For numerous reasons, the concept of a New Year is not that
great. Moreover, I don’t like the way it is perceived. Conceptually it is the
birth of a new unit of time, but it just adds up to the list of festivals,
thereby becoming another occasion for treats, celebration and other
extravaganza. Liquor literally flows on new year nights. Purely for
entertainment, millions of gallons of liquor and unimaginable amounts of money
are thrown away, on just one day. I can’t help but sound like an anti-liquor
campaigner, in this regard. Because India simply does not require any other
reason to boast that 75 percent of its people are poor. For the past couple of
months, Wikipedia is running a fundraiser for itself, and it says something like
this: “If all those who read this donate Rs. 100 today, our fundraiser would be
closed by today”. It is exactly a similar situation what I am referring to: if
all those who spend extravagantly in the name of new year or any other occasion
are thoughtful enough to cut short their luxury from extravagant to adequate
(God knows if there is anything as adequate luxury!!), then it will be a big
leap for mankind. I have seen people sympathizing over their brethren struck by
poverty and calamities. But there ends all. Who does anything at all? Surely not those
who prefer setting up golf clubs to charity fundraisers.
Everybody nowadays seems to be ardently trying to find some
reason or the other to party. Partying and merry-making has become the purpose
of life, above everything else. To an extent it is true that get-togethers make
life happening. But we forget that such small happenings overshadow other big
happenings in life!! Moving ahead like aimless nomads, ticking back every day
from life, does this life really make sense? Isn’t it like an inflated balloon
that is attractive outside but hollow inside?
Now I have done the easy job of penning down this thought.
But how to materialize this? Here is a rough plan. It might be simple at first
sight, but becomes more and more difficult the more you actually try to do it. Out
of say 100 rupees earned per month, 25 rupees are spent for regular monthly expenses.
In the remaining 75, 15 are spent on luxury. It might be more or less, varying
from person to person, and thereby leaving 60 rupees as monthly savings. What
if in the 15 rupees, 5 be allotted for the sacred cause I am pointing to? Or if
not in terms of money, why not in terms of resources? If not now, why not
later, but with good planning which starts right from this moment?
There are infinite possibilities, infinite ways to pursue
ultimate happiness. Why be a party animal when there are much better ways to be
social… At least let this new year make a difference in everybody who believes
in it. Give a 10 rupee note to a hungry kid begging before you with his hands
on his sunken belly. You may have to skip going in an autorickshaw and walk the
way to your home. Or don’t give the kid anything at all, but please don’t give that
yucky scornful look that I have seen on hundreds of faces, I hate it! Be human.
Welcome 2012.
