2011-உலகத்தை ஊலுக்கிய ஆர்பாட்டகாரர்களின் மறு பெயர் ப்ரோடேச்டோர்

TIME Magazine selects "The Protestor" as the person of the year 2011

"The Protestor" i-e to everyday people who changed the Arab world’s political landscape.

TIME magazine says the  protesters representing Occupy Wall Street, Occupy Oakland, Occupy the Hood, the Indignados of Spain, protesters in Greece, revolutionaries in Tunisia and Egypt, activists from Syria fleeing persecution, a crusader fighting corruption in India, Tea Party activists from New York, a renowned poet-turned-protestor from Mexico, and a protestor from Wisconsin who carries a shovel, topped by a flag.

TIME says Social Media didn't cause the movements, but Human did it.

The protests have marked the rise of a new generation. In Egypt 60% of the population is under the age of 25. Technology mattered, but this was not a technological revolution.Social networks did not cause these movements, but they kept them alive and connected. Technology allowed us to watch, and it spread the virus of protest, but this was not a wired revolution; it was a human one, of hearts and minds, the oldest technology of all.

Reason for choosing "The Protestor"

"For capturing and highlighting a global sense of restless promise, for upending governments and conventional wisdom, for combining the oldest of techniques with the newest of technologies to shine a light on human dignity and, finally, for steering the planet on a more democratic though sometimes more dangerous path for the 21st century, the Protester is Time's 2011 Person of the Year," Time editor Richard Stengel says in a statement .

           The Protester: A Portfolio by Peter Hapak

"The Protectors" chosen for the  year 2011

Mannoubia Bouazizi, the mother of Tunisian street vendor Mohammed Bouazizi. "Mohammed suffered a lot. He worked hard. but when he set fire to himself, it wasn’t about his scales being confiscated. It was about his dignity."

Greek protester George Anastasopoulos and Occupy Oakland protester Melanisia Carmilia Jacobs. "I got involved in the protests here after watching the indignados movement in Spain." Anastasopoulos said. "All these movements for democracy and justice and respect—these moved me so much."

Lina Ben Mhenni, a.k.a. Tunisian girl, a prominent blogger during the Jasmine Revolution. "Dictatorship can't last."

Mahmoud Salem, a.k.a Sandmonkey, Egyptian revolutionary blogger, activist and protester.

Egyptian protestor Emil Samir holds a sign that reads, "The People Want the Fall of the Field Marshall," and Occupy Wall Street protester Chelsea Elliott. "I’m happy to get maced if it helps the movement. I’d do it again," Elliott said.

Ahmed Maher, co-founder of the April 6 Youth Movement in Egypt. During the years of his activism, prior to the Egyptian revolution, Maher was arrested five times. He says he has spent a total of four months in jail. “It’s an old proverb. In protests: there are no permanent friends and no permanent enemies, only permanent interests."

Hamada Ben Amor, 22, aka El Général, Tunisian rap artist whose song, "Rais Lebled", became the anthem of the Jasmine Revolution. "We must not surrender our rights, these rights that we achieved through revolution and by eliminating this state called dictatorship in the Arab world."

An Egyptian protester holds a spent shell casing found after clasehs in Tahrir Square, and protester Ahmed Aggour, also known as Psypherize, an Egyptian activist, artist and blogger.

"We just needed someone to make our arguments clearly and demonstrate the prejudices of others, and i knew i could do that." Jon Aguirre Such, spokesperson for Democracia Real YA in Spain.

Anna Hazare, anti-corruption crusader in India. "When God wants to bring in change, he needs a vehicle of change, and I became that vehicle."

Captain Ray Lewis, retired Philadelphia Police Officer recently arrested at Occupy Wall Street. "Walking across that intersection handcuffed was the proudest moment of my life." Lewis said. Mona Eltahawy, Egyptian-American journalist who was arrested and assaulted by police in Cairo in November. "The past 12 hrs were painful and surreal, but I know I got off much much easier that so many other Egyptians," Eltahawy tweeted.

El Teneen, prominent Egyptian graffiti artist, wearing a homemade gas mask.

Jack," a 24-year-old Occupy Oakland protester, recently wounded by a projectile fired by police.

Syrian activists Abdulhamid Sulaiman, Rami Jarrah, and Mohamed Abazid. All three recently fled Syria. "I was tortured for three days and that’s when I became more active and started using a pseudonym," Jarrah said. Right: Jarrah's damaged iPhone.

Dr. Yahi Abdel Shafy, a Salafi and doctor who works in the field hospital in Tahrir Square. Egyptian protester Saleh Mohamed uses a maalox mixture on his eyes to counter the effects of tear gas.

