Acharya Tulsi
"Farewell to what is gone, welcome to the new!"-that is the way of the world. The year 1987 is no more; we have entered 1988. The previous year has departed; bequeathing to its successor some of its problems, just as it had itself inherited some of the problems of the year before last. It has almost become a tradition. No year departs, carrying away with it all its problems. So the succeeding year has to deal, perforce, with the leftover problems of its predecessor. The famine, the drought, the inflation, terrorism and growing indifference to the values of life -1988 will have to struggle with all these. How many problems will be resolved, how many new problems will come to the fore, and how many problems it would leave unresolved, only the end of the year would determine.
Time is in constant motion; it never stands still. No one can stall the movement of time. From this stand-point, the division of time into months and years is purely imaginary. From the practical point-of-view, time is measured in relation to the movement of the sun and the moon. Accordingly it has many frontiers. The beginning of the year is a relative concept. That is why the New Year Day is observed differently by different people. Some people treat Chaitra pratipada, the first day of the lunar fortnight in the month of Chaitra, as marking the beginning of the year, others begin their year on the first day of the fortnight of the waning moon in the month of Shravan. The Christian year starts in the first of January, the harvest year on the first day of the lunar fortnight in the month of shravan. The Vir Nirvana year is associated with the last day of the dark fortnight in the month of Kartik. There are thus to be found all over the world, no man can tell exactly how many, a number of individual eras to mark the movement of time.
The years come and go. This, by itself, commands little significance. What is really important is the resolve to promote public welfare and effective steps taken therefore. Some time back it was reported in the newspapers that Shri Pushpendar Singh, the President of the Lions Club, Delhi District, has issued an appeal that in view of the drought conditions in the country, the new year may be observed as the year of prohibition. According to him, the District Committee has decided that no liquor or other intoxicants will be served at any of the functions organised by them. This is a good beginning. The Lions Club deserves to be congratulated for it. Whatever the motive, at least someone has initiated a new way of thinking. If the other clubs and similar institutions emulate the example of the Lions Club and take concrete steps in this direction, it would be a great achievement.
Collective effort proves for more effective than the effort put in by a single individual or institution. Because of the intoxicating drugs, the youth of our country seem to have lost their bearings altogether. They are neither mindful of their own interest, nor much concerned about the country's future. To alleviate one's sorrow through drug-addiction, to lose oneself in liquor or some other intoxicant, has become fashionable. This trend must be reversed.
The drought of 1987-88 has been declared to be the most terrible drought of the present century. Relief works have been started in the drought-affected areas. However, it all depends on how the programmes are implemented. Those participating in drought-relief work, whether on the governmental, institutional or individual level, can welcome the new year in an entirely different way. We have already given a call several times before for observing discipline and simplicity on this occasion. If the individual changes his outlook and comes to appreciate the importance of discipline, the problem is almost half resolved. In order to adequately meet the situation created by the drought, it is necessary to keep up the public morale. The defeat of the mind is the biggest defeat. Hope must be rekindled in the hearts of those who are filled with frustration, so that they can make a new start with renewed vigour. For this, it is necessary to create in the country an atmosphere of stability and assurance. Political instability only serves to aggravate the existing problems by spreading terror.
It would be very fruitful if we enter the new year with a resolve to strengthen the democratic set-up in the country and to create an atmosphere of trust. There is also every possibility of new steps being taken during the year to ensure peaceful co-existence on the international level. In this connection, if one individual learns to trust another, resolves not to interfere with other people's way of living, and completely dedicates himself to non-violence, it would greatly conduce to the good, not only of his own nation, but also of the whole of the human race. To make a firm determination to support the campaign for the establishment of human values all over the world is the right way to greet the new year.
