2025: A Year of Power, Pain, Politics and Possibilities......by Gurjinder Singh
As the calendar turns and the world steps into a new year, 2025 remains behind us as a year that refused to be forgotten. It was not merely a collection of dates but a living chapter of struggle, celebration, controversy, coincidence and courage. For India, 2025 was a year where power was questioned, institutions were tested, nature showed its fury, and sports healed a wounded national spirit. Politically, the year was dominated by the decisions and policies of the Modi government.
Supporters praised the leadership for its decisiveness, strong national posture and electoral victories, while critics questioned the concentration of power and the shrinking space for debate. Several major policy decisions shaped public discourse.
The restructuring and renaming of the MGNREGA scheme raised serious questions about rural employment security and the future of social welfare. Administrative reforms under SIR were projected as efficiency-driven, yet many feared excessive central control.
Elections during the year once again revealed the strength of political machinery and the emotional appeal of nationalism. Major victories were celebrated as mandates for governance, but they also deepened political polarisation. Democracy survived, but not without visible strain.
Punjab lived through one of its darkest natural tragedies in 2025. Unprecedented floods destroyed crops, submerged villages and pushed thousands of farmers into economic despair.
The floods exposed the fragile relationship between policy planning and ground realities. For a state already battling agrarian distress, the disaster felt like an unhealed wound reopening. The Panjab University Senate issue became another important moment of resistance. Teachers, students and intellectuals stood together to defend institutional autonomy and democratic traditions.
The issue was not merely administrative; it symbolised the larger struggle between authority and academic freedom. On the borders, India–Pakistan relations once again entered a tense and dangerous phase.
War-like situations, aggressive statements and heightened military alert created fear among ordinary citizens. While national security is non-negotiable, the human cost of prolonged tension remains a haunting question. In these uncertain times, the Supreme Court of India emerged as a crucial pillar of democracy. Through several landmark decisions, the Court reaffirmed constitutional morality, protected fundamental rights and reminded the executive that power must operate within limits.
Its role in 2025 restored public faith in constitutional institutions. Economically, 2025 was challenging for the common citizen. Fluctuations in the Indian currency, inflation and rising costs of daily life made survival more important than statistical growth. The gap between policy announcements and lived reality became increasingly visible. Yet, amid pain and protest, sports gave India moments of unforgettable joy. The Indian Women’s Cricket Team created history by winning the World Cup, proving that determination can defeat decades of neglect.
The Indian Men’s Cricket Team lifted the Champions Trophy, bringing back confidence and unity among fans. International cricket too delivered surprises, as the Ashes series shocked the world with two Test matches ending within just two days — a rare coincidence in the longest format of the game. The year was also marked by the loss of cultural icons. The passing away of legendary actors left a deep emotional vacuum, reminding the nation of the fragility of life and the enduring power of art. As 2025 ends, it leaves behind hard lessons.
Power without compassion creates resistance. Development without inclusion breeds anger. And nationalism without humanity leads to fear. As India steps into 2026, the hope is not for a flawless year, but for a wiser one — where dialogue replaces division, institutions regain dignity, and progress walks hand in hand with justice.
The new year is not a promise; it is a possibility. And how we shape it will decide what future editorials will write about us.
December 30, 2025
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Gurjinder Singh, Assistant Professor, Dept of English, Colonel Degree College, Chural Kalan, Sangrur, Punjab
gurjindersingh629@gmail.com
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