The last century in retrospect

The last century is over, but it will not be forgotten. Many events have taken place during these years that have embellished and enriched human life. There have been significant advances in scientific achievement and technological development including immense progress in medical science. Lately, a revolution in information technology has taken the world by storm.

In ideological terms, the twentieth century has been marked by the independence of many former European colonies in Asia, Africa and Latin America. The struggle for democracy in different parts of the world including Bangladesh has been momentous. It saw the division of Germany after the second World War, and its subsequent reunification in the eighties. The process of reunification evident here has also been echoed in other regions. The century also witnessed the rise of socialism, and the creation of super powers opposed in ideologies. However, the end of the cold war and the collapse of socialism have eased the major powers into a unipolar position.

On the other hand, conflict has deepened. The world has experienced some of the worst events in history during this time. Misuse of atomic energy has wreaked destructor. Two World Wars have recorded the worst sufferings in human history- Hiroshima and Nagasaki bear testimony to this. Conflict and strife worldwide has increased. It has seen the Vietnam war, the Gulf War , the war in Lebanon, and in many parts of Africa causing widespread death and destruction. Terrorism too is sadly on the rise.

Indeed several other things have also caused endless human misery. Poverty, hunger, malnutrition, uncontrolled population growth and high mortality rates have been common features in the poorer countries. Environmental pollution, global warning, contaminated drinking water and the AIDS epidemic are many of the major problems that we have inherited from the decades that have gone by. And yet, despite these dark aspects, the last century will remain memorable in terms of positive terms of positive human achievement……..