2012: Fewer legends, more sensations

New Delhi: It gave birth to quite a few new talents like South Korean singing sensation PSY, but the year gone by also saw the world losing its many legends, ranging from the first space explorers to celebrated authors to sundry music icons to cinema idols.

As the world was drawing to a close, the world of music from India to America braved the most colossal loss in the demise of sitar maestro Ravi Shankar. As the news of his death was announced, a pall of gloom descended over humanity as tributes came pouring in from both sides of the Atlantic for the `godfather of world music`. Both Indian and American cinema lost their much-loved icons too as 2012 continued its sweep across the face of time. While Bollywood`s `first superstar` in Rajesh Khanna was no more, the soft-hearted and lively giant Dara Singh also lost his duel against death. But, his bout was long and eventful. And, while Hollywood lost its queen of romantic comedies in director Nora Ephron, iconoclast filmmaker Tony Scott claimed his own life leaving his fans and admirers shattered. For the world of photography, the year began on a note of loss as Homai Vyarawalla, India`s first woman photojournalist, died in mid-January leaving a rich documented legacy for the country to see and reflect upon. As the year progressed, the field of photography continued to be impoverished as noted Indian fashion photographer Prabuddha Dasgupta passed away. The world of western music suffered huge losses too. While R&B singers Whitney Houston and Donna Summer`s death left America bereaved and deprived, jazz pianist and composer Dave Brubeck`s death, aged 91, came as a rude shock as losses kept piling on. But, music legacy wasn`t the only loss in 2012 as mankind lost its first man on the moon and America lost its first woman in space. Pioneering astronaut Neil Armstrong, the first person to have walked on the moon, died in August. But, it wasn`t USA`s only loss as Sally Ride, the first American woman to be in space left for her heavenly abode a few months before him. The world of music continued to lose its richness as Robin Gibb of `The Bee Gees` fame battled for life, survived and then lost. Oscar-winning celebrated composer Marvin Hamlisch soon also died during the year gone by. Sporting world was deprived of a great legend and an iconic commentator later in the year as former England cricket captain Tony Greig played his last innings on earth leaving cricketers and fellow commentators at a loss for words. Not just art, cinema or music lost it rare gems but literature too braved a tough year as its icons kept disappearing. Legendary authors Ray Bradbury and Gore Vidal wrote their last words as the world wrote their tearful obituaries. PTI