By Rinita Keisham
few years, and more so in the past few months (courtesy: A movie called 2012, directed by Roland Emmerich which was released on November 13, 2009). The film which dealt with the subject on doomsday and the end of the world in 2012 has been a much awaited one especially for the likes of those who believe in this theory of the world coming to an end. It has been a much awaited one for the other half of the population who believe it to be just another hoax and just another Hollywood movie with flawless special effects which for most times have eluded our Indian counterparts, the bollywood film makers. We can't seem to possess the panache much less create such sci-fi films with desired effect (and which is good, because we cannot thrive on that. We are the race who love our rain dances and love singing and running around trees).
Now, it's a scary thing to be imagining the world coming to an end because like many of you out there I still have a lot on my "Things to do before I hit the pit" list. The first being learning how to drive. The second being owning a bookstore.
Yes! A bookstore with a coffee vending machine and why not? I am entitled to wish the whole nine yards. Now the list being too many, I just wanted to go through all the predictions that have been circulating everywhere, simply because I don't want it to tell me to shorten my list and make me do with everything by 2012. These predictions are such a kill-joy! Now as we all know, the 2012 phenomenon comprises a range of beliefs and proposals professing or atleast predicting a cataclysmic change of events in the year 2012.
The most marked belief being that of the end-date of the Mayan Long Count Calendar which is shown to last 5,125 years and as ending on December 21, 2012. But it is somewhat of a relief to know that the Long Count Calendar as of now does not hold much significance to the present day Maya, as a whole. It is though still being used in some parts of Gautemalan Highlands by some Maya tribes. The present day Maya tribes do not believe that this prediction is set off by them. They feel it has been imposed on the Maya by Westerners. However, there are many inscriptions left behind such as the Tortuguero Monument 6 and the Chilam Salam which are found to be more historical and less of prophetic declarations.
There is also the New Age beliefs which talk of a global consciousness shift. These New Age thinkers believe and propagate a new spiritual evolution, a socio-political and spiritual activism and not of an impending doom. Talking of more prophecies, we have what is called the galactic alignment. For people unaware of it, galactic alignment is the alignment of the December Solstice Sun with the Galactic Equator. This alignment occurs as a result of the precession of the equinoxes. With this alignment the ecliptic of our solar system will intersect with the galactic plane, where there is maximum mass. More mass means more gravity and that means exponential increase in solar disruptions.
Proponents of galactic alignment theories have promoted the use of a design that has come to be known as Hunab Ku (name of a post Spanish conquest deity) that bears resemblance to both a yin and yang symbol and a spiral galaxy. We can also mention the numerological formula called the "timewave zero" which calculates the ebb and flow of novelty, defined as increase in the universe's interconnectedness or organised complexity. The idea here is that the universe has a teleological attractor at the end of that time.
As if it were not enough of doom filled future predictions, the media ring have helped promulgate more apocalyptic views of the year 2012. History Channel aired "Decoding the Past: Mayan Doomsday Prophecy" based on John Major Jenkins' theories which was followed by many sequels thereafter. The latest of yet another such morbid forecast being by Discovery Channel called 2012 Apocalypse in 2009, which showed massive solar storms, polar shifts, earthquakes, super volcanoes that may occur in 2012. These films showed geomagnetic reversals which we just referred to it as polar shifts. Our Earth's magnetic field is perceived to be weakening, meaning there can be a complete reversal of the north and south magnetic poles. The last of it happened 730,000 years ago.
However, it's somewhat of a great relief that scientists do not have evidence of it and believe it does not have a particular date for the 'reversals' to take place and that these reversals if and when they do reverse take about 5000 years to complete (which I don't know is a re-assuring thing or not. But hey! They have not given the time and date, so out with you December 21, l012).
And how can I forget to mention Planet Nibiru, or more famously called the Planet X which supposedly is to collide with Earth in 2012. This idea has been circulating since 1995 and the year then was 2003. So, let's be happy this one is not it. When I Google for 2012 in the internet, there are just so many and I mean MANY that claim that 2012 is the year. The events that are to occur are varied. I have mentioned some already. But there is still a lot, like for instance there are few who think Alien invasion is a possibility (it was there all over in the I nternet), there is the talk of flu pandemic, Gamma Ray Burst, Butterfly effect, CME-Coronal Mass Ejection (the last solar storm of such type occurred in 1859 in the United States), Black Hole Alignment, Global Warming, Nuclear/Biological Warfare. Only the last two suggests impending doom to me for now.
The question is should we be believing in it or not? Many would not like to, but go on insisting that it might. Just what if it may? What if it did? What happens to us all? Notwithstanding the numerous predictions, I would like to raise my hand not in alarm but in hope and say no I do not believe the world is coming to an end. Given the environment we all are living in things that may not be looking rosy at all, at home or outside the confines of our State. We still have a lot to do and a lot to deliver to the masses. I am also one of the masses. The gloomy state of affairs has rendered a very dismal picture in our lives. It has etched a dark scene in all your hearts and my dear friends, I know it is hard to call a thorn a flower but it is also true that a rose is a rose. Things are what they are. But that is not to say we all remain elusive to happiness simply because the world is not a very happy scene now. We can all brood and sit in perpetual sadness or rise up from the way things are. And amidst all the predictions that are setting off and all of this I would still like to stay affirmative and hold steadfast to my thoughts. There is still a lot on my itinerary.
So doomsday or not, I am happy. By all means predict, it is a matter of opinion but I still hold on steadfast to my thoughts. Thoughts being that I would still dare to dream beyond the dark smoke that engulfs us, I would still dare to dream of misty mountains and fresh air amidst the skyscrapers and lead filled atmosphere. I would still dream of harmonious music reverberating amidst the chaos and din in my State and elsewhere around the world.
I would dream of happy childhood, children laughing and playing, of children studying, no one dare stop the children from leading their lives! I would dream of a place where women are accorded their rights in full measure where every woman would never have to go through torture or torment by virtue of being a woman. I would dream of a peaceful Manipur, I would dare dream of a society where you and I would hold our hands together and stand united and love each other, love each other as human beings. I would dream of loving you, him, her, they, them because everyone is made alike in His image. I dare say 2012 brings it on..1 am also marching ahead with my troops..yes I am marching... ..L'CHAIM.
"But of that day and hour knoweth no one, not even the aspects of heaven, neither the Son, but the Father only"
This article was published on The Sangai Express.