Edits | October, 2023

Rhetorically, the question still remains for the 2024 elections, is whether the BJP and PM Modi will come back in power with the same figure as they did in the last two general elections. BJP has been losing state to state, and then exercising its right from the Centre to form a governor, trying to control over the local electorate. Although that doesn’t seem to be the case in the forthcoming General elections, surely it is a matter of concern as the Indian electorate has become smarter – and they want their own government to be in their state and a different person ruling the nation. In most analyses, BJP may not get the same level of majority as it did in the earlier two elections – consequences of price rise, unemployment, high-headed treatment over the people not in power, localised support for a few in running businesses and very limited faces of leaders in the mainstay of their politics. However this does not mean that there will be a collective opposition even in the next election, and the consortium called I.N.D.I.A. seems to be a joke which would challenge Modi and try and get a grip on the impending parliamentary majority. So where does it leave the common Janta? Lured by the pseudo aspirational society where we now live – giving us millions of images a day of things that have got to be obtained for a better and good life, it leaves the Janta unsatisfied and clueless on how to get those items, or those standards of living which a few display. There is no education either in religion or in the education system imparted to us to have a healthy emotional and financial lifestyle. We are all expected to be driven by greed and outdoing the other person in order to be termed as successful. However, we all know that is not the truth and we will strive to do it every waking hour. The political parties and systems all over the world are not just greedy, but they inspire greediness through their ranks and instil it deep in the population that they control. Ostentatious displays of resources and wealth in ceremonies like the G20 show that there is so much money which can be spent on glamour by a government that a common man or an institution can never even afford. And these are being done by people who were once common and are now in the governance. Although it is a classical chicken and egg story, it still has the Janata by its horns all the way. By the way, the Rs 4,100 crore budget for G20 could not have been spent on the beautification of Delhi and surely may have been a subject of divergence for funding of the forthcoming General elections. But isn’t that usual, why even question that move? All political parties have done that in the past and will continue to do so in the present and the future.

India Canada Row

The recent rift between Canada and India has thrust India’s security services into the spotlight. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s accusations of Indian government involvement in the assassination of a Canadian Sikh activist marked an unprecedented move by a Western democracy against India. Tensions escalated as both countries expelled diplomats and Canada suspended visa services for Indian citizens. While India and Canada share common values, their relations have soured, partly due to Canada’s perceived sympathy towards the Sikh separatist movement and India’s allegations of interference in its domestic politics. India openly addressed Canada’s concerns regarding extremism, signalling a willingness to speak candidly. The BJP government will capitalise on Prime Minister Modi’s successful G20 hosting and the India-Canada rift, leveraging it for political advantage ahead of assembly and general elections. Most probably, the party’s campaign pitch will emphasise Modi’s leadership and the G20 as a significant achievement.

Minimalistic Luxury

In the digital age, Gen Z is rewriting the script of luxury living, ushering in a minimalistic revolution that transcends the ostentatious labels and opulent brands of yesteryears. They are discerning connoisseurs of quality, eschewing ephemeral trends in favour of enduring craftsmanship. It’s a rebellion against conspicuous consumption; they favour the art of simplicity. Gen Z’s minimalistic luxury lifestyle curates spaces that breathe tranquillity and purpose, challenging society’s compulsion for excess. In a world bombarded by consumerism, they’ve unearthed the true essence of opulence—the elegance of the essential. Gen Z, in their quest for authenticity and sustainability, are not just trendsetters; they’re philosophers of a new-age luxury, where value is not measured in labels but in the enduring allure of life’s meaningful elements.

CA Divesh Nath

Editor
Woman’s Era
LinkedIn: Divesh Nath