VILASRAO DESHMUKH'S DEATHVilasrao Deshmukh, union minister and former home minister died at the age of 67 years. He offered his resignation, which was accepted by his party, following the controversy of him having taken his son Riteish Deshmukh and Ram Gopal Verma to the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai after its 2008 terrorist attack. He founded the Manjra Charitable Trust which runs a number of colleges in Latur & Mumbai.
HURRICANE SANDYHurricane Sandy devastated portions of the Caribbean and Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States in October 2012. Many died, many were left homeless, homes were flooded and burnt, many were getting by without electricity- Hurricane Sandy caused major damage. Consequently, musicians closely associated with New Jersey and New York held a concert on 12-12-12 to raise funds for Hurricane Sandy survivors, selecting songs that created a narrative of perseverance, rebirth and hope.
ANNA HAZAREAnna Hazare, who earned respect for his contribution in building Ralegan Siddhi, a village and Maharashtra, has had his share of presence amongst people in conversations over meals, during walks and has been an incredibly talked about figure this year. He dominated every national news channel and indirectly encouraged Poonam Pandey to adopt rather extreme steps for publicity. His Lokpal Bill created a major buzz in the country that could easily be seen as having instigated a revolution.
ASEEM TRIVEDIAseem Trivedi, a cartoonist who rose to fame owing to his controversial cartoons. He asserted Hazare's anti-corruption ideology in his cartoons that led him straight to jail. However, it wasn't all for nothing, he bagged himself a spot in the reality show Bigg Boss 6.
ABHISHEK MANU SINGHVIAbhishek Manu Singhvi, Congress and Rajya Sabha MP was in news as much as his party for all the wrong reasons. #AbhishekManuSinghvi was the top trending topic at the time when the 'CD' with rather explicit (read dirty) content about him took the social media by storm. The buzz was whether the Congress spokesperson had consensual sex with the lady lawyer or did he have sex in return of any 'favour'. Needless to say he went on to claim that the CD had morphed images of him.