BY SANJEEB KUAMR SAHOO
Respected citizens of India, I am lucky to have met a beautiful woman 12 years ago who, in jest, referred me as a coolie when I went to pick her up from Nizamuddin Railway Station. Those words stuck with me forever. It was my dream to meet a girl who values me for who I am. And it was her, my late lady Deepshikha Singh.
At that moment, I decided I had to do everything I could to win her heart, which I did achieve in some weeks. She accepted my love for my honest self. She passed away in 2020, much earlier, leaving me alone for the rest of my life. Before leaving this world, she taught me many things that are helping me grow and share love in society.
Deepshikha Singh, whose father is Late Lt Col Jitendra Kumar Singh (JKS) Rana (V) from Uttar Pradesh’s Ballia district of Belthara Road, was a prolific writer, who inspired me to be more creative and expressive. So, ladies and gentlemen, I am carrying out her command, and this edition is testimony to my commitment of providing something fresh to the readers, a perspective that you could not find anywhere else.
I am glad to share that the National Political Mirror (NPM) has started this process of ‘Bringing Something New’, with the last edition of the year that went by. NPM drafted profiles of prominent Leaders. In the edition, the NPM continues to ‘Bringing Something New’, with the event that marked a history in Indian politics with construction of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, and also marking the year as Indian National Congress going for a donation drive in a bid to revive the grand old party, which celebrated 138th year of formation.
For those who take a close interest in politics ,I have included, on the cover page, photographs of over fifty politicians who are in the news at the national or state level. Additionally, I have included a story about the 138th anniversary of the Congress party and the 99th birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. I therefore will not elaborate on the stories; rather, I would like to recommend you to grab a copy of 2023 Annual Edition, and read it. I am certain that you will all enjoy it.
Another reason for referring to myself as the luckiest person is that I have received help from many friends and well-wishers in the last few years, particularly this year. I recently met someone special who kindled my heart again with her helping nature towards needy people, and I began to like her and may fall in love and move on in life. So the message, my dear friends, is to help the needy and spread love.
Why am I saying this? Because I would not have been able to pull out this magazine without the help of many compassionate people around me. They have supported me in my drive to help the needy and spread love.
Also, I remember Deepshikha reiterating on how to help the needy and spread love to those who helped you get here and are still helping you. This, she believed, has the power to transform the World and end great wars.
Now, let’s talk about politics and the approaching general elections in 2024. National elections will be held in 40 major countries. People refer to 2024 as a “Super Election Year”, perhaps the biggest election year in history. This is due to the numerous widely watched elections in populous countries like the United States, Mexico, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, South Africa, the European Union, Ghana, Russia, and Mexico. The year will determine moments in world politics and leadership. The polls’ results will determine who leads and controls the planet in the 21st Century.
India, on the other hand, will also have assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Arunachal and Sikkim in April-May along with Lok Sabha polls and in Haryana, Maharashtra, and Jharkhand later in 2024, and might be in the first ever election in Jammu & Kashmir as Union Territory, as the Supreme Court had passed judgement to hold elections at the earliest.
Besides the Lok Sabha, assembly, and local body elections, the 2024 Rajya Sabha elections will be held in July and August 2024 as part of a routine six-year cycle among certain Indian state legislatures to elect 65 of its 245 members, of which the states elect 233 through their legislators and the remaining 12 are appointed by the President.
Finally, I would like to appeal to everyone to be a good person and do something special for the people and the society. You’re here because you want to be a good person, and people should remember once you are gone. Listen to everyone, do what they say, come up with new technologies, be disciplined, study, eat healthy foods, take care of your health, watch good films, listen to good music, respect everyone, and promise yourself that you will do these things every day, no matter what. Believe me, you will see things changing. I do my bit each day. Also, don’t forget to vote for genuine candidates with good character. Before I conclude, I’d like to share one of my favourite lines with everyone–“A pupil is not a student until they listen to their teachers.”
Note: On December 31, 2023, this piece was originally printed in a weekly magazine of National Political Mirror.
