FLYING PIGS IN THE NEW YEAR

THE WATERSHED between the end of a year and the start of a new one marks a time of celebration. In countries around the globe, New Year parties are now as standard a part of the calendar as Sundays.

- Kiran Karnik

The Christmas to New Year week is, in today's globalised world, a festive time when work goes on the backburner, and many take a vacation. Flights and hotels in tourist resorts are chock-a-block full, while trains and buses to popular destinations are packed like sardines in a can. Visits to "home-town" have been substantially supplanted by basking in the sun on the beaches of Goa, learning skiing on the slopes of Gulmarg or just enjoying a white Christmas in Shimla. A few go to snowy Switzerland, sunny Spain, or Singapore shops even the Dubai desert (and, of course, malls). For all, it is the festive season, and there is merriment in the air; a time of "goodwill to all and peace on earth".

For those so inclined, it is a time to reflect, to think of the proud achievements and disappointments of the year; also, to look forward to new beginnings, opportunities and hopes. Many make New Year resolutions, and greetings for the New Year are often supplemented with wishes: a list of things that they hope may happen.

A few, like I, have given up on resolutions because one has learned that, though made with sincerity and good intent, most - like UN Resolutions on the Palestine issue - have little chance of being implemented. However, that does not preclude making wishes! The old proverb is, "If wishes were horses, beggars would ride", sometimes modified as "If wishes were horses, pigs would fly". Despite knowing that I will not fly, here is my list.

IF WISHES WERE HORSES...

Wars and conflicts between countries will end, with all borders, as they are today, being frozen for the next 20 years, and troops withdrawn.