Ringing in the new year 2012 - Timeline 2011

Once again, its that time of the year, when you are in the holiday mood, party hard, have fun with friends and at some point, sit back and reminiscence about the 365 (or 366) days of your life and the world. I love watching the news channels (ofcourse now through the online streaming) and recapitulating the best and worst of the year (2011). 

My year has been full of highs, professionally and personally. Just one deep trough, the weight loss plan which never seems to work. I can do nothing more, just thank god for the blessings bestowed on me and my family. 

A timeline with events impacting my thoughts: 

January 24 – Bharat Ratna Bhimsen Joshi dies: A legendary singer of Hindustani classical music, Pandit Joshi died in Pune, aged 89.

 March 30 - India and Pakistan PMs watched cricket: PM Manmohan Singh and his counterpart in Pakistan, Yousuf Raza Gilani watched the Indo-Pak World Cup semi-final and hold bilateral talks. India won the match!! 

 April 2 – India wins the 2011 Cricket World Cup: On April 2nd, India won the 2011 Cricket World Cup, defeating Sri Lanka by 6 wickets in the final, played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai in presence of 33,000 spectators. India got world cup after 27 years. India lived Sachin's dream come true!! 

April 4 - Anna Hazare initiated anti-corruption movement from Jantar Mantar in Delhi. It gripped the whole nation during the 12-day hunger strike. The movement has been named among the top 10 news stories in the world for the year 2011 by Time magazine.

June 9 - M. F. Hussain, one of India's best-known artists, died in Royal Brompton Hospital in London, of a heart attack at the age of 95 in exile from his homeland in India.

July 27 - Harish Hande and Nileema Mishra win Magsaysay Award: Two Indians Harish Hande and Neelima Mishra made the country proud by winning the prestigious Magsaysay Award. The award is considered as Asia's Nobel Prize.

October 10 - Renowned ghazal singer Jagjit Singh died at the Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai after he suffered a brain hemorrhage at the age of 70. Golden voice, Jagjit Singh made his mark with hits like Hontho se chhoo lo tum, Tum ko dekha toh ye khayal aaya. 

http://www.ndtv.com/video/player/news/top-3-jagjit-singh-ghazals-picked-by-ndtv-com-surfers/213215

October 26 - Sushil Kumar, a computer operator and tutor who earns Rs.6,000 per month, went on to win the top jackpot prize of Rs 5 crore rupees in ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’ hosted by Amitabh Bachchan.

October 30 – For the first time Indian Grand Prix, the 17th race of the 2011 Formula One season took place at the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. Germany’s Sebastian Vettel from Red Bull won the race.

November 5 - Bhupen Hazarika died: Padmashree Bhupen Hazarika, who was on the ventilator for four months passed away at 4.37 p.m.at Kokilaben Hospital in Mumbai. Lyricist, musician, singer, poet and film-maker from Assam Bhupen ji  is acknowledged widely in the Hindi film industry for introducing Hindi film to the sounds and folk music of Assam and Northeast India.

 November 9 - Har Gobind Khurana, the first India-born person to win the Nobel Prize after Independence, died of natural causes in Concord, Massachusetts, on 9th November morning. He was 89 and is survived by his daughter Julia and son Dave.

December 4 – Padma Bhusan Dev Anand Died: Dev Anand died at The Washington Mayfair Hotel in London at the age of 88 on 3 December 2011 (4 December 2011 by IST) of a cardiac arrest. Indian film actor, writer, director and producer Dev have acted in 140 films and is a national award winner. He was considered as the top romantic hero of his time. He was my first crush as any Bollywood Hero. 

Apart from these, the year gone by has been very eventful, happy and unhappy moments have adorned India and our lives. I pray the balance tilts towards joyous moments in 2012, and all my family (special mention to Mansi and Karan as they begin their new chapter in life, to Adhishree who will begin her professional life this year, to Arnav who is going to give the final round of Olympiad this year) and friends enjoy the best days in their lives in 2012!! 

All the best wishes and Welcome 2012!!