WISHING A HAPPY NEW YEAR

It is that time of the year again. I have already started receiving emails as well as cards by regular mail from my friends, relatives, neighbours and colleagues wishing me a happy new year.

- BASAB DASGUPTA

At first, I get this urge to simply ignore this whole ritual and lay low; but then I start to feel a certain pressure that I should reciprocate in some way and join in this seasonal spreading of goodwill. I go into a mode of reflecting upon the reasons behind all the meaningless things we do in life, especially during holiday season.

Should I buy cards? I always wonder why most people in this country like to display all the Christmas/New Year cards they receive in a colourful arrangement next to their Christmas tree or fireplace. Is it a way of showing how popular they are by the number of cards they get? No, I am not in that competition. I am not going to buy cards and mail them in any event. The business of selling greetings cards is probably one of the most profitable businesses of them all. The cost of printing a card cannot possibly be more than 40 cents, but one can sell them at a price between 99 cents and $6.99. On top of that you must add postage costs. Thanks to the invention of email, it is no longer essential to send an actual card.