New Delhi: It was the year of two major political events at the far ends of the globe that took over and baffled each and every one in the oldest and in the largest democracy in the world. The year 2016 will undoubtedly be remembered as a year of triumph of Mr Donald Trump as President of the US and announcement of demonetisation of high value currency in India, with both the nations still struggling to sync in with reality. In the fist instance, majority of the Americans, in particular, and the world community, in general, was taken aback; while in the second instance, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi surprised the 125-crore citizens and left rest of the world to wonder about what India did. Both the incidents were unbelievable, unpredictable and largely unexpected in announcements and scary in enormity.
The victory of Trump was taken as the defeat of idea of America by those who saw the President elect as symbol of ruthless wealth, conservative thoughts, ultra nationalism and above all a person of no hesitation in his pursuit for the victory. On the other hand, the demonetisation was projected as a step to defeat black money, curb corruption, fake currency and terror funding. Both the happenings raged fierce debates among masses with the societies in both the democracies equally divided on loving and hating Trump and the demonetisation, though, gloves were not coming off during the discussions.
People came out on the roads in anger against the verdict of their own in the United States soon after it was pronounced, while entire country lined up before the banks and ATM counters which were running out of cash. Fingers were crossed as to what future holds under Trump Administration and what the economy, politics and the society take shape in the wake of vacuuming of currency from market of the republic of cash. No one saw them coming.
Vocal Americans were so sure of Hillary's victory that they had switched off their ears to what silent majority was to say. And the Indian media, which boast of breaking all news, proved complete broke in guessing, predicting or reporting what Mr Modi was keeping close to his heart. Reactions were also knee jerk, fraught with utterly miscalculated conclusions, ranging from terming Trump's win as suicide of democracy in America and the "monumental blunder, legalised plunder, organised loot and mismanagement" created by the Modi Government. Will Trump antagonise China? Will demonetisation squeeze terrorist funding? Will the US be cozy with Putin's Russia? Will the currency come back to poor in India? Will Trump deliberalise America? Will the note ban succeed in rooting out grey economy? Will the nationalistic politics get more popularity in the Trump's US? Will BJP be able to pull out a democratic triumph in Punjab and UP? No one knows, even those who are at the helms or the people who are to be affected and deciding in the next elections.
The debates are unending due to the uncertainty, which will remain in the air in years to come. More than half of the Americans voted for Trump to the Presidency and very less little less than half wanted to defeat him at all cost. In India, it is yet to be decided if the majority was in favour of paying the cost of demonetisation but the vocal voices in favour and against the move sound divided half and half. The world inside and outside America and India is poised for change for sure. The year to come will be a decider for both the democracies. (UNI)