flashback 2011

India successfully test fired the most advanced surface- to- surface Agni-4 missile from the Wheekler Island off Odisha Coast in November
India successfully test fired the most advanced surface- to- surface Agni-4 missile from the Wheekler Island off Odisha Coast in November

DEFINING images of the year that has just slipped away were full of force, exuberance and even fury. Be it the euphoric crowds surging to celebrate India's World Cup victory by holding aloft the Tricolour and gyrating wildly or fans of Lady Gaga, Paris Hilton and Tom Cruise cheering. In a first, the Army pitched the Indian flag at the South pole. The world's 7 billionth baby may not have been a cause to celebrate the burgeoning population but the proud parents of Nargis, in Malihabad felt they were indeed special to have brought the baby into the world.

There was a vacuum in the sphere of the arts and culture as the year also saw the passing away of many national icons. Be it artist MF Husain, who died pining for the homeland in London, music maestros Bhimsen Joshi and Bhupen Hazarika, actors Shammi Kapoor and Dev Anand, ghazal singer Jagjit Singh and cricketing legend Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi. It was a triumph for DRDO scientists as India successfully test fired Agni- 4 and Prithvi II, advanced surface-to-surface missiles

While people of Sikkim faced the wrath of a tremblor, hapless people in Japan also faced nature's rage in full form as the country reeled under both an earthquake as well as a tsunami. The world leaders tried to cobble together a compromise on the tricky terrain of climate change, even as the year wound up, leaving us with bitter-sweet memories.

SHIP-WRECKED: Japan faced the wrath of tsunami after the devastating earthquake in March. The coastal areas suffered extensive damage, with not only people but ships also being buffeted about by nature’s fury. The picture shows a catamaran sightseeing boat thrown atop a double-storey building in Otsuchi town
SHIP-WRECKED: Japan faced the wrath of tsunami after the devastating earthquake in March. The coastal areas suffered extensive damage, with not only people but ships also being buffeted about by nature’s fury. The picture shows a catamaran sightseeing boat thrown atop a double-storey building in Otsuchi town Photos: AFP/UNI
 Eco-warrior: The focus on climate change and global warming continued. An activist of British charity Oxfam, in Durban, pretends to eat a piece of coal as a protest aimed at 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) as she sits between bags reading ‘Let Them Eat Carbon,
Eco-warrior: The focus on climate change and global warming continued. An activist of British charity Oxfam, in Durban, pretends to eat a piece of coal as a protest aimed at 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) as she sits between bags reading ‘Let Them Eat Carbon,
Baby Boom: The world's symbolic 7 billionth baby " Nargis" with parents Vineeta and Ajai Kumar at the Mall Health Centre in Malihabad town, near Lucknow
Baby Boom: The world's symbolic 7 billionth baby " Nargis" with parents Vineeta and Ajai Kumar at the Mall Health Centre in Malihabad town, near Lucknow		 World at our feet: Euphoric cricket fans celebrate India's victory over Sri Lanka in ICC World Cup Cricket 2011 final match in Lucknow
World at our feet: Euphoric cricket fans celebrate India's victory over Sri Lanka in ICC World Cup Cricket 2011 final match in Lucknow

TRANSITIONS
Maqbool Fida Husain, also known as MF, is regarded as the ‘Picasso of India’ Bharat Ratna Pandit Bhimsen Joshi was a vocalist in the Hindustani classical tradition Padma Shri Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, nicknamed Tiger, was regarded as one of India's greatest captains Lyricist, musician, singer, poet and filmmaker from Assam, Bhupen Hazarika was known as the ‘Bard of Brahmaputra’
Maqbool Fida Husain, also known as MF, is regarded as the ‘Picasso of India’ Bharat Ratna Pandit Bhimsen Joshi was a vocalist in the Hindustani classical tradition Padma Shri Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, nicknamed Tiger, was regarded as one of India's greatest captains Lyricist, musician, singer, poet and filmmaker from Assam, Bhupen Hazarika was known as the ‘Bard of Brahmaputra’
Shammi Kapoor’s famous 'Yahoo' signified the arrival of a rebel star Known as ‘The Ghazal King’, Jagjit Singh was a prominent ghazal singer, music director, and composer Padma Bhushan Dev Anand, the ‘evergreen hero’ remained true to his youthful image till the end Sathya Sai Baba was a spiritual figure, who was considered to be the reincarnation of Sai Baba of Shirdi
Shammi Kapoor’s famous 'Yahoo' signified the arrival of a rebel star Known as ‘The Ghazal King’, Jagjit Singh was a prominent ghazal singer, music director, and composer Padma Bhushan Dev Anand, the ‘evergreen hero’ remained true to his youthful image till the end Sathya Sai Baba was a spiritual figure, who was considered to be the reincarnation of Sai Baba of Shirdi





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