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2016 - The year of the Maverick!


Taking a clue from advanced Math, to make life simpler, let's define "M" as all those mutants with the following distinguishing trait: an independent individual who does not go along with a group or party (source: Meaning of "maverick" from Merriam Websters) 

 So what's new you would say? After all human history has witnessed many such individuals. Napoleon, M.K.Gandhi, Adolf Hitler, M.L.King, Nelson Mandela - to name a few. A few of these mutants have always been around in this world.

 But 2016 has seen the rise of two powerful M who threaten to shape our world in unimaginable ways. And yes no prizes for guessing the two in question - Trump and Modi. Now before your attention starts waning and you think...so what's new...these two are famed M, hang on.....this blog is not about them. Rather it is about YOU dear reader. What rubbish you might say?? Hold on....yes it is about you and me, the average joes. For this is my thesis - the rise of two gigantic M in two of the world's largest democracies, points to one important fact - 2016 is the year when this group of mutants has reached critical mass. And the emergence of these is not the disease, it is the symptom. How you might say? 

 Well...let's take a step back and think - what's common about the rise of these two individuals as the rulers of their respective countries? 
  1. Both had predecessors who were extremely balanced and intellectually refined individuals
  2. A vast section of the right leaning population in their countries however did not like these predecessors
  3. Both fought election campaigns that saw unprecedented negativity and personal attacks 
  4. They both promised salvation to their people through extreme measures:: Modi - hardline on Pakistan and corruption, Trump - Immigrants, China, Muslim extremism and outsourcing
  5. Social media played a large role in their success
While Modi was elected in 2014, it is in 2016 that he has truly come into his own with his twin "surgical strikes" on Pakistan and currency. And Trump promises to be a bigger M from the word go, as his calling up of Taiwan Premier and choice of team shows. But ultimately, what has powered the rise of these two? Yes now if you are getting my drift - the true M are the people of US and India! For the tribe of mutants has now grown so big that we all to varying degrees qualify as M. 

Proof: See how FB, Twitter and news channels have all evolved over the years. Issues that attract our attention are all getting more and more contentious and our views on them getting more polarised! And social media has today given us the power to broadcast our views and opinions like never before. And in the effort to get more likes and shares, we know that unless our posts stand out, we will end up getting lost in the huge avalanche of opinions that keep floating around. After all we all want attention - we want our posts to go viral. And that I believe, is sub-consciously having a profound impact on how we think, express ourselves, and what stance we take on key issues. 

 So ultimately, Trump and Modi are just two among us who have learnt how to grab attention on a mass scale. Why is why I say that this is truly the year of the Maverick! And the Maverick of the year for me is neither Trump nor Modi. Rather it is "you" who is reading this blog (am sure you could have done a hundred more useful things :) and "I" who am writing this in the hope that it goes viral! 

 So cheers, thanks for paying attention to my opinions and have a happy holiday season!! ;)

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