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There were many winners and losers in 2004—where India was concerned, most notably, the UPA and BJP, respectively—and some that found themselves in muddy middle ground. Coalition forces had success and failure in Iraq, and terrorists struck in Spain and Russia. George W Bush was back in the Oval office for another four years, and Hamid Karzai was elected President of Afghanistan. Violence in Iraq, the Darfour crisis and Arafat’s death left uneasiness as the year was drawing to a close. Then tragedy struck as nature wrecked havoc by unleashing one of its deadliest disasters in modern history: 2004’s final days were dominated by an earthquake and its ensuing tsunami that left more than 250,000 dead from Thailand to Somalia.
The 2004 election results in the world’s largest democracy surprised many. Despite a bombardment of feel-good rhetoric from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), constituting Congress (I) and its allies, managed to snatch victory from the jaws of the BJP led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
Bush’s return endorsed, among other things, conservative leanings, and also support for the war on terror, viz. Iraq and Afghanistan. The genocidal proportions of the Darfur crisis, persistent insurgency in Iraq, and the catastrophic natural disaster towards the end of 2004 were all very disturbing. However, there is a story of triumph too—Afghanistan entered the realms of democracy, overcoming the Taliban and its ilk of fundamentalists, when Hamid Karzai became its first democratically elected president. The poignant note of 2004 was the passing away of Yasser Arafat; revered by his own people—reviled by some; nevertheless, an iconic figure.
This issue presents much more than a glimpse of 2004 in print. We have also covered the recent budget, which has given professionals and businessmen sufficient reasons to smile without compromising on development; the Netherlands and passing of the EU baton to Luxembourg; India-Brazil relations; and articles on Asean and the African Union. Our cover story highlights the significance that India and China are attaching to their relationship, and my interview with H.E. Sun Yuxi, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to India further reaffirmed this view. India, a very large and populous country, could never really have been ignored, but interviews with foreign representatives have shown that the relationship is no longer a mere acknowledgement of existence, but a genuine desire and need to engage with one of the largest and fastest growing economies of the world.
Among other articles, there is also a literary one, which we wish to make a regular feature. All in all, we hope there is something for everyone!
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