NOVEL NEXT Chapter 1080: Year end Summit 1689
{Time flies}
15th April 1689
Bharatiya Maha Sabha, Imperial Capital Bengaluru, Akhand Bharatiya Empire
Finally, it was that time of the year, the time for the year-end summit to be held. This was a special year for the ministers, as the five-year plan of various states and the one the emperor set for the empire was coming to an end, and they, having created impressive records, were looking forward to showcasing their achievements in the summit so that they could cement the chances of re-election next year.
In front of the Maha Sabha, cars ranging from the national favourite Aakarsh A7 to the sought-after H & B Veer or the Surya S12 stood in line, and there was no carriage in sight.
The time of the summit was spring, and given that the city is filled with gardens and is surrounded by a large flower farm on all four sides, the pleasant odour of the flora spread throughout the capital, making the people at the sabha extra enthusiastic.
The reporters standing right at the entrance of the Maha Sabha eagerly swarmed around each and every minister that entered the parliament, with the hope of getting an exclusive story for the newspaper.
As soon as the minister of a constituency was done, the car drove away, making way for the next car to come.
Within the Sabha, the ministers of parliament from various constituencies slowly came and sat down, while the cabinet ministers had the aides under them organise all the information and make sure that everything was in place for one last time.
"Everyone pay your respects to His Imperial Majesty, Rajya Pathi Vijay Devaraya the Victorious, Emperor of the Bharatiya Empire, Protector of Dharma, Unifier of the Subcontinent, Lord of the Five Rivers, and Conqueror of the Turks!"
The captain of the Royal Guard came into the Sabha and proclaimed.
Soon, everyone was on their feet, and the sound of gossip completely disappeared.
Vijay, wearing a yellow sherwani embroidered with red ruby and silver threading, entered the Sabha, and simultaneously the chant of "Long live Your Majesty" began to ring out. He waved his hand, did a Namaskara, and went to his personal balcony within the Sabha.
Finally, with the signal of Guru Ram Shetty, the Speaker of the Parliament, the year-end summit set off.
Narasimha Modi, now a seasoned leader after completing a full term in power, carried himself with calm authority. No longer feeling overshadowed by the older cabinet ministers, he walked confidently to the front of the Sabha, stopped before the Speaker, and addressed the assembly in a loud, clear voice.
"The last four years have been a turning point in the empire's history. With the inclusion of Tibet, our directly administered territory has expanded to 6.3 million square kilometres, and with the growing prosperity of our people, the population has reached 320 million."
He paused, letting the murmurs of approval settle before continuing.
" Our empire is a diverse nation, yet at its core is Sanathana Dharma, binding all the diverse cultures together. More than 98% of our citizens follow some Dharmic philosophy, be it Shaivism, Vaishnavism, Shaktism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism, or Bharatiya Islam. The remaining 2% comprises our minority communities, Jews, Parsis, Assyrians, Christians, Yezidis, and others, all of whom contribute to the soul of this empire."
He glanced around the hall, his tone growing more animated as he moved to the subject closest to his heart.
" The financial well-being of our citizens has improved remarkably. A decade ago, 55% of our population belonged to the aspirational class, people who could only barely make ends meet with manual labour. But today, I am proud to inform this Sabha that this number has dropped to just 28%. That means we have lifted over forty-five million one hundred and fifty thousand people into the middle class, which now forms the largest demographic of the empire, 61.8% of our total population."
He smiled, his voice tinged with pride.
"Those rising into the high class have also grown by 3%, while the elite class remains at 1.2%, as the standards for that group naturally evolve with time. These numbers aren't just statistics; they are the story of a people who are rising, working, and thriving together."
Narasimha Modi took a sip of water before continuing, his tone shifting toward a more formal and measured one as he began to speak about national defence.
"Coming over to the military, due to the increase in our landmass, new regiments such as the Tibet Regiment and the Himagiri Regiment have been added. The number of soldiers in the standing army has risen from 1.2 million to 2.5 million, with most active-duty personnel stationed across overseas territories, vassal kingdoms, and various military bases around the globe. The navy remains as formidable as ever, and all three fleets have now completed modernisation of their weapon systems."
He paused, then gave a nod toward the Minister of Justice, signalling him to take the floor.
