IDEAS 2009

History is said to repeat itself often - sometimes as tragedy, sometimes as comedy and at other times, as farce. 2008 saw seeds of many ideas being sown, and 2009 is when the world would bear the fruits – some sweet, others sour.

Here are a few of them that are likely to shape our world in India. I wish you a very happy and a peaceful 2009.

PRIME TIME TERROR: The dominant image of 2008 for most Indians was Mumbai terror strikes. It also gave birth to a new, scary entity – a celebrity terrorist. 24-hour news channels went on an overdrive and critics say the non stop coverage might have just made the terrorist what he perhaps wanted the most – fame and recognition. 2009 could be the year when the terrorist, unfortunately, could become the global celebrity

TERROR MEETS TECH: Some say terror is a religious zealot, others say he’s an orphan of a globalised economy but most say he's simply a mass murderer. Whatever he is, the fact remains that he is heavily reliant on technology. The Mumbai attackers used Blackberrys and satellite phones. 2009 may have them upgrade themselves, and the world has to keep pace. And fast.

THE LIBERAL SPEAKS OUT: Out of the darkness of death, there arose a ray of hope. The Indian Muslim community came out in unprecedented numbers against terror in the aftermath of Mumbai terror strikes. Not just the influential and liberal Muslim, even the muftis and the Maulanans, the Masjid goers and the devouts condemned terror. 2009 will hopefully be year of the liberal Muslim.

AUSTERE IS CHIC: A certain kind of capitalism died in 2008, Wall Street collapsed, American economy plunged and stocks fell world over. Good times of earn and burn are over. So while once there was monk who sold his Ferrari out of choice, today it seems to be becoming a necessity and a fashion statement too. 2009 might just see modest living becoming fashionable, the new chic.

INDIA COMES OUT: Another kind of revolution was happening on the Indian social scene. Sexual freedom too became a necessity. So while sexual freedom always existed under cloak of convention, 2008 saw gays and lesbians come out in huge numbers to assert their sexuality. 2009 might see the mainstreaming of alternate sexuality.

CLICK TO WIN: This was one big idea of 2009 that clicked. When Barack Obama became the US president elect, he started a new wave of intelligent election campaigning. The extensive use of new media sparked off the “technologification” of politics. 2009, the year when India goes to polls, will surely be the year of new type of political campaigning