SOURAMANA (SOLAR) NEW YEAR DAY

SOURAMAANA (SOLAR) NEW YEAR DAY

(I-DISCOURSE BY N.R. SRINIVASAN, APRIL 2012)

New Year Day celebrated on April 13 or 14^th as the Sun enters the zodiac sign Aries seems to be most popular in India and many Asiatic Nations. This is known as Souramana Yugadi though associated with the oldest culture of India of Tamils and called some times as Tamil New Year Day.

The duration of time taken by the Sun to pass through one Niraayana Raasi (Zodiacal Constellation) to another Niraayana Raasi is called Souramaana Maasa (Solar Month). The day on which such entry takes place is called Sankraanti. 12 such entries take place in a year and therefore there are 12 Sankraantis in a year. On the day of the entry of Sun to Niraayana Mesha (Aries) Rasi, many parts of India celebrate their Solar New Year. Invariably this falls on 13^th or 14^th of April as per the Gregorian calendar. This is because The Solar year commences from the time Sun enters the Zodiac sign Niraayana Mesha (Aries) and runs through until the Sun completes thirtieth degree of Meena (Pieces) and is about to enter the sign Mesha again. This is about 365.25 days.

Both Gregorian calendar and Solar calendar (Souramaana) have adopted 365 days per year. Hence the Solar New year always falls on 13^th or 14^th of April unlike many Hindu festivals which follow Lunar (Chandramaana) calendar fall on different days in different years. It is popularly known as Tamil New Year Day in South India named after one of the oldest cultures of India. Perhaps it is the fore-runner for all New Year Days or Yugadi celebrations. It was a National Holiday in the erstwhile Madras presidency during the British period. People who celebrate this New Year in many parts of India also go by 60-years cycle of Hindu calendar based on five revolutions of Jupiter or 60 years orbit of Nakshatra described in Surya Siddhanta. Surya Siddhanta was taught by Sun God to Maaya and deals with astronomical Measurement of Time, Revolution of Planets etc.

Solar New Year is observed and celebrated as per their traditions in many parts of India. In Tamil Nadu it is celebrated as Tamil New Year Day also called in Tamil "Putthandu" or "Tamizh Varusha Pirappu". Assam celebrates it as Rongali Bihu. Bengal and Tripura call this day Naba Barsha or pohala Boisakh. Kerala celebrates it as Vishu. In Kumaon region of Uttrkahnd it is called Bikhu or Bikhauti. In Orissa this day is celebrated as Mahaa Vishua Sankraanti or Pana Sankraanti. In Punjab this day is celebrated as New Year harvest festival called Baishakhi.

Solar New Year coincides with New Years traditionally celebrated by many other countries like Burma, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Thailand etc. On this day Gautama Buddha attained Nirvaana under the Bodhi tree in Buddha Gaya and therefore it is a great day of religious observance for all Buddhists. The order of Khalsa was founded on this day by Guru Gobind Singh in the year 1699 by initiating five volunteers who came forward to sacrifice their lives for defending the religion against their enemies, affectionately called by the Guru as "Panj Pyaare". It is also celebrated as Martyr's day celebrating the martyrdom of Guru Ram Das in 1567.

Traditions vary in its celebration. In Kerala people wear new clothes after a holy bath and rush to the spot near pooja room to see Vishu Kani as the first thing in the morning. On the previous night an elderly lady in the house arranges a bell metal vessel with flowers, grains, fruits, coins, new cloth, sovereign gold etc., located in a special place in the Pooja room earmarked with Rangoli or Kolam. A lighted bell metal lamp called Nilavilakku is a must to stand by the side of the vessel. Viewing it for the first time approaching it with closed eyes in the morning before seeing anything else is believed to bring in peace and prosperity throughout the year. The whole day is celebrated with fire-works, grand dinner and exchange of greetings. Tamil Nadu also celebrates it with holy bath, wearing new clothes, exchange of greetings, festival dinner and merriment. Since it is an important Sankramana Day a holy dip becomes very essential both in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Punjab celebrates this day as their harvest festival with lots of merriment where Bangra dance dominates.

It is a sacred day for a holy bath in some parts of the North also as it is believed that Mother Ganges descended to earth on this day from heaven. In Himachal Pradesh Goddess Jwaalaamukhi is worshiped with great reverence. Bihar dedicates this day to Sun God. Essentially elements of nature are prayed and worshiped on this significant day.

