IT'S that time again: time to reflect on the year that has gone by. To hold on to the good things that life offered, to fondly remember the people we lost and take stock of missed opportunities.
In many ways 2011 represents a milestone in our lives. Across the globe ordinary people challenged the status quo, rallied against crony capitalism and rejected corrupt political regimes. The
nature of the protest movements in the Middle-East, Europe and the United States differed, but there was a common thread of belief that the current economic system favoured the elite at the exclusion of the masses.
The Arab Spring gave rise to renewed hope for the common citizens of the region. Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Yemen have already dethroned their despotic rulers while the Syrian regime is on the brink of collapse. True, uncertainties still cloud the future of these nations but we can rejoice in the fact that they succeeded in asserting the will of the people against dysfunctional and oppressive dictators. The mass movements in the Arab World have also demonstrated how social media can connect individuals to bring about collective change.
In the United States, the Occupy Wall Street movement, initiated in September 2011, opened up a whole new front for combating economic inequities and corporate greed through peaceful protests. The protesters have been criticised for their lack of a consistent message, but thanks to the movement, the idea of reducing the income gap between the "wealthiest 1%" and the "other 99%" is now kosher. The world has come to terms with the fact that economic parity and social justice are necessary ingredients for a balanced society.
2011 will also be remembered for the withdrawal of US combat troops from Iraq, after eight years of post-invasion occupation. Iraq may now face political uncertainties, the Shia-Sunni divide may escalate, and day-to-day violence may increase. Nevertheless, Iraqis can proclaim that they are no longer an "occupied" nation!
On a lighter vein: some good news for women. The Hindi movie "The Dirty Picture”, released in December 2011, busted the myth that only "Size Zero is beautiful!" Actress Vidya Balan flaunted her 12 kgs excess weight with unabashed oomph, winning wolf whistles as well as critical acclaim. So, ladies, if "losing 10 kgs" was on top of your fist of resolutions for 2012, just delete it. I have!
Does this mean that 2011 marked the fulfillment of a wish list of all our "favourite things?" Of course not. Life remains a mixed bag and there have been "bee stings" and "dog bites," too.
We lost three movie icons: Elizabeth Taylor, Shammi Kapoor and Dev Anand. As "Cleopatra "Liz, "Junglee" Shammi, and "Guide" Dev, bid their real-life good-byes, people of my generation were left feeling vulnerable. After all, we were conned into believing that these screen personalities of our youth were immortal and invincible! The death of cricketer Mansoor Ali Khan (the Nawab of Pataudi) was another unexpected blow. He launched sub-continental cricket on the world stage with style and chutzpah. Call me soft-hearted, but I spent many hours of my teen years romanticising about the fairy tale wedding of the Nawab and the talented Bengali actress Sharmila Tagore: a union which triumphed over caste, religion and language. The demise of these legends herald the end of an era when celebrities dwelled in a fantasy world, shrouded by mystery and romance!
2011 shook the music world with the passing away of Maestro Bhimsen Joshi, who dominated the classical music scene of the sub-continent for seven decades. Sadly, Jagjit Singh and Bhupen Hazarika also sang their swan songs last year. Jagjit's melodious rendition of ghazals mesmerised audiences and rekindled interest in the genre among the younger population. In contrast, Bhupen will be remembered for his revolutionary patriotic and people-centric songs. Tagore singer Ritu Guha left us on Christmas Day. Her inimitable singing style, especially for classical-based Tagore songs, will haunt Tagore buffs for many years to come.
In October, 2011, the world of technology lost one of the greatest innovators of our times: Steve Jobs. Although we miss him, his sphere of influence continues to touch our daily lives — whether we send text messages or emails or listen to our favorite music on the i-phone/i-pad.
Closer to home, Tareque Masud, the path breaking film maker and friend passed away in a freak road accident. I remember, more than twenty years ago, a young and enthusiastic Tareque walked into our Princeton home with his talented wife Catherine. He talked about his dream of making a film on the Muktijuddho. In some ways "Muktir Gaan” was born that day while we sat around the kitchen table sharing ideas over a simple meal. I never thought that I would be reminiscing about Tareque without him being around. If nature had adhered to its laws, Tareque would, perhaps, have produced yet another epochal piece for his motherland. But, such is life!
As I stand on the threshold of 2012 with mixed emotions of hope and despair, love and antipathy, I am amazed that, despite the "noisy confusion" of our existence, how good it feels to be alive. Yes, "with all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams it's still a beautiful life." Let's live it to the full and, on our own terms!
Happy New Year!
The writer is a renowned Rabindra Sangeet exponent and a former employee of the World Bank.