The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: 2023 Has Been Like a Box of Mixed Mithai. Some Good, Some Not So Much

As a kid, when someone would bring home a box of mithai when they visited, my sweet tooth would be in bliss. My curious mind would be eager to open it and relish, would it be a colorful box of mixed mithai, what flavors would they be, would I like it or not… Life is like a box of chocolates just like Forest Gump said… or mithai in my case. One never knows what one is going to get. 2023 has been a year like that, quite like a box of mixed mithai… Some good, some not so much #IMHO

The Year That Was

The arts, performing arts, movies, literature, these took center stage for me in 2023. It has been quite mind blowing to see the sudden elevation of Indian art and culture on the global scene. Be it the appearance of ‘Naatu Naatu’ at the Oscars, Bollywood stars taking center stage on the international podium, Indian American stars and artists becoming mainstream, it has been quite the celebration of Indian artists. Even Indian fashion, one only had to visit Nordstorm during Diwali to be able to see Indian fashion on display.

Oprah and others supporting writers of Indian origin like Abraham Verghese was a game changer. Stellar authors like Verghese, Pico Iyer, Chetna Maroo and so many more, featured on the best books of 2023 lists by New York Times, Amazon, etc. Indian litterateurs continued to shine.

In India, the grand launch of the NMACC Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Center in Mumbai catapulted India onto the Global Arts Arena. India’s growing luxury status symbolized by Dior’s launch of their Pre-fall line at the Gateway of India in Mumbai and not to mention the launch of Jio World Plaza, India’s most luxurious mall.  

Science making leaps and bounds in 2023, with India’s Chandrayaan 3 making a historic moon landing on the South Pole, a global first. Technology continued to make waves in India with online/mobile payments and AI leading the way, and scientists and technologists of Indian origin making outstanding contributions.

Evidence of India’s elevated extravagance status, visible from the new Parliament building inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi; the new Bharat Mandapam which hosted the G-20 summit; and the Narendra Modi Stadium which hosted the World Cup Cricket. With a seating capacity of over 132,000 — the largest cricket stadium in the world is ready even for Taylor Swift’s first ever India concert! With successful infrastructural projects and hosting global events, India seems to have taken the express elevator to the top and may have become the most important among the worlds emerging powers.

With successful infrastructural projects and hosting global events, India seems to have taken the express elevator to the top and may have become the most important among the worlds emerging powers.

Meanwhile, Indians outside the country have been rising to the top consistently and making a mark, most of them in a positive way, while there are a few outliers who leave a lot to be desired. Indian Americans in particular, have been a beacon in so many spheres nationwide. Popular suspects like Mindy Kaling winning the National Medal of the Arts, Padma Lakshmi featured on the cover of the coveted Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit edition, three Indian American chefs having earned a Michelin Star, and so many more who have made a mark.   

Why, even within my own little circle, there are those paving paths. For example, Mitra Kalita, founder of the media organization URL Networks a network of Black and Brown news and information outlets; Geeta Aiyer, who is on the inaugural Time 100 climate list; Tilak Subramanian who oversees one of the largest energy efficiency portfolios in the industry, in part responsible for New England being the country leader in Clean Energy and Energy Efficiency every year; Desh Deshpande a philanthropist and entrepreneur who is turning the lives of people at every level with his foundation and support of the non-profit Akshaya Patra; musicians and artists like Tara Anand who are not only exemplary performers themselves but also train young children in Indian classical arts so the lineage continues through future generations; and so, so, many more that I am proud of and honored to know. 

So many people at every level of society who are fighting day after day to make this world a better place to live in. I have had the honor of seeing so many of them in action and reading about so many more, this past year and I am immensely grateful for that. These are what I choose to celebrate, my favorite mithais from 2023.

When we choose to honor the good in the world, more goodness will manifest. For me this is the year that was… I believe its best to open with the good and move on to the undesirable end of the spectrum, approaching it from a “what can we change” perspective.

What Is To Be?

I have deliberately not said much about – politics; political upheavals worldwide; the loss of the ability to have healthy debates; free speech, the ability to write and speak one’s mind publicly; the basic freedom of press being attacked; the personal right to women’s choice and for one to choose their partner being threatened; climate change tragedies that are unveiling right in front of our eyes. All this leaves a lot to be desired. Rather than think of these issues as what was not in 2023, I would re-categorize them as changes I hope to see in the new year.

Never in my lifetime has the world been as divided as it is now. The gap between the political right and the left seems to be widening with each passing minute. As is the fissure between religious sects and other belief systems. Respect for one another’s opinions and choices does not seem to be at play anywhere. In the last year, the gaps have amplified and accusations are aplenty, to the point of unending violence. Wars are raging in multiple regions, whether politically driven or religious. Diplomacy has taken a back seat.

Both conservatives and liberals are clinging tighter than ever to their points of view and the possibility of centrist ideology is becoming unpopular. This is happening in India, in the U.S., and globally. This is how authoritarian regimes are born, by pitting those of opposite viewpoints against each other.

While the economics are topnotch, the question remains, how expansive are the economic and political gaps? Are the gaps shrinking or flaring? Whether between the wealthy and the needy, or between the political left and the right, the obvious widening is apparent, in India and worldwide. How much is being done to bridge these gaps is the big question in everyone’s mind.

Tough times are also when inspirational leaders emerge, like a lotus emerges from the marshes. I hope to see charismatic frontrunners who will motivate us to embrace our differences and respect each other. This is what I desire — grim situations from the past, transforming in 2024. I want to concentrate on positive things that I would like to see happen, so they will hopefully manifest in the new year!

The optimist in me wants to anticipate a balance in the universe that will bring about the change required to set things right. The change that gives people the freedom to choose. Give them the autonomy to make personal decisions about their health, their body, their love life, their country of choice, their education, their choice of outfit, their preferred religion, choice of speech and expression, their choice of home. Basic personal choices that each individual makes, that another may or may not agree with. I can only have faith that there will be permission for fundamental personal choice for any individual, without a political or religious slant influencing it.

Easier said than done? Agreed. But, we have to try. We have to start somewhere to find that middle point, that center, that can bring balance back into our world, without being “woke.” If we learn to revere personal freedoms and accept that no religion has ever propagated hate, we will learn to value every life and every perspective.

“It takes strength to resist the dark side, only the weak embrace it,” said the wise Obi Wan Kenobi. It is time to walk towards the light, that which will unite us.

These are the mithais I hope to get a taste of in 2024. My hope for the New Year like so many others, is that we find this unity in diversity. Instead of using our differences to push ourselves apart, I hope we learn to appreciate the differences especially in the political and religious arena. It should not have to be a utopian fantasy, to wish for the rise of those trailblazers who will respect all opinions and bring those of different faiths and beliefs together. Wouldn’t it be nice to live in a world where we respect and embrace diverse viewpoints and co-exist peacefully?

---

Visi Tilak is an author and writer who lives in the greater Boston area. She can be reached at visitilak@gmail.com.