By: Vividhaditya

The year 2007, has been an eventful year for Himachal. It couldn’t have closed on a better note, with the BJP coming back to power, on the expected note. In the history of Himachal politics, no party has ever come to power in successive terms. As now, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal is back at the helm of affairs, we expect a lot more roads. He was popularly known as the “Sadakon wala mukhya mantri“. Roads are the veins of any state or country and let’s expect some more roads and metalling of roads. Also, high on the agenda should be water. Not only are the residents complaining about the shortage of water in important towns of Himachal, even the tourists are now shying away from Himachal during summers, and complaining how they had to depend on Bisleri. But they can’t have a bath with Bisleri.

At the same time, it’s time to mourn the death of environmentalist Kinkari Devi, who fought all her life for the environment and mining mafia. The leaders are all preparing obituaries for her but through out her life, she lived as a pauper. The government was least concerned. Let’s hope that more Kinkari Devis are born and they take the battle ahead.

HimVani, here culls, the ‘Top 40′ articles of the year. If you missed anything, it’s a chance to get a glance at it. The list shows, obviously, religion and politics are all time favourites. But interest in culture too has brought people to the website.

Also remember that the USP of HimVani has not been ‘NEWS’. Instead, it’s a think-tank and a heavily opinionated website. By opinionated, I mean, delivering ideas to the government and being a stake-holder in the development of the state. We’ve left the job of News to other media mediums, which are aplenty. But if we deem it important, we don’t shirk from carrying it. But we like to rip the News apart and make a difference. That’s what HimVani is all about.

At the same time, let me take this opportunity to thank all our Citizen Journalists. I won’t go into names, which I’ve reserved for HimVani’s second anniversary, which is not far away. Also, wishing you all a Very Happy New Year ahead.

Top 40 stories of 2007 (In order of popularity):