Vishnu is hailed as Naaraayana, Samvatsara (Year), Prajapati, Aaditya (Sun), Vashatkaara (Sacrificial Mantras), Paramaatma (Supreme Principle), Yajna(Sacrifice), Easwara (Brahman manifest), Satya (Truth), Rudra (remover of all miseries), Yugaadikrita (Maker of Eons), Kaala (Time) as glorified and meditated upon in Vishnu Sahasranaama. Vishnu is of the nature of Year—meaning one who is the Lord of the Time; He from whom the very concept of Time arises.

Samvatsara (Year) in Sanskrit is derived as "Samyak vasanti sarvbhootaani asmin iti" meaning all entities exist in this and so this is Samvatsara. Upanishads glorify Aditya (Sun) as Samvatsara. Mahaa Naaraayana Upanishad elaborates that one who meditates on Aaditya attains equality with Brahman (supreme Principle) and attains His very world. Brahman is Kaala (time) and Kalavikarana (who is causing divisions of moments like, Kala, Nimisha, Muhoorta, Samvatsara etc.) So this day of the beginning of the Solar year is considered very auspicious and also observed as an auspicious Sankramana day like Makara Sankranti. Samvatsaras make the Yuga and Vishnu is known as Yugapurusha. Taittareeya Braahmana mentions five types of years as Samvatsara, Parivatsara, Idaavatsara, Iduvatsara and Idvatsara. All these types make Yugas. Samvatsara is most popular and finds references in many Hindu scriptures. We do not have much information on the others. 60 years make one cycle starting from Prabhava, Vibhava …………. etc. and ending in Akshaya. This year we are celebrating Nandana Samvatsara.

Karunanidhi when he was the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu shifted the Tamil New Year Day to Makara Sankraanti which is also the first day of the Tamil month Thai. It is also the harvest festival day of Pongal for Tamils. This did not go without protest for this day conventionally is not only an important day for Tamils but also for many language-regions of India as well as many Asiatic countries of different Faiths. This day is celebrated in many Tamil scriptures and is very ancient. Many in Tamil Nadu celebrated both festivals for some years though Tamil New Year Day lost its recognition as a Public Holiday for some time. Last year in August Jayalalitha, who became the Chief Minister yielded to the popular demand restoring it back to April, the traditional date for ages celebrated in Puranas as a very sacred day. Hindus in India are tradition bound and are influenced by the compartmentalized society and therefore it is very difficult to move them away from their religious practices glued to the Puraanic past.

Hindus believe that Brahma started creation of this world on the day of Yugaadi. Rightly or wrongly only the Hindu New year Day which commences after the first Tithi after the New Moon in Meena (Panguni) month according to Soura Maanam system (Sukla Paksha Prathama Tithi of Chaitra month) is called Yugadi, which was celebrated on 23 March 2012. Since there is marginal time difference between Chandramaana Yugadi and Souramana New Year Day it is more appropriate to believe that Creation started on the day when the powerful planet Sun entered Mesha (Aries). It is also appropriate to call this day as Souramaana Yugadi Day and celebrate it as the day of start of Creation by the Supreme Principle.

In Hindu temple complexes where Hindus belonging to different Sampradays and Mataas meet for mass worship as in USA, it is appropriate celebrate this day as Souramaana Yugadi and dedicate it to Sun God as some Hindus do. It is even more appropriate to dedicate this day to the worship of Vishnu in the light of the various attributes mentioned for him in Vishnu Sahasranaamaavali which says Samvatsara is his another name.

