Amid Turmoil, Indian Resilience Triumphs

Newsreel Asia Insight #89
Dec. 31, 2023

As 2023 draws to a close, a reflection on the year’s significant events reveals a notable contrast: the resilience of ordinary citizens and a few national triumphs serve as a counterbalance to the tragedies and erosion of civil and political rights that have marked these months.

Here are 11 of the major events.

(1) Wrestling Federation Controversy Rocks the Nation

The year began on a tumultuous note with several top Indian wrestlers, including Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, levelling allegations of sexual misconduct against Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. The incident sparked widespread protests and demands for a thorough investigation, highlighting the urgent need for transparency and accountability in sports governance.

(2) Political Turbulence: Arrests and Disqualifications

In February, Delhi’s Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia was arrested by the CBI over alleged irregularities in Delhi’s excise policy. The Aam Aadmi Party viewed this as a case of “political vendetta.”

March witnessed another significant political event when senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was disqualified from the Lok Sabha following a defamation case conviction.

(3) India Surpasses China in Population

April marked a demographic milestone as India officially became the world’s most populous country, surpassing China. This demographic shift has significant implications for the country’s economic, social and environmental policies.

(4) Ethnic Unrest in Manipur

The most harrowing aspect of 2023 was the ethnic violence that engulfed Manipur. Beginning on May 3, this conflict led to the tragic loss of at least 158 lives from the Kuki-Zo tribal community, the destruction of over 7,000 homes and 360 religious buildings, and the displacement of more than 41,400 individuals. While the violence seemed primarily instigated by Meitei extremist groups, defensive actions by the Kuki-Zo also resulted in several Meitei casualties. But the exact number of Meitei casualties remains undisclosed.

Amid this turmoil, both the state and central governments failed to prevent and subsequently quell the violence as the year came to a close. However, the people of Manipur, from both communities, displayed remarkable resilience. In the face of minimal government assistance, particularly for the Kuki-Zo community, the people of Manipur admirably rose to the challenge. They addressed their own needs, demonstrating a commendable spirit of self-reliance and community support in a situation where external help was scarce.

(5) Mayhem and Mourning: Train Collision and Natural Disasters

June was a dark month for India as a horrific train collision involving the Coromandel Express resulted in over 280 deaths. This tragedy was a stark reminder of the challenges facing India’s vast railway network.

July brought further sorrow with severe weather in Himachal Pradesh causing landslides and widespread damage, highlighting the increasing vulnerability of the region to climate change.

(6) Chandrayaan-3

Amidst these tragedies, July also witnessed the Indian Space Research Organisation’s successful launch of Chandrayaan-3 for the ambitious moon mission.

(7) Diplomatic Tensions

India’s bilateral relations with Canada and the United States started deteriorating in September, when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of involvement in the assassination of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil.

In November, U.S. federal prosecutors brought a case to the New York courts, charging an unnamed Indian government employee with masterminding a plot to assassinate an American citizen, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who is a member of a pro-Khalistan group officially banned in India.

(8) Political Reshuffling

The Assembly elections in November witnessed the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance expanding its footprint across several states. The voting patterns in the state elections led certain sections of the media to inaccurately gauge the BJP’s prospects for the 2024 national elections.

(9) Social and Judicial Developments

The year also saw important social and judicial developments.

In October, the Supreme Court decided not to recognise same-sex marriages amid the ongoing debate over LGBTQ+ demands in India.

In December, the Supreme Court of India upheld the 2019 abrogation of the autonomy of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 of the Indian Constitution. Media reports pointed out that this verdict could have serious implications on federalism and democracy.

(10) New and Proposed Controversial Laws

In December, the President of India gave assent to three controversial criminal law bills, marking a significant shift in the balance between state power and individual rights in the country.

The draft of the Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, 2023, also raised critical concerns about the future of media freedom and the independence of digital journalism in India.

(11) Security Breach in Parliament

December also witnessed a major security breach in the Parliament, raising serious concerns about the safety of India’s highest legislative body and prompting calls for stringent security measures. When members of opposition parties in Parliament protested the security breach, more than 140 were suspended.

These events have established a foundation for 2024, a year that promises to be replete with both challenges and opportunities.