Molly Katchpole, who led a petition in October to persuade Bank of America to cancel plans for a debit card fee. "I think that business can be operated in a way that takes people into account," she said.

Egyptian protestor Nada Fadl and Tea Party 365 co-founder David Webb. "There is a difference between what I call leaders and leadership. The principles that come and that grow from this movement are bigger than any one individual," Webb said.

Esraa Abdel Fatah, also known as "Facebook Girl", prominent Egyptian internet activist and blogger and co-founder of the April 6 movement. “They were my greatest days. I could see the utopia of Egyptian society in Tahrir Square. I think those days will be rooted in Egyptian history," Fatah said.

Occupy Oakland protestor Crystallee Crain, a teacher from Oakland. Olmo Galvez, Democracia Real Ya protester. “It was marvelous to see people become the actors in their own lives. You could watch them breaking out of their passivity. They turned off the T.V., left their homes, went to the plaza and entered into community with each other," Galvez said.

Sayda al-Manahe, whose son Hilme was shot by a sniper during a protest in Tunis on January 13. He was buried the day Ben Ali fled the country. "My son is now a symbol, a symbol of Tunis. He gave his life so we can have freedom."

The clenched fist of an Egyptian protester.

Spanish protester Carmen Rodriguez, “I loved going home each day, completely exhausted, but unable to stop talking about all the new ideas," Rodriguez said. "And then each day, as I walked back, I would get to the top of Carretas Street, and see all those people in Sol, and just cry, it was so moving.” Molehe Kalaote, Occupy Oakland protester.

Shadi Taha, liberal Egyptian party official. “Now we are breathing a better air. We can practice politics openly," Taha said.

Occupy Oakland protester Andre Little. Greek protester Katerina Patrikarakou, her face covered in a Maalox mixture to counter the effects of tear gas.

Egyptian protester Nehal Marei. Tear gas canister, Egypt.

Loukanikos, the Greek Protest Dog, photographed in Syntagma Square in Athens.

Professor Dalenda Largueche, leading Tunisian feminist and protestor. Greek protester Marianna Roumelioti. "They say you can have freedom of speech and expression on the condition that it doesn't insult or deal with religion. Who determines that? Freedom doesn't mean these limits. It either is, or it isn't," Largueche said.

Wisconsin protester Joanne Staudacher, wears her "manifesto". Staudacher said, "I’m trying to take what I consider the 4H approach to government these days. The 4H pledge–I pledge my head to clearer thinking, my heart to greater loyalty, my hands to larger service, and my health to better living, for my community, my country, my world. The idea that you have to think things through, you have to figure out what’s important, you gotta go with that, and then you gotta get your hands in there and you’ve got to do something."

Egyptian protester Omar Mohamed. Greek protester Pavlos Papanotis, who attends demonstrations with his daughter, Agathi.

New York City Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez, recently arrested during police raid at Zuccotti Park. "I believe that occupying public areas has been a centerpiece of the democratic process of this country. It is our right to be protected by the First Amendment and freedom of speech. It is our responsibility too to work together with the law enforcement. So wherever we are, we have to balance the quality of life issues and the rights of the protesters to exercise the First Amendment," Rodriguez said. Spanish protester Ricardo Gomez. "After seing what happened in the Arab countries, you ask yourself why not here?" Gomez said.

Ife Johari Uhuru and Malik Rahsaan, coordinator and founder of Occupy the Hood, whose mission is to bring people of color to protests. "It’s getting people involved, but also getting America involved – back involved – in our struggle, in our neighborhoods," Rahsann said. "This movement chose me; I didn’t choose it."

Stephane Grueso, Spanish documentary filmmaker and Twitter chronicler of the 15-M movement. "So I started tweeting, and it just kept growing. My goal is to always be there, and describe what I see," Grueso said.

 Occupy Oakland protester Dax Perrault

Tea Party 365 founder Thomas Basile. Egyptian protester Um Treka. "The movement remains a largely grassroots movement. This is in thousands of communities across America, but our organization is really not about making the organization larger. It’s about spreading an awareness of the dangers of oppressive debt and taxation and how that burdens the American dream," Basile said.

Javier Sicilia, Mexican poet, essayist and novelist turned protester whose son was killed by drug-traffickers. "I did only what my heart was telling me to do. It was a great surprise to me to see the national response."

Ahmed Harara, a Cairo dentist who was blinded in his right eye by a rubber bullet during clashes in January. In November, Harara was shot in his other eye by a rubber bullet. Now he is completely blind. "As they say in America, power of the people will change everything."

                                                                                                                        compiled by vinoth ambedkar