The Council of Hindu Temples of North America brings out every year a Hindu Religious Panchangam called North American Panchangam. This starts with January 1 and ends with December 31 referring to USA timings of New York and formulas to convert them to different time Zones. This has helped Hindu Americans to observe the rituals as per saastric injunctions avoiding inauspicious hours like Rahukaaalm etc. and sticking to auspicious hours during the day. "It rightly calls April 13 this year as Nandana Naama Souramaana Yugaadi." It would be more appropriate to start this Panchangam on Makara (Capricorn) Sankrati day and end with the completion of Dhanus (Sagitarius) Sankramana and call it North Hindu-American Panchangam instead of calling it North American Panchangam catering to the needs of all Hindus drawn from different Sampradayas of Hindus in India. Americans are not interested in this Panchangam, only Hindu-Americans are and not even all Indian--Americans are. This should have general appeal to all Hindus who visit Hindu temple complexes in USA unlike the particular deity oriented temples of India. It is also appropriate to celebrate the New Year on this very auspicious day which is appealing to all Sampradayas. As we all know this is the most sacred Sankramana Day when the Sun starts its Northern Solstice journey glorified as Uttaraayana Punyakala by all Hindus. For Tamils this is the beginning of the famous Tamil month Thai. "There is popular proverb in Tamil: "Thai pirandaal vazhi pirakkum"-- The dawn of the month of Thai is the Gateway to Life. Further Makara Sankranti is significant to all Hindus drawn from various Sampradaayas to worship Supreme Principle as Aaaditya and Samvatsarta. We cannot avoid Gregorian calendar which is a Christian religious calendar which starts with the Birth Year of Jesus Christ and also the notional day of his Birth which got adjusted by a week. It is quite common in Western culture to push the days of significance to the week-end to celebrate the day with more relaxation. Further the exact day of Birth of Jesus is disputed and is only guessed as 25^th of December. You are perhaps aware there is a proposal to have a leap week year instead of Leap day year so that the birth of Jesus Christ could fall on a Sunday every year in December. Hindu Americans also can easily adopt Makara Sankranti as Saarvajanik (all people) New Year Day and this New Year starting will run parallel to Gregorian calendar as both have 365.25 days per year. Then this day could be observed and celebrated same way as January 1 by all Hindu Americans instead of rushing on January 1 to temples to make New Year resolution which day has no significance or scriptural sanction for a religiously motivated Hindu.

Here are Vedic hymns that focus on prayers to Brahman, Vishnu and Soorya as Samvatsara (Year):

" Aadityo vai teja ojo balam yasas-chakshuh |

Srotraatmaa manoe manyur-manu-mrityuh satyo |

Mitro vaayuraakaasah praaano lokapaalah kah kim kam |

Tat satyamannam-aayur-amrito jeevo viswah katamah |

Svayambhuh prajaapatih samvatsara iti |

Samvatsaro-asaavaadityo ya esha purush esha |

Bhootaanaam-adhipati brahmanah saayujya(ga)m salokataam- |

Apnot-atyetasam-eva devataanaa(ga)m saaujya(ga)m |

Saarshtrita(ga)m samaana-lokataam-aapnoti ya evam veda ity-upanishat ||

[Sun is verily luster, power of strength, fame, eyes, ears, intellect, mind, anger, mantra, death, riendly air, ether, vital air, the protector of the worlds, who, which, what, the truth, food, life span, immortality, the individual self, the world, the celebrated self (katamah), the self-born, the lord of all people and Samvatsara.]

 

"Brahmaanaam brahmaaa visvah katamah svayambhuh prajaapatih, Samvatsara iti Samvatsarova –aadityo ya esha aaditye purushah sa parameshthee Brahmaatmaa"

[The wise seers declare Paramaatman signified as Nyaasa is indeed the supreme existent means. He is the inner-self of Brahma who is called by the terms, Brahma, Viswa, Katamah, Svaaymbhu, Prajaapati and Samvatsara. This Aaditya is Samvatsara. That person who is in Aaditya is Parameshthi (The Supreme Reality) and is the Self of Brahma]. [Brahman is often referred as Brahma in Vedic Sanskrit like Aatman and Aatma.]

 

Om antahscharati bootheshu guhaayaam viswamoortishu | Tvam Yajnastvam Vishnustvam Vashat-kaarastvam Rudrastvam Brahmaa tvam O Prajaapatih ||

[Thou art called by the name Om; you move within the heart of all living beings as their inner controller. Thou art Yajna, Vishnu, Vashatkaara, Rudra, Brahma and Prajaapati.]

--Mahaa Naaraayana Upanishad

Suresah Saranah Sarma Visvaretaah Prjaabhavah |

Ahah Samvatsaro Vyaalah Pratyaayah Sarvadarsanah ||

--Vishnu Sahasranaama

[Vishnu is Suresa (the denizens of the Heaven), Saranam (Refuge for all who are suffering, Sarma (one who is himself the Infinite Bliss, Visvaretaah (the seed from which the tree of life has sprung forth), prajaaabhavah (from whom all living beings spring forth), Ahah (One who is of the nature of Day), Samvatsarah (one who is of the nature of year meaning One who is the Lord of the Time and from whom the concept of Time arises, hence called Samvatsara), Vyaalah (Serpent), Pratyaayah (Supreme Knowledge), Sarvadarsanah (Omni-spective).

