The year had started with expectations but ended with a whimper. The sensex had promised to scale new heights but tumbled down to deep lows. The promise of corruption fading from society receded as our ministers took to mock fights in parliament.
The last year saw the departure of several celebrities. Many, who died in their late 70s or above, went gracefully, leaving pleasant memories and contributions behind. Dev Anand, MF Hussain, Mario Miranda, Bhimsen Joshi, Shammi Kapoor and Elizabeth Taylor belong to this category.
Non-communicable diseases of the heart, brain and kidneys dominated the scene in South Asia. The nawab of Patuadi died due to lung fibrosis. Bhupen Hazarika’s death, though at a ripe 85, was preceded by a prologed kidney ailment. Jagjit Singh’s end was as sad as his songs; a stroke (bleeding in the brain) to high uncontrolled blood pressure pushed him into coma for a few days from which he did not return. His son’s death few years ago from a car accident caused by alcohol, must have contributed to this sensitive singer’s gloom and BP.
Natural disasters caused by global warming continued to play havoc across the globe. Thousands died in Phillipines from floods, inTurkey from earthquake and in Japan from Tsunami. Further many are probably doomed by exposure to radiation from the Fukushima nuclear reactor that leaked after the tall waves struck it.
Cancer grabbed the limelight in the Americas. While an Indian born American doctor’s book “The Emperor of all Maladies” won the Pulitzer, heads of four Latin American countries got diagnosed with cancer, prompting the Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez to suspect an American hand in causing them.
Violence featured as a major killer in the middle east, Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Two prominent leaders, Muammar Ghadafi and Osama Bin Laden exemplified the adage “those who live by the sword, die by the sword”.
Apple’s Steve Job’s death drew the world’s attention to a rather rare form of pancreatic cancer called NET (neuro-endocrine tumor) that hehad battled for several years, including a liver transplantation.
Few young deaths shook us. The famous singer, Amy Winehouse’s death from drug overdose reminds us of the growing levels of frustration and directionless lives of our youngsters, and the growing epidemic of drug culture. And Ayan’s (Md Ajzharuddin’s son) death from a motorbike crash confirmed WHO predictions that traffic accidents will become a major killer in the coming years.
A tense story with a lesson was that of Shashi, a young nurse in our endoscopy department who was knocked down from her 2-wheeler when she was on her way home from hospital on 19th September. The impact broke the helmet she was wearing, but she escaped a major head injury and death, and is back with a smile at her work place.
I hope 2012 brings good health to all of you.
As published in HT City (Hindustan Times) dated 1 January, 2012.
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