India enters 2026 with cautious optimism, reflecting on a tumultuous 2025 marked by significant national achievements like Operation Sindoor, the Ayodhya Ram Mandir ceremony, and international sports victories. However, the year concluded with disturbing incidents of hate crimes and racism against migrant workers and students from different regions, highlighting deep-rooted prejudice and political apathy. These xenophobic acts, including verbal abuse and violence, are presented not as isolated events but as concerning patterns of 'othering' that remain unaddressed by authorities.