Now that we have ushered in the New Year, we have high hopes and expectations, wishing there will never be another 2G scam and that the politicians of free India stay out of jail. We hope for the rise of a leader we can all look up to, setting an example of nobility and virtue for Generation Next. We wish there will never be another terrorist attack and that warring nations will stop fighting.

It is too much to ask for but India has had its share of downfalls, with the fluctuating economy and the value of the rupee decreasing. There seems to be lot of ambiguity regarding job opportunities, education, and the standard of living but despite that, the year saw us celebrating the birth of the country’s billionth child. Hope never seems to die as people aimlessly wade through this ocean called life. We hope someday India will emerge a super power.

Ironically, it was agitations that ruled the world. Anna emerged as a beacon for a country grappling with corruption. The Arab worlds experienced unrest as many took to the streets, challenging a tyrannical regime. Dictators were brought down. Gaddafi’s regime crumbled like a pack of cards. Even his famous entourage of female bodyguards could not protect him as he was hunted and shot dead. 2011 also signified the fall of the world’s most wanted terrorist, Osama Bin Laden.

It was a testing time for the common man as food prices soared, petrol prices attained staggering heights, making it difficult to make ends meet. Yet we saw new shopping complexes mushroom in every part of the city; a startling contrast. Sadly, the year also saw the demise of many luminaries from various fields.

Natural calamities shook Japan, China, Australia and Indonesia. A grim reminder that we need to keep tab on the changes in the environment that affects global warming. Its God’s way of telling us we are not giving back to nature, what we took from it. There are no open spaces left in metros for children to breathe and play. Skyscrapers battle for space. Trees have become conspicuous by their absence. The city screams for green space.

Scientists made a startling discovery of two planets similar to Earth. Technology took a leap as new gadgets entered the market but we lost the ‘apple of all inventions’ – Steve Jobs, to pancreatic cancer.

It was a happening year for the film industry as well, with Shahrukh once again proving his mettle in a sci-fi movie while Salman Khan regaled his viewers by sticking to his action-comedy formula. Aamir Khan announced a new addition to his family through surrogacy to the country, once again standing apart and proving time and again that he is here to leave a mark. The coy Vidya Balan sprung a surprise with her bold avatar while Nargis Fakhri fizzled out at the box-office. A new musical sensation took the country by storm in the form of ‘Kolaveri Di’.  And Rajnikant bounced back from his illness as thousands of devotees prayed for the ailing star.

A year of ups and downs just like the ever emerging potholes on roads prompts us to wonder if there is a pothole in the road or the road is the pothole. In 2012, Mumbai will hopefully get a face lift with the metro taking off, lightening some of the burden on the railways, providing relief to office-goers.

Biking, a growing fad took many young lives, leaving grieving parents behind. A lesson is to be learnt, never mix adventure with an adrenaline rush. Respect life.

Senior citizens will finally feel safe, police will play their part and traffic woes will be under control, auto-drivers won’t tamper with their meters and stop refusing a fare; giving or taking a bribe will be passé; the government will finally awaken from its slumber, there will no longer be a flood-like situation during the monsoons, the rupee will gain in value and the economy will once again experience growth.

Though the wish list is astronomical, there is no end to hope. And as you enter the New Year, please spare a moment to reflect on the year that was, make a resolution to right the wrong and safely step in to a new year full of opportunities with a positive outlook.

Here’s wishing you a Happy New Year.