Last Day of 2002

[Guest guest]

THOUGHTS ON THE LAST DAY OF THE PASSING YEAR

 

We have come to yet another day reckoned as the last of a year. Tonight, people

will gather in groups or in crowds to bid adieu to the Old Year and herald the

New, singing songs and opening bottles, with embraces and best wishes,

resolutions and reminiscences, wondering how 365 days have flown away in a

hurry. Life seems like a march towards a precipice: it starts as a slow crawl on

the street of time, picks up speed as we grow, and past sixty it seems as if we

are running towards the last abrupt step.

 

As we look back on the year that is about to slip into history, each of us can

recall happy moments and some not so happy, reasons for hope and for despondency

too. The rage and rancor between races and nations haven't abated in various

eruptive contexts. Never before in recent memory has a year come to a close with

such a real possibility of a war in the next. We pray and protest in hopes that

the tragedy may yet be averted.

 

We grieve for the innocents who have perished in 2002, not just by Nature's fury

of disease and disaster, but willfully killed by men in rage and governments in

retaliation. Terrorists continue to perpetrate their indiscriminate slaughter of

tourists in resorts, of audiences in theaters, of children in school buses, of

passengers in planes, and of the faithful in temples and churches. It is not

just an irony, but a travesty and self-injury that this is often done by people

who profess a religion whose very name stands for Peace.

 

Men in religious garb who have violated the young for years have now been

exposed: they have grievously wounded the fair name of their church. Business

leaders and manipulators of the public's finances have betrayed our trust,

aggrandizing their coffers with illegal greed. Other criminals have preyed on

other victims.

 

The pull of immediate gratification continues to be stronger than long-term

considerations, ethnocentric indoctrination confines people to tribal

affiliations, intense attachment to parochial truths blinds people to

universality, narrow interpretations of holy books disables one to differentiate

between science from religion. Most ominously, our reckless intrusion into the

biosphere has caused more extinctions than Nature would normally allow, the

sheer growth in our numbers portends massive suffering, and our continued

assault on the environment sows the seeds for unimaginable catastrophes.

 

But I am happy to know that though such dismal events come center stage in news

headlines, there are millions of people who have gone about their daily work

this year too, nurturing families and friendships. Children attended school all

over the world, ensuring the continuation of civilization, students absorbed

knowledge and skills to contribute to society, people prayed in their varied

ways, seeking solace and spiritual serenity. Scientists have not ceased

exploring, artists have not stopped creating, musicians have not given up

composing, and sportspeople have not forgotten practicing and competing. Though

they might remind of Nero fiddling when Rome was burning, their work serves to

keep the torch of culture and civilization alive. Most of all, we must be

grateful to the countless farmers and fishermen, bakers and sanitation workers,

and other men and women who keep the throb of society hale and functioning.

 

As the flame of hope still keeps us warm at heart, I like to think that human

pain and suffering will be a little less in the coming year, that there will be

greater social justice within and among nations, that leaders will emerge who

can curb hate-mongers and strive for peace. My wish-list includes that your own

life will be healthy and enriched during the year that begins tomorrow. So, dear

Friend, wherever you are, I wish you a most interesting 2003.

 

 

 

V. V. Raman

 

31 December 2002