 

REFERENCES:

1. Swami Sivananda, Hindu Fasts and Festivals, The Divine Life Society, Sivanandanagar, India.
2. Dr .Vijaya Gupchup, Festivals in Regions and Seasons of India, Navneet Publications (India) Limited, Mumbai, India.
3. Dr N.S. Ananta Rangacharya, Mahanarayana Upanishad, Bangalore, India.
4. Swami Chinmayananda, Vishnu Sahasranama, Central Chinmaya Mission Trust, Mumbai, India.
5. R. Kumar, North American Panchaangam 2012, Council of Hindu Temples of North America, New York.

APPENDIX

Is Tamil’s calendar out of sync with the calendars followed in the rest of India?

 Given below is an article from Organiser.org on how 'mind-set' or 'scripted mind' becomes the cause for many mis- interpretations in such a way that the core theme gets lost in due course. In the process the author has lamented that Tamils have deviated from adopting the lunar calendar which is actually the Hindu calendar followed by the rest of India. He thinks that there is nothing called Tamil's New Year or Tamil's calendar because what the Tamils follow are the festivals of the lunar calendar. Without realizing it the Tamils think that they are following a calendar 'exclusive' to themselves which in due course became an object for manipulation and was twisted by political bigwigs.

 There are some factual errors in the understanding of Tamil's calendar. The otherwise well written article needs to be read by all and that is why I am reproducing it here with a note on what exactly is this issue about Tamil's calendar.

 The calendar followed by Tamils is a combination of Solar and Lunar calendars. You may call it as Luni-Solar calendar or Soli-Lunar calendar. The solar calendar is the basis for computing Deva years (calendar of Gods) and the lunar calendar is the basis for identifying auspicious time for prayers to the Gods. In addition we take into consideration the stars, (nakshthra mana / sidereal day ) and savanna mana (terrestrial day which begins with sun rise everyday) Even in the lunar calendar followed in the rest of India the star and terrestrial reckoning are part of deciding the important times. So a day of importance, say, a day of festival or vratham (austerity) are decided on solar, lunar, nakshathra and savanna considerations.

\In deciding auspicious timings (muhurthas), both solar and lunar systems play an useful role. In other words, they are fused and used in unison in Soli-Lunar calendar. This has more practical benefits. For instance, the adhik masa of Lunar system is not suitable for auspicious events. But this kind of an issue is absent in Solar calendar. In effect we find that auspicious timings occurring in the solar month that corresponds to the adhik masa. According to muhurtha astrology, one can conduct a function in adhik masa or in an inauspicious lunar month if the solar month running at that time is auspicious. So astrologically speaking, the combined Luni-solar is useful and is accepted.

For instance in  grahaarambha (starting construction and grahapravesa (entry into newly built house), a combined calendar is used. Only 4 (corner / ubhaya rasi month) months are inauspicious in a solar year, whereas there is restriction on more months in lunar calendar. Adhering to them restricts the number of good muhurthas. So it is advised by sages to combine both lunar and solar months. Even if the lunar month is unfavorable, one can accept a muhurtha if the solar month is favorable. Particularly in deciding the month (maasa) for an auspicious event, solar month is acceptable.

 For austerities and vrathams, the lunar thithis are relevant. Lunar calendar itself is based on Pithru's cycle. So Thithi -based austerities are decided on the basis of Lunar thithis.

 For festivals and auspicious events, the star also must be considered. In that case, the solar month is given precedence. Only in the case of birthdays of Rama and Krishna we follow thithis – as they are times for vratham also. Otherwise auspicious events such as temple festivals, mundane festivals, marriages etc are decided on the basis of stars.

Therefore we cannot say that Tamil's calendar is out of sync with other calendars. The Luni-solar calendar of Tamils is far utilitarian than an exclusive lunar -calendar -based system.

It is said by almost all astrological texts on selection of an auspicious time that you can not get a day that fulfills all the requisites of a good muhurtha. Such days will be less than 5 in a year. So the best way is to choose a day having more positives and less negatives than to harp on all-positives day. Combined Luni-Solar calendar helps in identifying such days.

 On Tamil New Year day falling on the first day of Chithirai, it must be said that it was the right time. The Chathur Maha yugas started when sun entered 0 degree Aries. At that time moon joined the sun and the other planets (nodes excepting) were also close to the sun. That marks the birth of man kind and yugas. That was the original lagna of the world. That point determines the events of the world. That is why it is considered as the New Year.

In subsequent rounds, moon did not join the sun at the entry point of Aries (Chitthirai). That led to the development of 5-year Yuga (Pancha varshathmaka yuga). The adhik masa is part of this yuga to carry out the correction so that the sun and the moon join together at Aries. This also shows that primary importance was given to Sun's entry in deciding the New Year.

