Mangalore, Dec 31: Another year is on the threshold of bidding us farewell. It is that time of the year when we set out to look back at the year in retrospection, make new resolutions (that usually do not last the first week) and list out the highs and lows of the year.
For the world, the year 2006 may have been like any other year we have seen in the past, but for Mangalore, it was a year of changes - a year that was nothing short of a thrilling roller-coaster ride. Mangalore city evolved like never before, and we were suddenly caught in the web of development with the spider (read globalisation) staring at us in the face. On the other hand, we also experienced events that were totally in contradiction to the ultra-modern dream of a rapidly growing city.
The beginning of the year kick started evolution that continued till the close of the year. The first of these changes was brought upon by us with the advent of Adlabs Cineplex at KSRTC bus stop Bijai. All of a sudden the experience of watching a movie reached an unprecedented zenith – it was a complete entertainment package topped with fancy offers from time to time that lured kids and adults alike. Being seen at Adlabs became a status symbol in no time; and we had crowds of people from all over the district rushing in even before the movies released – to watch the paid previews before the rest of the world could catch a glimpse.
Hand in hand with Adlabs Cineplex came the big malls – Bharath Mall and Empire Mall being the forerunners. The mall culture caught the imagination of Mangaloreans and evening after evening saw hundreds of people gathered in these either to chill out or do some serious shopping. These malls became the new hang out for the youth. For long, Saibeen Complex was the ultimate shopping experience for the ordinary Mangalorean, but the entry of these malls gave us something that we had only seen in the metros. While it did a great deal of good to the urban class, it was jolt for other ordinary shops, whose business suffered from lack of customers. Though a handful of faithful remained, a majority flocked to the malls to enjoy a much more enriching shopping experience.
The entry of malls brought in something else – direct access to multi-national brands. Big Bazaar, Pizza Hut, Planet M, Pantaloons, Reebok and the rest of the MNC wagon made its way to the streets of the city, and successfully so. The opening of the first of these brands, Big Bazaar, was just the beginning of this craze – packed to full it was more crowded than a weekend evening at Karavali Utsav. No more did we have to make do with duplicate products or rush to Bangalore to buy an original pair of shoes.
Nature too had its part to play in making this year unique. The monsoons were unusually long, lasting till even November. Not only were they long, but dangerously so. The destruction caused was enormous, lives were lost and property worth lacs had to face the brunt of the weather. The question on everybody’s mind was whether global warming was making its presence felt in Mangalore too. Cyclones accompanied the rain in many places, and life of one and all was disrupted in more ways than one.
The year 2006 goes into the pages of history of Mangalore when the first international flight touched the Mangalore soil. The first direct flight from Dubai to Mangalore was a momentous occasion for both the NRIs and the Mangaloreans. This development took has placed Mangalore more prominent in the world map.
While the city was moving forward fast and furiously, some sections of the community still harboured age-old communal feelings. The violence that broke out in the district was not only a step in the backward direction, but also a warning bell for industries and companies who had invested in the region.
The riots were a blot on the image of the city; more so as it was just a day before that we proudly announced the landing of the first direct international flight. If ever we look back at the year 2006, the riots will be definitely our first thought. Did we learn our lessons? It seemed so when the Mulky violence subsided without much ado, but only time will reveal the sustainability of the lessons.
On the political front, Congress maintained its upper hand in the city governance, but failed to do the same in the Zilla Panchayat. After much stipulation, Vijaya Arun was elected the Mayor of Mangalore City Corporation, the year end saw the dethroning of congress member and ZP president Mamata Gatti.
The region also became the spiritual destination of the who’s who of the country with the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Vivek Oberoi visiting our famed temples to seek blessings. Celebrities have always been known to seek divine help when going got tough, and this time it was our temples that beckoned them.
Not only that, KK too enthralled Mangaloreans who literally danced to his tunes at a concert held in the city. The people of the district had a rare opportunity to watch their favourite celebrity live in action, a memory we would surely cherish.
The ICYM organized the Lorna Show in Mangalore on November 26 on St Aloysius College Centenary grounds. The second performance in the city by the Goan singer brought huge crowds to the event.
There were a host of other happenings, in areas of education, health, violence, protests and achievements. While we had severe cases of malaria and onslaught of dengue and chikungunya too, we also achieved the lowest rate of HIV in the state. As far as violence was concerned, the murders of Hai Maruta editor Hitendra Prasad and BJP leader Sukhanand Shetty grabbed headlines. While we condemned the police for their inefficiency, we lauded the innovative SP’s blog which gained a lot of attention from all quarters but was especially helpful to the media.
But what all these events brought was a sort of segregation in the society. Economic segregation resulting from the entry of malls and brands deepened the divided between the haves and have-nots. While the city went on a shopping spree and high-rises spread like wild fire, those who did not have the means to access them went further in to the oblivion. The small time entrepreneurs suffered and were left behind in the race, while the urban class surged ahead with vigour.
Then there was the social segregation – again brought about by development on one side and anti-development campaigns on the other. Though it was not a new trend, it gained momentum during the course of the year. While the city developed rapidly, not far from here was the cacophony over the Nagarjuna power project. The protests don’t seem to be ending soon; nevertheless it was an instance of the social divide – of people who want development, and those who are fearful of it.
The other change was the communal segregation. The riots in the district were a result of the underlying currents that were flowing for sometime between the communal outfits. The outcome of this violence was that every little event was made a mountain of and every happening was painted with the brush of communal hatred. Fear ruled the roost, and for many, life took a complete U-turn perhaps never to revert. The district may have suffered for only a week, but the repercussions will be felt from time to time.
The events of the year were therefore a juxtaposition of sorts. While we touched the sky with the international flight and high-rise buildings, and had the world at our doorsteps with the entry of multi-national brands, we also had a bagful of ancient feelings of communal hatred and plenty of anti-development agendas. A thrilling journey through the ups and downs of the year, Mangaloreans experienced a ride we won’t forget in a hurry!
Wish You a Great Year Ahead!