Its new year again ! Time to celebrate.. !
In India we have n number of new years in a calendar year ! each with its own cultural/religious importance but the calendar new year doesn't have any cultural significance it is not associated with any historical event (as far as I know) and that is one of the reasons why I don't feel very excited about it .
Its my 28th new year, at different stages of life the significance of new year changes; when I was school going kid, I felt very excited about new year because I used to think that I will start writing dates on my notebook with different year and will innocently make mistakes in writing the year sometimes, that feeling used to excite me ! In college, New Year means party, during those days the party meant fully unsynchronized free style dancing in hostel corridor on some age old music system playing Punjabi/English songs whose lyrics I never used to understand, and best part of those parties was, people used to dance for 3-4 hours without any intoxication, it used to be a totally dry party no alcohol no girls :( . Gujarat being a dry state ppl had to enjoy with Thumbs Up and Pepsi and we dance with each other only !! . After entering professional life the meaning of New Year means to review the achievement and mistakes of the last year and again attending office parties and some time go out on new year and yell on roads with no reasons. Parties have become costlier and gives less enjoyment. I don't enjoy new year parties anymore .
It has become a custom to take a resolution, though very few people keeps it for more than one day, on new year day. Every year I take a resolution that I will not take resolution this year because I don't feel that I have to wait for New Year to take up any resolution . Anyway that's my thinking which many people do not agree with.
This New Year has a special significance, Its an end of decade also.10 years....Wow !!! Its a long time. when I close my eyes and rewind my memory by 10 years I see myself in total despair completely dejected by my disappointing performance in one of the most critical exams of student life, not knowing what is lying ahead in life somehow I took a decision to leave my janmbhumi and started my journey, to search my destiny, which lead me to Vallabh Vidyanagar. In last 10 years I became man from a boy ! The first 5 years of the previous decade were most exciting and unforgettable , I termed it as a platinum period of life, it shaped my life and my career. I learnt a lot, the experience of living alone has its own pros and cons.I made some best some good and some not so good friends during this period . It was the first time I felt that experience is the best teacher. Once out of college, the world becomes totally different, the people sees you in a different way and raises their expectation level and you have to find your own place in the society. Last 5 years were life changing, I started earning and spending my own money and became part of the India growth story.I experienced the sinusoidal nature of the IT industry. I changed 3 jobs and was fired from one of them. I am married since last two and half years now and am enjoying my golden period.
Last year was, particularly, very good for me, I got a chance to re-prove myslef, saw the foreign land for the first time in my life and purchased a dream home. I can't ask for more. Hope this year too brings some goodness in life.I am waiting for the challenges and opportunities of the coming year.
Hope 2011 will be even better than 2010 and I will get a chance to explore myself as well as the world more, on this note I would like to wish you all a very Happy and Progressive New Year 2011, !!!!!
-Parikshit Gohil
