New Year Special, Indian Stock Market, Booming Small Business IPOs…
Edits | January, 2025
Crimes against women and reported extensively. The RG Kar case is on hold. Is it that society has gone to the dogs, or is it that crimes against women have actually increased? We need to analyse this based on the rise in population in every part of the world, as well as the rise in militancy and conflicts in most parts of the civilised world. There are crimes against women that are not even reported, and some are too gruesome to report—for instance, in Africa, Afghanistan, and even Syria.
The civilised world’s politicians have compromised justice for the victim of the RG Kar case in Kolkata, which remains in the spotlight. This is despite India being a democracy and governed openly at all levels. One wonders if the media and popular reporting will highlight this case anymore, as most of the nodal agencies investigating the RG Kar case have been compromised.
The murder case, which is being labeled as the suicide of Atul Subhash (34), who left a detailed suicide note, is another example of the mockery of legal provision related to domestic violence and dowry laws against men. The women concerned are now out on bail after being arrested, and this matter too will likely face delays in delivering justice, as usual.
Indian stock market and the booming small business IPOs and has savings become a foregone conclusion? With most of the economy and the mindset of young people inclined toward spending on experiences and intangibles, challenging old-school brick-and-mortar tangibility, savings in India’s banks have significantly eroded. This trend could result in serious problems for this generation in old age, when accumulated savings for survival become a real issue. On the other hand, this pattern has led to increased money availability in the economy. Since there are both pros and cons, there is no definitive verdict on what is the best approach. Hence, it comes down to individual choice regarding how one uses the money they earn, inherit, or receive.
Recently, small and medium enterprise IPOs have excited small businessmen (not so small anymore), with their IPOs being subscribed tens of times over. Young and retail investors have shown great interest in these new companies, directing their savings into equities that are relatively low-priced at the moment.
Priyanka debuts in the Lok Sabha. The first speech by Priyanka in the Lok Sabha was impressive, but at the outset, this is natural for someone coming from a family of career politicians. With Rahul Gandhi compromised at various levels and forums, and Sonia Gandhi on the edge of her health, it seems she would like both her children to establish themselves in the political circuit, lest there is a calamity within the family. Robert Vadra has been sidelined, and his recent statements may have propelled Priyanka Gandhi into the spotlight as the official representative of the Gandhi family. Since both Rahul and Priyanka lack a concrete agenda in politics—beyond issues involving money, such as the Ambani, Adani, and Rafael deals, which don’t resonate much with voters—it remains to be seen whether Priyanka can make a real difference for Congress.
The Bharat Jodo Yatra led by Rahul Gandhi was the most defining act for the Congress in recent years. While its fruits could have been significant for the party, the recent state election results suggest otherwise. It is hard to predict what Congress holds for the country’s future. Is Priyanka Gandhi’s second coming a strategic turning point for the party?
Will the Ukraine war really end after 1000 days- Much depends on the efforts of Donald Trump and other U.S. allies. If reports are to be believed, both Putin and Zelensky appear convinced by their own statements that the war needs to end and that whatever was to be destroyed has already been destroyed. However, there is a significant likelihood of escalation into a nuclear war if diplomacy fails.
The onus clearly lies on the President-elect to end this war. The U.S., as the financier of both sides, has already benefited economically from this 1,000+ days-long conflict. One indicator is the strengthening of the U.S. dollar against global currencies since the Ukraine war began.
CA Divesh Nath
Editor
Woman’s Era
LinkedIn: Divesh Nath
