Year of reconciliation

Time flies by so fast. Just a short while ago, we were congratulating each other on the arrival of 2024. Today, the same year has become a part of history, never to return.

According to Vedic astrology, the year 2024 was the year of karma. As per Hinduism, the basic concept of karma is that every good deed has a good outcome, while a wrongdoer must face bad consequences.

The year 2024 was also the year of global elections, and more than half of the world’s population, residing in over 60 countries, including Pakistan, the United States, Russia, India, Bangladesh, North Korea, Indonesia, Portugal, Mexico, South Africa, and several EU countries, participated in the electoral process.

When last year’s elections were announced in Pakistan, there were deep clouds of uncertainty over the political landscape. However, the karma theory certainly bestowed the king of reconciliation politics, Asif Ali Zardari, with the highest office of President of Pakistan. He embraced all his past opponents heroically and promoted the politics of reconciliation in the best interest of Pakistan.

Similarly, the election results in other countries last year forced many rulers of the past to taste the fruits of their karma. In Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, despite having won the national elections for the fourth consecutive time, was forced to flee from her country. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, also fell victim to his karma and he failed miserably to achieve a majority in parliament.

In the year of karma, several world leaders also lost their governments. However, Donald Trump, contrary to all the analyses, speculations and survey reports, succeeded in making news headlines due to his clear victory in the US presidential elections.

Last year, the tense situation in the Middle East dominated the world landscape, and the horrific conflict that began in in October 2023 continued to claim the countless lives of innocent in 2024. Unfortunately, no practical steps could be taken to stop the bloodshed.

Now that the year of karma has ended and the sun of the new year has risen. According to Vedic numerology, the universal number of the year 2025 is ‘9’, associated with reconciliation, cooperation, understanding each other and helping each other. This year is the year of forgetting the bitterness of the past and starting a new life. This year is the year of healing, and treating the deep wounds that humanity suffered in the year 2024.

According to astrologers, the year 2025 is also the year of punishment for those who failed to pay atonement for their mistakes in the year of karma. Last year, anyone who made wrong decisions due to arrogance is getting another opportunity to improve the situation through reconciliation and compromise this year.

Astrology further says that the year 2025 is the year to transform our planet, especially the holy land into a cradle of peace. This year is also the year to take the politics of reconciliation in Pakistan to new heights.

On the occasion of the new year, I feel proud to say that the Prem Nagar model village being established by the Vankwani family in our native hometown of Islamkot has become a reality in a short period of three years. Currently, the SOS Children’s Village is in the final stages of completion, while construction work is also underway on several other state-of-the-art welfare projects, including the shelter home for the helpless, disabled and homeless people, public school, Thar University, Thar Natural History Center, nursing & paramedical college, etc.

I pray to God Almighty that 2025 brings a message of peace and prosperity across the globe.

The writer is a member of the National Assembly and patron-in-chief of the Pakistan Hindu Council. He tweets/posts @RVankwani