As I reflect back on the year 2024, certain moments, experiences, and thoughts come to mind, shaping my perspective on the year that has passed.

Professional Reflections

Professionally, 2024 was relatively uneventful. Over the last 18 months, I managed to write four book chapters: two on Natural Language Processing, one on education, and another on AI bias and fairness. I have always prioritized quality over quantity, resisting the temptation to publish subpar work despite the ever-looming pressure of the “Publish or Perish” culture.

Mandatory research contributions should, in my view, be decoupled from career progression, especially for faculty in non-premier institutions. The core responsibility of a faculty member is teaching, and their effectiveness in the classroom should be a primary metric of evaluation.

Challenges in Education

Technical education faces significant challenges. The rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence is expected to reduce job opportunities, demanding a new skillset from future graduates. In a knowledge-driven economy, the quality of education will become a critical factor for growth.

India must prioritize strengthening primary and secondary education to prepare future generations. Equally important is the need to upskill faculty members through continuous training and revising curricula to align with industry needs.

The Indian education system, however, remains overly calibrated, measuring students at every step while placing immense pressure on them. Parental expectations often exacerbate this stress, with tragic consequences, as evidenced by the rise in student suicides, even in premier institutions like the IITs.

The system’s obsession with competition has turned education into a race for grades, leaving little room for practical knowledge or vocational skills like carpentry, electronics, or cooking. Many students view education as a burdensome task solely aimed at securing a job, lacking a genuine love for learning.

As a teacher of technological subjects, I’ve observed a concerning decline in students' writing abilities. There’s a strong correlation between writing skills and technical knowledge; especially as most quality technical literature is available in English. Research standards in higher education also remain a concern, with substandard papers flooding academic circles and diluting overall quality.

Emerging Technology Trends

The tech sectors likely to remain in demand include AI, data analytics, biotechnology, renewable energy, 5G/6G, education, medical research, climate studies, green technology, electric vehicles, and manufacturing (semiconductors, garments, etc.). Within AI, exciting areas include Explainable AI (XAI), Agentic AI, Tiny AI, and Prompt Engineering. This year, I began using LLM-based products like ChatGPT, gradually appreciating their transformative potential, particularly in education.

Global Affairs

Globally, humanity seems to be at a low ebb, with two ongoing wars dominating the landscape. The aftermath of the Hamas attack on Israel in late 2024 has caused untold suffering in Gaza. The Russia-Ukraine conflict, now in its second year, shows no signs of resolution.

Closer to home, the political shift in Bangladesh, marked by Sheikh Hasina’s ouster, has significant implications for India. As Bangladesh leans toward Pakistan, India must adopt a cautious approach, prioritizing diplomacy over rhetoric.

Domestically, the mishandling of the Manipur crisis remains a glaring administrative failure, a stark reminder of the need for compassionate governance. As Bob Marley aptly put it, “When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.”

Economic Overview

Several developed countries are exhibiting bleak trends with mounting challenges. The United Kingdom, Germany, and Canada are grappling with crises related to unemployment, housing shortages, stagnant growth, rising inflation, immigration issues, social tensions, and homelessness, among other problems.

In contrast, nations showing positive trajectories include Vietnam in Asia and Poland in Europe. These countries are reportedly experiencing economic upswing and resilience despite global uncertainties.

Adding to the complexity, the new US President Donald Trump has been issuing threats to Europe and the BRICS nations, imposing high tariffs and other punitive measures. This tension contributes to a shifting global landscape where the world order in 2025 appears to be moving toward a contentious competition between a unipolar and a multipolar world. This potential struggle for dominance is likely to create increased friction and instability on the international stage.

Personal Interests and Experiences

As a lifelong cinephile, I explored a treasure trove of films this year. Among the classics I revisited were Blow-Up (Michelangelo Antonioni), Bhuvan Shome (Mrinal Sen), Wild Strawberries (Ingmar Bergman), and Bicycle Thieves (Vittorio De Sica). Other films that left an impression included I, Daniel Blake (Ken Loach), My Sweet Little Village (Jiri Menzel), Chhotoder Chobi (Kaushik Ganguly), Ali: Fear Eats the Soul (R.W. Fassbinder), Manthan (Shyam Benegal), Khonikor Ramdhenu (Jahnu Barua), On the Waterfront (Elia Kazan), Abohoman (Rituparno Ghosh), Notorious (Alfred Hitchcock), Doob (Mostafa Sarwar Farooki), Icche (Nandita Roy and Shiboprosad Mukherjee), Do You Remember Dolly Bell? (Emir Kusturica), Himghar (Sandip Ray) and Cinema Paradiso (Giuseppe Tornatore).

It’s particularly heartening to see filmmakers from Northeast India gaining recognition. The Garo film Rapture achieved remarkable international success, highlighting the rich storytelling traditions of the region. Assamese and Manipuri cinema have long been celebrated for their contributions, and the emergence of Khasi filmmakers, like Pradip Kurbah, has further invigorated the cinematic landscape.

A feather in the cap for Indian cinema was the international acclaim for All We Imagine as Light and Putul, with the latter making the Oscars’ longlist.

Closing Thoughts

While 2024 may not have been remarkable, it offered moments of reflection, creativity, and learning. Here’s hoping 2025 brings more opportunities to read, write, and grow.