By Ram Gopal Ratnam

EVERY year we witness a ritual of the political leaders right from the Prime Minister down to city Mayor wishing the people for a happy new year. The Tamils for a Tamil new year, the Bengalis for a Bengali new year, the Malayalies for a Malayali new year, the Assamese for an Assami new year. and believe me, all fall on the same day. Simple logic tells me that if it is new year for so many regions, it has to be a single, common new year and not different new years. Yet, thanks to Goebbels, this falsehood has percolated down and now newspapers, teachers, temples and social organisations have joined senseless chorus. The effect? A common Tamilian has started to believe that it is Tamil's new year. Now, it has gone beyond mere belief. He firmly knows that it is Tamil's new year. Is it so? Is it Tamil new year or a Bengali new year or an Assami new year or would you call January 1st as American new year, British new year, French new year, Australian new year? No. It is just Christian new year and is the new year wherever the Christians live.

What is a new year day? It is the first day of a calendar. There are many calendars, the Christian or Gregorian calendar, the Muslim calendar, the Chinese calendar, etc. Basically, there are two types of calendars, the solar and the lunar. The solar one is based on the Earth's rotation around the Sun and the lunar is based on the Moon's rotation around the Earth. These two calendars are different as these have different basis for calculation. The Christian calendar is solar and the Muslim one is lunar and we, the Hindus have both. This so-called 'Tamil' new year is a Hindu solar calendar and the other one, which is ignorantly called Telugu new year by all the 'great' leaders in Tamil Nadu and a Marathi new year by the same catagory of leaders in the North, is actually Hindu lunar calendar.

Let me elaborate. Why do you need a calendar? To know your festivals. When is the Christmas? December 25th. Where did you find it? In the Christian calendar of course. You can not find it in the Muslim calendar. This year it is on the 13th of the month called Moharram. Next year, it will fall in the month of Julhej. It will be a different month every year. Can you locate the Deepavali day in the Christian calendar? You can not? It may fall in October or November. It was in October last year and this year it will be in November. You have to refer to the lunar calendar to know the Deepavali date. It falls on Ashwin Amavasya day.

Which are the festivals celebrated in Tamil Nadu? The same as those celebrated in other parts of our nation. The Deepavali, Vijayadashami, Navaratri, Ramnavami, Skanda Sasti, Gokulashtami, Ganesh Chaturthi, Maha Shivaratri, Vaikuntha Ekadashi, Shravan Poornima, etc. etc. I challange you to locate any of these festival days in the so-called 'Tamil' calendar. You can not, because this calendar is solar based and all these festivals fall on lunar days like Sashti, Ashtami, Navami, Amavasya, Poornima. How sad that a community has a calendar of its own, but all its major festivals have to be located from the calendar of a different community, the Telugu calendar in this instance?

It is not Tamil calendar or Telugu calendar. It is a Hindu solar calendar and a Hindu lunar calendar. Most of our festivals are lunar based and are located in lunar calendar. The Earth's movement around the Sun is not cognizable for a common man. We can infer the same by observing the climatic changes. We can merely know it is winter or summer or rainy season. All these are solar phenomenons. It is a matter for the scientist or the Astro mathematician who computes the Panchang. The solar calendar can be called a scientist's calendar. Festivals are common man's domain. You need a more 'user-friendly' calendar. The lunar movement is visible. Even a lay man can observe and understand the lunar movement. You have to just observe the sky and do some simple calculations and you can arrive at the festival days. So, you can call this common man's calendar.

 Both are Hindu calendars. Both are referred to and used in all parts of our nation. All the major festivals are to be found in the lunar calendar, except Makara Sankranti. This is an important festival for all Hindus and is found in the solar calendar. The 'Kumbh', Uttarayana and Dakshinayana Punya Kala, and monthly Pitru Tarpanam on every Sankranti day (Sankranti is the 1st of a solar month and makara sankranti is the 1st of the month called Makara.) are the other special days in the solar calendar. These are special not only to the Tamils, but to all the Hindus, throughout the length and breadth of Bharat. Is not Makara Sankranti an important festival for the Marathis? How is it that they do not have it in their calendar and have to reach out to the 'Tamil calendar' for finding it? It is neither Marathi calendar nor Tamil calendar, but just lunar and solar calendars.

