Ring Out The Old Ring In The New

RING OUT THE OLD RING IN THE NEW!

Some 150 years back Alfred Lord Tennyson penned this poem. On the New Year Eve there will be looking back, resolutions for coming year. A week before Christmas was celebrated, Santa in his red outfit distributed gifts to children, some got, some not.

(One thing is beyond comprehension. Why Santa only or his better half Shanti? Maybe because he doesn’t mind wearing the same red gown and cap every year and can be easily recognized. Shanti would not do that and would like to come in different outfits every year and it difficult for kids to recognize her.)

In our country some rich parents play the role of Santa and Shanti. For a common man arranging two times meal is a task by itself.

2020 will be remembered for decades. Survivors of 1918 pandemic, if any, can tell the difference. For the sake of record, in December 2019, an invisible virus traveled from Wuhan, China and spread like wild fire all over the world. 17 lacs lives, one lac of that in India, were lost but its hunger for humans is still unfulfilled.
Lab guys tell us it looks like a crown hence named Corona or COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019).
The good thing is vaccine has reached the market and hopefully by end of 2021 its effectiveness will be established. History is witness that in the end humans will win.
Those who lost near and dear will know the dreadfulness of this virus. For others, it’s scary. Lockdown after lockdowns were imposed. In the beginning there were drums beatings, lightning of lamps and Yagnas to scare this virus but nothing worked. For some it was much needed rest, time with family and so on.

But for how long? One needs bread too! Governments also understood. No business and no employment mean no taxes, no taxes mean no income and no income means no Government. Normal life has to start before might is right, the jungle rules, takes over. Rules were relaxed, people were persuaded to wear masks, maintain social distancing and wash/ sanitize hands. Markets and offices are opening. Economy will improve.

There is no choice but to welcome the New Year 2021. Let us do it happily! For a happy evening even if borrowing is must, do it. This evening will not come back.

Each calamity leaves lot of destruction behind but at the same time teaches us a good many lessons.

As for myself, as usual, I wished happy new year to all family members, relatives and friends much before midnight. In the spirit of the poem I will try to find spiritual happiness in my own way.
Wishing you a very happy New Year !

1 Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.

2 Ring out a slowly dying cause,
And ancient forms of party strife;
Ring in the nobler modes of life,
With sweeter manners, purer laws.

3 Ring out old shapes of foul disease,
Ring out the narr'wing lust of gold;
Ring out the thousand wars of old,
Ring in the thousand years of peace.

4 Ring in the valiant man and free,
The larger heart, the kindlier hand;
Ring out the darkness of the land,
Ring in the Christ that is to be.

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सर्वेभवन्तुसुखिनः
सर्वेसन्तुनिरामयाः।सर्वेभद्राणिपश्यन्तु,
माकश्चित्दुःखभाग्भवेत्।।