"Coming to the judiciary, we've continued our efforts to make justice accessible in every corner of the empire, even in Tibet. The number of courts, whether civil, criminal, circuit, intellectual property, or land dispute, has now reached 35,000. These are staffed by over 38,000 judges and supported by 4,260 law firms employing more than 203,000 lawyers."
Once Bhuvan finished, Raghavendra Bhatt adjusted his glasses and rose to speak.
"Speaking of education, the number of students aspiring for university continues to grow and has now reached 4.7 million per year, with our institutions producing over 1.5 million graduates annually. We have a deeply developed education system, over 10,800 colleges, 16,000 technical institutes, and 94,000 schools, collectively educating more than 62 million students across the empire."
A round of light applause followed before Shivraj Singh Chouhan stood up, a confident smile on his face as he addressed the Sabha.
" As for agriculture, bolstered by continued industrial farming development, the empire's grain output remains high. Annual production has reached 170 million tonnes, with yields between 700 and 900 kilograms per hectare. Our logistics network has also grown stronger, now supported by more than 21,000 warehouses to store and distribute grain efficiently."
When he finished, Arjun, the Minister of Internal Security, took over with a serious expression.
"A lot of focus has been placed on maintaining the internal security of the empire. The police force has expanded significantly, now numbering 2.5 million officers stationed in 72,000 police stations, each fully equipped with rifles, riot gear, ammunition, first aid supplies, and undergoing regular training and drills. The Coast Guard also remains fully operational, capable of intercepting smuggling operations and deterring threats in high-risk waters, with a combined naval capacity of 250,000 tonnes."
It was time for a break, and all the ministers left for lunch. An hour later, they returned, the chamber gradually settling back into order. The Speaker motioned for the session to resume, and Prime Minister Narasimha Modi briefly recapped the previous reports before gesturing toward the Minister of Trade, Rajesh, to continue.
"As for trade, it remains the largest contributor to our economy, accounting for over 40% of the empire's GDP. In the last financial year alone, the total value of trade reached 324.86 tonnes of gold, which amounts to approximately thirty billion one million seven hundred thousand Varaha."
When Rajesh sat down, Jitendra Sehwag, the Minister of Industry, rose with a composed smile.
"Our industries continue to grow at a remarkable pace, with more than 140,000 registered companies, including 38,000 in the manufacturing sector. The production of raw materials has also increased significantly, over seven million tonnes of iron, 1.6 million tonnes of steel, 180 million tonnes of cement, and 50 million tonnes of coal have been produced this year alone."
As he concluded, Kumar, the Minister of Communication, took over with enthusiasm.
"Communication networks have seen rapid expansion. The number of post offices has now surpassed 60,000, delivering over 22 million letters with a total weight exceeding 102 tonnes, generating a revenue of 62 million Varaha. Meanwhile, the Arkha Dristhi Station network has grown to 25,000 towers and 8,000 stations, spanning 75,000 kilometres and generating 250 million Varaha in revenue."
Next, Lokesh, the Minister of Health, stood up to deliver his report in a calm yet confident tone.
"Health indicators show significant improvement. The mortality rate has dropped by 20%, and the average lifespan of a Bharatiya citizen has increased to 52 years. Continued investment in healthcare has paid off, with the empire now hosting 12,000 hospitals and employing over 120,000 medical professionals."
Once he finished, Nirmal, the Minister of Transportation, rose and began his report with a proud smile.
"The Department of Transportation continues to make major strides. The total road network has expanded to 80,000 kilometres, including 20,000 kilometres of national highways. Our port infrastructure has also grown, now including over 3,900 ports, 28 major, 420 medium, and the rest inland.
People are rapidly embracing new modes of transport, with millions of bicycles, tricycles, and carriages sold. Railway travel has become the backbone of connectivity, and this year alone, railway cargo crossed 120 million tonnes, saving the empire billions of Varaha and contributing several percentage points to GDP. Additionally, more than 22,000 cars were sold across the empire, showing a clear rise in urban mobility."
As the chamber applauded the impressive figures, Jagannath Mohan, the Minister of Finance, stood up, his tone steady and authoritative.
"Finally, turning to the finances of the empire, we have witnessed excellent growth across all sectors. The value of the Varaha remains stable at 314 for 3.4 grams of gold. The GDP has grown by an impressive 22%, bringing the empire's gross domestic product to 80.52 billion. Every measure points to one truth: the Bharatiya Empire stands stronger, wealthier, and more resilient than ever before."