The December of 2019, marks the sheer humbleness, strength, and passion to keep Democracy strong through a protest entirely led by women and run by women at the national capital Delhi's Shaheen Bagh. They agitated against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). The women sat on the protest site until the lockdown was imposed at the end of March 2020 due to an outbreak of Coronavirus pandemic. From students to celebrities all went there except the government's assurance to discuss controversial parts of the law.
Here, we are talking about the issue of CAA that was being talked about and attracted protests across the nation. Students, activists, educationists, and anyone who could feel something wrong with the ordinance, came out on roads to show their dissent mostly "at designated protest sites".
When there's a Democracy, there's a scope of various ideas and if many were opposing the law, many did support this as well. This "Pro" and "Anti" conflict took the northeastern part of Delhi towards the horrific riots taking away lives of over 53 people dead, hundreds injured and those who witnessed it happening, are left to carry a burden of terrific view for life.
Here, it does not end. The year had something more hidden in it. With an announcement of lockdown because of the Coronavirus pandemic, people were again on roads. This time not to protest against anything. These were the people, who were not sure about their life in the next few days, weeks, or months amid the pandemic with no source of income. "Migrants", that's what we call them. They were the people who migrated from their hometowns to other cities for better job opportunities. Lockdown left them in complete darkness of uncertainties.
With no idea of why are they going, they just collected their guts, a few belongings and began their toughest journey. But, when there was a lockdown, how were they traveling in absence of travel services? Well, those who make these high rise buildings, know how to make their way. They were walking. Of course! They were walking to part the distance of hundreds of kilometers. It always seemed impossible and no one believed in the beginning, that they will reach their destination. But, it happened and those Migrants reached their hometowns. But not all of them. Many lost their battle while on the way.
The government woke up but until then, many had lost their lives and many were about to meet the same unfortunate end. After all, the summers were at their highest peak. How long could they battle with water and some packets of biscuits? Sorry! "Parle G". Shramik Train services started by the government had many loopholes in terms of water, food, sanitization, and social-distancing. But, they started it, had become the major reason for relief.
Had the government missed any point, Sonu Sood, with his enthusiasm to help and guard the poor came forward and provided buses, train tickets, and even air tickets. Solving the problem of food to sorting issues of students they were having with "Online Classes" without "Smartphones".
Online classes and smartphones? Yes! Pandemic did bring a change in academic practices. Everything came on smart devices. Sounds so cool! But, wait! How effective it has been? The answer would be, "to the extent of the digital divide." In the times when Jammu and Kashmir had 2G network connectivity and more than half of the Indian population had no access to the internet and even those who had, would experience slow speed every then and now, Schools and Colleges decided to conduct classes "Online".
Moving a step ahead, one of the premier institutions for higher education in India, Delhi University came up with the idea of "Online Exams" too. But to not make students feel bad, they called it "Remote examination" away from the threat of virus forgetting the economic diversity of its ents. Most of them, even unaware of the process of "Open Book Exams" (OBE). Various petitions in Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court brought no relief. Then OBE happened, followed by many other universities who conducted written examinations also, and yes let's not forget JEE/NEET students, they too sat for exams.
2020! Could it end so easily? Not at all. With so many jolts (even real ones) it is going to end with protest. This time on a new issue and again controversial "laws" that are three farm bills. But the government? Yes, it is having talks with the protesting farmers but on the condition that the laws would not be repealed. Pandemic? Oops! That is no more in news with the fact that at least 500 lives were claimed by the Coronavirus every day. But yeah! Vaccines are in news. The only good thing about the year? Found cure before ending of 2020. Touchwood!
