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“Alas! The world ends on the 21^st of December 2012.” ; “Repent! For, the end is so near!” are among the few quotes that speak of a dark mystery. But yet, it also makes people across the globe ponder, “Is this Doomsday a myth or a certainty?” This is what makes it the most mystique subject spoken of these days. Similar statements of this nature are an anathema for those, who take them for real as doomsday defines the end of all creation (no matter how logically or tragically!). While the doomsday phenomenon is rebutted as baseless and utterly spurious by a lot many rationally thinking people who staunchly proclaim that the world would not end any time in the foreseeable future.

Intriguing reasons, as also distinct predictions drawn from the realms of history involving mystics, thinkers and erudite people from diverse civilizations and ages who believed that the earth would be ‘calling it a day’ sometime in the 21^st century, and the later day predictions and astronomical calculations by some proving ‘21^st Dec. 2012’ to be the day that marks the end of life on this planet.

On the other hand, there have been counter-claims by people across the globe refuting proclamations of the ‘demise of all life on earth on the given date’ as mere moonshine! The most imposing prophecies are based on the ‘Mayan Calendar’, ‘I Ching’, ‘Nostradamus’ and a variety of other scientific reasoning that have been put-forth of late.

The ‘Mayan civilization’ dating back to 250-900 A.D was among the very few ancient but advanced civilizations that have flourished on this planet till date. “The Mayan Calendar ends by the 21^st of December 2012 quite obviously marking the end of the world” they pronounce. The “I Ching”, a Chinese mythological work known to be the ‘Book of Changes’ had no different predictions either! Calculations therein reveal that the ‘world’s end is inevitable’ however, and by whatever means. There were more theories, and prophecies of Nostradamus – that the world was feared to end by the devastating effects of an imminent ‘World War III’.

Much Ado About The Mystery! Credit:Champions Dialect

Other theories and assumptions include – geometric reversal of poles which ultimately results in massive solar flare, planet Nibura colliding against the planet earth, Black hole alignment and also the Web-bot project, all of which infer one common thing… “Dooms day 2012”- A simple yet horrendous statement by all means.

Now we witness the infamous movie ‘2012-An apocalyptic tale’ by Roland Emerich (a renowned film maker of fiction) hogging the whole limelight of the day while depicting the end of the world by the year 2012. The only consolation for the movie viewers was that, a small chunk of the world’s population did manage to escape the disaster and land in safety at the fag end of the movie, thanks to the secret spaceships! (One wonders if any such secret spaceships exist for real!)

“Now, does that dwell on the imaginative young minds over here? Do the youth really care for this phenomenon?” is what VY tried to find out, seeking the views of a handful of people. And here’s what these young people had to say when were asked of, if they really feared the life to cease its existence on a sooner date.

“Chance that the world ends based just on the few facts cited is vague at best, and  there’s much more that is bound to happen (not all that should happen!), if at all there has to be a dramatic end to the world!” opines Keerthi, a 4^th yr student of KITS University.

“If only predictions were to be believed and acted upon, the world wouldn’t have been such a chaotic one as is to-day!” says Ravi, a graduating student, condemning all such pronouncements at the moment.

“I believe the world could soon face its end given the fact that it is overwhelmed by the callous indifference of people to many life-threatening issues like the ever-deteriorating climatic changes, irresponsible nuclear usage, vandalism of natural resources… It’s all nothing short of self-destruction! I will be surprised in the least if this supposedly bizarre prophecy actually occurring on the predicted date”, exclaims ManMohan, student of Aurora’s Engineering College.

Theatrical Or Real? Credit: Champions Dialect

VY: Did you hear anything related to this surreal phenomenon any time before viewing the movie 2012?

Sravan, a BIET student says “Yes! I avidly watched videos on Doomsday on websites when I was told of this by one of my friends. Initially I was amused, but now after having seen a few of the best videos on the net, I am a trifle bemused.”

There have been counter-claims by a majority of rationally inclined people who say “things like ‘doomsday’ are implausible and that life would not cease to exist any time in the foreseeable future. Just that one could expect a lot of hitherto un-dreamt of events and transformations taking place, but certainly not the ultimate end of all life in this universe.”

Going on a flip-side take, VY also asked this interesting question and received a few confused, dubious but yet, interesting view points.

VY: What if the world is believed to end by 2012?
“I would go on long rides on a pair of fast wheels as time now moves on the faster alleys of life!” says Vikraant, a biking enthusiast (read maniac), a student of GNEC.

Watch For The Big Day! Credit: Champions Dialect

Shruti, BIET student chuckles saying, “If it’s the end that’s really pouncing, then it’s got to be party time till the end, by all means! Sounds strange? Ah! But yes, as time runs out, every day ought to be a ‘New Year day’! Shan’t it?”

There’ve been many exhilarating and intriguing histories and mysteries in the vast past like the Bermuda triangle, the Egyptian mummies etc. but the doomsday phenomenon had certainly been, and will be a daunting, yet a talking point till the end of the year 2012.

2012-An apocalyptic ‘tale’ has certainly put enough ‘tails’ on fire. But not quite enough though, with a vast number of people not moving their cold-feet, but saying “discussions and predictions on the doomsday are all but to make a fortune of quick buck, making up tales and movies!”

And there! The ‘2012-An apocalyptic tale’ by Roland Emerich is searing the theatre screens!

Whether or not to take on the doomsday with ‘a pinch of salt’ is all left to you and me. So stay tuned till the time ticks past 2012! Amen!