a true Mahakumbh is traditionally considered to occur once every144 years. The world’s largest peaceful gathering drew millions of pilgrims who took a bath in sacred rivers seeking to purify themselves. Spiritual discourses and vibrant cultural processions reflected India’s culture and deep spiritual heritage.
However, the year has also been defined by events that have had an impact beyond our own struggles and triumphs in the year. In Myanmar, a massive earthquake measuring 7.7 magnitude shook the region close to Mandalay. More than 150 people lost their lives, and many others were injured as families were made homeless. In a local tragedy that shook us all, chaos broke out at New Delhi railway station where a crowd crush ensued as believers rushed for trains leading to the Kumbh Mela. These moments made us pause and reflect. They showed us how easily life can slip away without warning. There were also security threats in the year 2025. A terror attack in Pahalgam in the Jammu & Kashmir area targeted civilians as well as security forces, leading to the death of innocent civilians. This resulted in the launching of an operation known as “Operation Sindoor” by the Indian government.
One of the darkest moments of this year was indeed a terrible tragedy in aviation. An Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner with 242 persons on board crashed just a few minutes after taking off from Ahmedabad bound for London. A huge shock reverberated through the country and made it one of the most tragic aviation disasters of the year.
In the midst of such challenges, there have been several key developments in policy and economic matters that have influenced the future of the nation. The Union Budget of 2025-26 brought new income-tax slabs under the new tax system. This gave a huge relief to the middle class. Persons up to ₹12 lakh were exempt from income tax.
Globally, in the political arena, a historic transition in the neighboring country of Bangladesh occurred as protests resulted in the end of Sheikh Hasina’s rule after 15 years in power. A Nobel laureate, Muhammad Yunus, was chosen to steer the turbulent government, an important milestone in the republic’s political history.
Economically, India touched a historic milestone by overtaking Japan to become the world’s fourth-largest economy. This achievement reflected strong growth and controlled inflation, laying the foundation for India’s rising steps on the global stage.
In the world of sports, the nation felt proud moments. The Indian Women’s Cricket Team created history by winning the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup for the first time, which was an inspiring achievement that marked a defining moment for women’s sports in India. India will finally get to host an international multidisciplinary sports event, albeit in 2030 and Ahmedabad has been honoured as the venue for the Commonwealth Games that year. Deepika Kumari was back in the top 10 in 2025. Dhiraj Bommadevara, who had made it to the top four of the mixed team event at the Paris Olympics last year, won two gold medals at the Asian Outdoor Championships in individual and men’s team events.
Politically, domestic developments remained significant. Nitish Kumar was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Bihar for a record tenth time following the NDA’s sweeping victory in the state assembly elections. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hoisted the saffron flag atop the Ram Temple in Ayodhya during the sacred Dhwaj Arohan ceremony which marked the formal completion of the temple’s construction.
The judiciary and legislature also played key roles during the year. The Supreme Court stayed its earlier judgment on the Aravalli Hills protection case, reopening discussions on environmental balance and development. Parliament passed the SHANTI Bill, which opened India’s civil nuclear energy sector to private participation which was an important step towards sustainable energy advancement.
As we move on to the new year in 2026, we move ahead carrying the tales of our faith and resilience, our sorrow and our growth, our setbacks and our successes. The past year left a Halo in our memory, the memory of our learning to build the very fabric of our resilience not in the realms of our successes but in the realms of our failure.
SARJANA 