Our formal education system does not teach these subjects which help us to know who we are. Long after Independance in 1947, we continue to churn out Mc'Caulay-putras from our schools. In my school days, Avani Avittam fell in the month of Aadi. Aavani Avittam is Shravan Poornima and Aavani and Aadi are names of fourth and fifth solar months. How can Aavani Avittam fall in the month of Aadi? It is like celebrating October revolution in November or Good Friday falling on a Thursday. This simple question arose in my childish mind and I used to ask many of my teachers, the social leaders in Tamil community. Unfortunately, none were able to give me a convincing answer. I had three options before me. I could have concluded that our ancestors were ignorant. I could have ignored and forgotten the question and concentrated on more practical things like career building, money making, etc. I could have pondered over the question spending restless moments till I found an answer. I chose the third option and was awestruck by the genius of our ancestors. The western mind wants to standardize everything. Uni-sex clothing, Uniform (American) breakfasts, uniform way of worship, uniform structures. It can not comprehend variety. It is not mature enough to appreciate more complex things. It wants to simplify everything. Many of our own English-educated are in the same mind frame. Nature is full of variety and is very complex. It requires a more mature mind and higher intelligence to understand, even appreciate complexities.

Our nation has nourished variety in every walk of life. We have so many ways of wearing our Dhoti and saree. (I've found 28 ways of wearing a saree in Tamil Nadu.) We have so many languages and dialects. Recipes? We do not have an Indian food. These words south Indian food and north Indian food are misnomers. There is no Tamil food either. The food system varies from community to community and region to region within Tamil Nadu and is very different from food in Andhra or Kerala or Karnataka. The same is the case in Maharashtra. The Warhadi is different from Konkani, which is again different from Khandeshi. That which is known as south Indian food is more a Tamil Brahmin food type. This vast variety flourishing in Bharat was exploited by the British, to drive a wedge, sorry, drive many wedges in the Hindu community.

There was one GU Pope in Tamil Nadu in the 15th century. He was a European Christian Pastor. He learnt Tamil and interpreted, rather misinterpreted the Tamil literature and sowed the seeds of separatism. Karunanidhi and other Tamil 'scholars' quote him for all their separatist ideologies. The British, under the chairmanship of Macaulay, laid the trap (and it is a well laid trap) and all our leaders, administrators, teachers and other 'intellectuals' have innocently, ignorantly, foolishly or willfully fallen in the trap. There is a Panchtantra story of a monkey fooling a crocodile wanting to kill and devour it, by saying that it has removed its heart and left the same in the tree. Now, it seems, all our intellectuals have removed and thrown their brains and thinking capacity and have decided never to use it again.

 

Let me conclude by narrating an encounter with a school principal. Shri Narayanan is MGR's brother-in-law and runs many schools and colleges in and around Chennai. His daughter, Smt Latha Rajendran was the principal of Janaki Ramachandran School in Chennai in the eighties. She is double MA, MPhil, and PhD. I used to go to these schools once a week to teach 'patriotism', as they called it.

On one occasion, I was invited to be the chief guest in their annual social gathering. There was the usual tamasha of filmy dances and filmy dialogues. There was one group dance with Bharat Mata, holding the tricolour, in the centre and girls and boys in pairs dancing around Bharat Mata. The Principal turned to me and proudly said, "We also instill patriotism through such programmes". "Who are these pairs dancing around Bharat Mata?" I asked her. "You don't know. I can't believe it. The third pair is a Marathi pair. That one is a Bengali pair. This a Manipuri, the next a Punjabi. These are all pairs from various parts of Bharat and the message is "We are One". said the principal. "The last pair on this side and the last one on that side. Which state do they belong to?" I asked her innocently. "That is a Muslim pair and this a Christian pair", she replied. One was dressed in lungi and purdah and the other in coat-suit and skirt.

 "So you are teaching the Muslim and Christian students in your school that they are not Tamils, but Muslims or Christians. Are you teaching patriotism or separatism?", I asked her.

You should have been there to see her face and know the intensity of shock she got. She was so much disturbed that she came out of the pandal. She was dumb-struck for a few moments and then she said, "I have gone to so many institutions and got so many degrees. I have been the Principal here since last eighteen years. I have always heard the same thing everywhere and have been talking the same thing to students all these years. Now, this was the first time I have heard something different. I feel I have done injustice to thousands of my students all these years." She was so much disturbed that she went on talking, no, blabbering for the next half an hour.

 The incident is not connected to calendar issue, but reveals the trapped mind set. So, what do you intend to do when someone accosts you with 'Happy Tamil New Year' wish next time?