The year 2006 was witness to many events. Some of them were unprecedented. I mention some events.
Publishing of cartoons about Mohammed in a Danish newspaper caused riots in many countries. Newspapers in some countries reprinted the cartoons. No newspaper in India reprinted them. TV channels did not show them in full. Danish flags were burnt.
Sania Mirza’s rank slipped to 70. In 2005 it had gone up to 31.
Pope Benedict XVI’s quotation of a Byzantine Emperor in his Regensburg speech caused protests. The pope apologized for the hurt it caused. His tour to Turkey was in jeopardy. It took place. The pope prayed at Blue Mosque.
There was train blasts in Bombay on 11/7/2006.
Pluto was declared a dwarf planet on 24/8/2006. Later its name was changed.
Montenegro separated from Serbia. Serbia became a landlocked country.
India lost the Test Series against Pakistan and won ODI series. The series against England ended in a draw as India were all out for 100 in the second innings of the last Test. India after winning the first ODI against West Indies lost the next four. It won the Test Series 1-0. This victory on West Indies soil was achieved after 35 years. India lost the subsequent ODI series. In Champions Trophy it did not reach the semi finals. India won the first Test against S. Africa in S. Africa for the first time. Irfan Pathan was sent back for poor form during the series, a first in Indian cricket. His batting was the best in the team. He was used as a batsman several times. He had opened the innings. Suddenly team management wanted him to take wickets and that only was considered. Form of Virender Sehwag and Wasim Jaffer was worse than him. They were not sent back after losing the second Test.
The judgment in Bombay Bomb Blasts Case 1993 was delivered in instalments. It began on 10/9/2006 and ended on 4/12/2006. Many of the convicts are out on bail. Quantum of the punishment is to be decided.
The trial court judgment in Jessica Lall case acquitting the guilty shocked the nation. There was demand for reinvestigation and retrial. This also brought into focus Priyadarshini Mattoo case where the judge had acquitted Santosh Singh of rape and murder even though he knew he had committed the cirme. Delhi High Court awarded death sentence to Santosh Singh and life sentence to Manu Sharma.
Nepal ceased to be a Hindu Kingdom. King became a figurehead.
The pope gave up the title `Patriarch of the West’.
Military took over in Fiji.
Share Warne became the first player to take 700 Test wickets.
Alexander Litvienko died of polonium poisoning.
Saddam Hussein was hanged on 30/12/2006.