The New Year and the Burden of Unanswered Questions

— Lalit Gargg —

Another year has quietly entered the pages of history. The year 2025 was not merely a numerical transition on the calendar; it was a profound convergence of events, warnings, achievements, and contradictions that compelled society, politics, and development itself to stand trial before the court of conscience. As we step into a new year, this moment is not meant only for celebration, resolutions, and greetings—it is equally a moment for deep introspection. The real question is not what the new year will offer us, but what the departing year has taught us, and how sincerely we have absorbed those lessons into our lives, policies, and priorities. Every new year arrives bearing the light of fresh hope, yet it is never free from the shadows of the past. Understanding those shadows and learning from them is the true beginning of a meaningful new year.

A glance back at 2025 reveals that progress and crisis moved in parallel, both in India and across the world. On one hand, India strengthened its presence in the digital economy, space science, infrastructure development, and global diplomacy. On the other, unresolved and deepening challenges—such as the Pahalgam terror attack, environmental disasters, inflation, unemployment, rising costs of education and healthcare, widening social inequality, and political distrust—continued to trouble the nation’s conscience. These are unanswered questions, without whose resolution the vision of a “New India” or a “Strong India” remains incomplete. The data and events of the departing year made one truth unmistakably clear: a nation’s true condition cannot be measured solely by the glitter of economic statistics. Understanding the realities of everyday life is indispensable.

The terror attack in Pahalgam once again exposed the brutal face of terrorism. However, the success of Operation Sindoor demonstrated that India is no longer merely a victim—it is now a nation capable of decisive and courageous retaliation. This precise and resolute action exposed Pakistan-sponsored terrorism and sent a clear message to the world: India will not compromise on its security, sovereignty, or the lives of its citizens. India’s counter-terrorism doctrine—neither reckless provocation nor silent endurance—has become the hallmark of a mature, confident, and capable nation, delivering a firm response to terror patrons across the border. In this context, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foreign engagements and global leadership image further elevated India’s international stature. India’s role in diplomacy, investment, technology, and global supply chains has grown stronger, fostering renewed confidence and optimism at home. With stable governance, policy continuity, and strategic global partnerships, India’s journey toward becoming the world’s third-largest economy no longer appears distant—it seems increasingly attainable. A firm stand against terrorism, the vision of a Naxal-free India, and a self-reliant, innovation-driven economy together have positioned India as a decisive force on the global stage.

Yet, the environment emerged as the most urgent warning of 2025. Climate change is no longer confined to scientific reports or international summits; it has become a harsh reality of everyday life. Landslides in the Himalayan regions, record-breaking heatwaves in northern India, suffocating pollution in metropolitan cities, and intensifying cyclones along coastal areas are varied manifestations of a single crisis. Natural disasters across Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Kerala, the Northeast, and other regions revealed a painful truth: the poorest and most vulnerable pay the highest price for ecological recklessness.

When mountains are carved, rivers dammed indiscriminately, and forests destroyed in the blind pursuit of development, devastation becomes inevitable. The new year confronts us with a fundamental question: Is development merely about roads, bridges, tunnels, and skyscrapers, or is it equally about safeguarding life, nature, and the future? Unless environmental balance is placed at the core of development policy, every new year will arrive with fresh disasters in its wake. The lessons of 2025 compel us to recognize that harmony with nature is the only path to sustainable progress.

The crisis of pollution and public health also deepened during the year. Air quality in cities like Delhi-NCR remained in the “severe” category for prolonged periods. These were not just alarming statistics—they represented a looming threat to the health of millions. Water pollution, plastic waste, and chemical effluents engulfed villages and small towns as well. The pressing question remains: are we willing to destroy our own sources of life in the name of economic growth? The new year urges us to recognize that health is not limited to hospitals and medicines—it is rooted in clean air, pure water, and a safe environment.

The education sector, too, exposed harsh realities in 2025. Studying abroad became increasingly expensive, while rising fees in private institutions within the country pushed education beyond the reach of the middle class. The growing commercialization of education is reinforcing the cycle of poverty—children of the poor are denied education, and lack of education pushes them back into poverty. The sight of children working at bus terminals, railway stations, intersections, and factories raises serious questions about development claims. The new year forces us to ask: is education a fundamental right or a privileged commodity? If education is truly the foundation of nation-building, why has it been reduced to a market product?

Healthcare remained one of the gravest concerns for ordinary citizens in 2025. Despite government schemes and assurances, serious illness continues to result in financial ruin. Arbitrary practices by private hospitals, costly diagnostic tests, and rising medicine prices raise an unsettling question: has life itself become a tradable commodity? The new year demands that healthcare be redefined as a public service rather than a profit-driven enterprise. Experiences from pandemics and disasters clearly demonstrate that a robust public health system is a nation’s real strength.

Corruption and political mistrust also dominated public discourse throughout the year. Allegations, counter-allegations, scam revelations, and political hostility weakened public faith in democratic institutions. Democracy is not merely about winning elections—it is an ongoing test of trust, transparency, and accountability. When people feel that policies serve select interests rather than the public good, disillusionment and resentment grow. The new year raises a critical question: will politics become a vehicle for service, or will it remain merely a means to power?

The year 2025 taught us that challenges are not just obstacles—they shape the direction of the future. Environmental crises call us toward sustainable development; struggles in education and healthcare remind us of human values; poverty and corruption underline the urgency of social justice. The journey into the new year can only progress on the strength of these lessons. If development becomes sensitive to nature, if education and healthcare are treated as pillars of public welfare, if ethics guide politics and transparency strengthen governance, and if poverty eradication is reflected not just in statistics but in lived realities—only then will welcoming the new year be truly meaningful. A new year does not offer magical solutions; it merely presents an opportunity—to confront unanswered questions with honesty and courage. If the experiences of 2025 inspire us to ask the right questions in 2026, the answers will inevitably carve their own path. That may well be the truest aspiration, commitment, and greatest achievement of the new year.