Happy (?) New Year

Introduction: Old article dated 31st Dec '08. Written on New Year's eve...

Today is 31st Dec 2008. Tomorrow a new year begins, bringing with it a new joy, new hopes, new desires, new ambitions, aspirations....You see, we're all greedy, that's why the list becomes endless! But look at them, living out there in the woods and the deserts; the lakes and the mountains; those with whom we share our planet. For them, tomorrow will be like any other day. Life is a challenge, and at every single second, they battle to win over it. Be it any time of the year, not sparing even the new year's day, they know, humans- rich and poor alike would encroach upon their domains. Be it any month of the year, they know they would have to be wary of gunshots and deftly concealed metal traps. And they've realised, those gunmen, if caught, would soon be out on bail, for committing what the law calls 'an unbailable offence' just to shoot 'em down some other day. Be it any day of the year, they know they would be admired in tiny cages (where they don't fit in) or relished on expensive crockery, more than being seen in the wild. Also be it any season, (they don't know!) the climate would fluctuate unimaginably!So new years come and go; but new hopes, new joys, desires, for them, are never born. Perhaps, we never let them take birth. Whenever I write or speak about Mother Nature's plight, these beautiful lines from Mr.Mike Pandey's film, 'The Vanishing Vultures' come to my mind- "Nature is resilient. Given a chance she will bounce back." Yes she will; we know it; if we give her that chance..to let that new hope take birth. And what's a better birthday, than any day in 2009?