Look Back ... 2025 :::: Key stories, commentaries ... Quotes and snaps posted in the Blog during the calendar year

My photo of the year 2025 is this :

I have used it in Facebook and Twitter profiles.

The photo was originally posted by Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.   

"A perfect shot, A sight to behold. A leopard soaking in the winter sun atop Adingiri Hills, overlooking Guwahati's rise," he tweeted on Dec 24th. BJP leader also posted another snap --- 

Indian Hindu group welcomes religious minorities, exposing internal struggles

(This was reported for UCA News -- Nov 10th, 2025 )

 “No Brahmin [high caste Hindu] is allowed in the Sangh. No Muslim is allowed, no Christian is allowed.… Only Hindus are allowed. But people from any denomination — Muslims, Christians — can come to the Sangh if they keep their separateness out,” Bhagwat said.

“Your speciality is welcome, but when you come inside the shakha, you come as a son of Bharat Mata, a member of this Hindu society.”

The comments drew criticism from opposition politicians and minority leaders, who called them contradictory and insincere.

“Bhagwat’s invitation to non-Hindus is not genuine. It is half-hearted and amounts to lip service,” said Sanjay Das, a Congress Party leader from Meghalaya, a Christian-majority state.

(Girl students singing a song as Prime Minister Narendra Modi looks on during an interaction with internally displaced persons at Churachandpur, in Manipur on Sept 13, 2025 

My story for ETV Bharat.com

said - 

Modi Moves Smart But Ethnic Fault Lines Remain In Manipur  

The article said - 

"On his return to Delhi, PM Modi will have to sit with Home Minister Amit Shah to resolve the issues of Manipur -- which almost remain where they were in 2023 May when the unprecedented violence was kicked off. Experts and former Military officials say the mayhem of 2023 was more than ethnic. Lt Gen Abhay Krishna (Retd), who commanded Eastern Command, told this columnist earlier this year that the clashes in Manipur could have been instigated by various regional and global players. Hence things stand basically where they were."   

Ayodhya: History, Politics, and Path to Unity

(was the headline ... for the article penned for 'Brighter Kashmir' - a prestigious publication in Srinagar )

"Hinduism is India's majority religion and is said to be more than 4,000 or even 5000 years old. Muslims make up around 13-15 percent of the Indian population and are the subcontinent's second largest minority group. Probably over the years; various violent incidents and demolition episode in 1992 did hurt "India's image" as a cultural melting pot.

But Hindus are still counted as a community known for religious tolerance."  

Interview with Naga rebel leader Neokpao Konyak, convener, NNPG was a significant work of the year 

(interview was also taken among others by Manipur-based website - epao.com -- Feb 19) 

Neakpao had said -- 

"The fact of the matter is we need peace and Solution is the key to the lasting peace and Development," he said adding, "Development is important for today's generation and the youngsters and the next generation.... How long will Nagas continue to suffer ?"

"The Agreed Position is like a win-all. It contains powerful ingredients for India and Nagas as honorable and a good deed of political agreement".

"Muivah hi (solution) manzoor na hobo. Muivah toh ki asey ami jaane ... tai loge ami berai ... berai thakise (Muivah will not accept Solution. I know Mr Muivah too well .... I have seen him closely. We have traveled together for years)," he remarked, answering some specific questions.

"I have worked with him for long...I know him closely. In the year 1976 ... I was hurt on my foot. Muivah too suffered injuries.... But what he is asking is not practical and he knows it pretty well," Neokpao said adding - "it was a fierce clash between our Naga group and the Myanmar army".

"Muivah knows no Indian leader or Prime Minister can give what he is asking.

This year ... I tracked Indian soldiers.  

Rifle training is a core component of basic soldier training  -- is the refrain from instructors. Of course -- the physical fitness and leadership qualities also matter.
 
"We used to call it an adaptation to Battlefield Realities....," remarked a retired army officer involved in 1999 operations. 

In July this year, Lt Gen Abhijeet S Pendharkar, GoC of Rangapahar-based Spear Corps, observed “Exercise Drone Prahar”—a crucial and high-level military drill.

                                Revenge of Journalism : Science Dropout - blogger discovering Mystique Drones

I also received a very encouraging comment.  

This push for indigenous UAVs is part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, aiming for self-reliance and tailoring drone technology to India's operational needs. - -- wrote Tanmay Sen  

In Jan-Feb 2025 -- the following article made waves in social media. 

Published by 'Brighter Kashmir'; -- the headline said ---- 

Difference Between Kukis and Zomis

Misrepresentation by generalisations like ‘Meitei vs. Kuki’ or ‘Meitei vs. Kuki-Zo’ are repeatedly perpetuated, complained a 20-something youth working with a private transport operator during my visit to Churachandpur, Imphal and Ukhrul in January 2025. 

I also visited Jiribam region of Manipur .... on the other side bordering Assam.   

"I would not have backed AFSPA had we been protected by police and other forces before Assam Rifles arrived.... There was apparently a deliberate negligence and our people were attacked in a gruesome manner," said Lalram Sung, Village youth chairman, who had also given his house now to a platoon of Assam Rifles personnel. 

Moral of the story-- Successes are forgotten quickly and failures get known with all its implications.

The Armed Forces can never let the nation down on this count. 

 

At the fag end of the year --- this article came out in website 'The Raisina Hills'

LK Advani and the Politics of Karma: Fate and Free Will Collide

"If karma has a political vocabulary, L.K. Advani may be its most compelling case study. Few leaders shaped post-Independence Indian politics as decisively—and yet, few were denied its ultimate prize as repeatedly. 

Advani qualifies description of the most consequential Prime Minister India never had. 

In the ruthless arithmetic of power, destiny often trumps merit." 

The Raisina Hills link