Random Ramblings of a Reluctant Blogger

 So here it is. Yet another New year, of course as per Gregorian calendar. And If not for all the hulla-bulla it is just another day. Yes, yes, I know, the more things change the more they remain the same. So shouldn’t we herald in the new year? Should we not have a small celebration.? Nothing wrong, nor am I against celebrating it nor am I being cynical, it is just that I am calling for a change. And a pretty drastic one at that!

 I have always wondered how New Year’s Day comes right bang in the middle of a season. It does not follow the pattern of the Hindu and other calendars, which is based on seasons or the transit of stars. No such niceties for Mr. January. The Gregorian calendar that we now have has gone through a few course corrections over centuries and the one to take the brunt of these changes has been poor February. And before you think I am about to expostulate on some isms, or a call to follow some other, I assure you it isn’t so.

Au contraire, it is a shout out for justice. Justice for an unsung, orphaned month _ February. Come to think of it, whatever can February ever boast off. It had to give in to the demands of an egoistic Augustus, who had to have his 31 days, because his predecessor did!

February, kind of sandwiched between seasons, can hardly boast of any record breaking cold waves or heat waves. Though our firebrand annadatas from Punjab and Haryana are doing their stubble bit to give some kind of notoriety to February, it is far too limited.

There has been an attempt by the valentine’s dayists to add some heart to the dull February. However, the week-long addendums in the form of various other days by the marketing geeks have stolen the soul, leaving February much wounded and miserable. Between the furore of January and the worrisome ides of March, February silently slides by.

My suggestion then, make February the beginning of the New year.! 

Extreme, did you say? Not really. It is not as if the Gregorian calendar has never been changed. Ask February. Another change just to right a wrong wouldn’t be so bad.  

And there are some perfectly logical reasons. One, one can begin small (28 days) and end big with 31 days. Further Janus, the two-faced god can look back leisurely at his past, highs, lows, et all, and look to the future with more time, a whole month, on hand.

And for the resolute resolutionists it is a shot in the arm. Struggling to keep up the resolution, they will have a few less days to see their resolutions through. Think of the stimulus it will provide to continue. Also the weather beaten ones can slowly ease into and prepare for the next round of extreme weather. And what delight it will bring in for the salaried. Less days of work for the same pay.!

Sleepy, unsung and uncomplaining February deserves a fillip. So how about a shout out for February as the start of a new year.? Afterall one just needs to make a start.