Of the moments when we were forced to look into the mirror and hang our heads collectively, most came in the social sphere. The repeated discrimination against women continued to stay in the headlines, even when it was for perverse reasons like the Nagpur incident. The attempted saffronisation of education, notably the IIM fee fiasco and introduction of astrology as physical science were despairing battles.
The doping scandal at the Olympics involving weightlifters, the BCCI elections and its sordid aftermath, sports had its share of power trying to overshadow morality.
The financial bunglings of banks, notably the Global Trust Bank, the poor infrastructure, lack of adequate water and electricity supply, the lowering of public ethical and moral standards - all contributed to the feeling of helplessness and shame for the concerned Indian.