CALENDAR/DIARY

 FROM SAMPATH’S DESK:

   

 

CALENDAR/DIARY

 

Come December/January, there will be beeline to give and get Calendars and Diaries. Some passionate persons will be on the hunt.

In simple parlance, calendar is a tabular register of days according to a system usually covering one year and referring the days of each month to the days of the week. It’s also a system to organize days. Further, it’s a physical record (most often paper) system.

 

For advocates, the Court Diary/Calendar is an orderly list of cases coming up for hearing in court by referring to which they can attend and follow them up, as they have to shuttle from one court to another to attend the hearing and note the outcome of the day’s proceedings - whether the case has been adjourned or any orders or directions passed by the court. If a case stands adjourned, the details should be noted so that they can start the spadework and groundwork to face and conduct the respective cases, aptly and at the appropriate time.

 

While the calendar hung on the wall is the norm, a desk/table calendar (tangible or digital planner/organizer) helps executives note down the appointments given to others, priority items, reminders on action needed,  whom to meet at what time, etc., and regulate and manage the time effectively and efficiently.

 

School calendar-cum-diary gives information about holidays besides acting as a reminder for the home-works to be done by students within the time frame stipulated and to be evaluated by the teacher.

 

Nowadays, there are different calendars/dairies. In Government and other important offices, we have calendars of returns to comply with.

 

In a legislative body, it means the list of bills or other items reported out of committee for consideration. In libraries, universities, and other educational institutions, we have a catalog. It also means to the people concerned a list or schedule of planned events or activities giving the dates, time, and other allied details.

 

Different calendars and dairies mean different things to different persons according to their choice, mode of use, and needs.

 

The daily sheet calendars contain astronomical details (mostly synchronizing with the cycles of the Solar and Lunar movement), religious and spiritual information specific to the day that included, inter alia, Star, Thithi, Yogam (well-auguring good times to be taken for doing things, or the bad ones to be eschewed), etc., all according to Hindu beliefs, traditions, and practices. Hindus determine the auspicious times by taking into account the Day, Stars, Thithis (taking into consideration phases of the waxing or waning of the Moon), and also Yoga Karana. It also indicates the days of different religious festivals and public/government holidays.

 

‘Panchangam’ is also a calendar (Almanac) that follows traditional units of Hindu timekeeping and indicates important dates. It is relied upon by Hindus as a guide to organizing auspicious events.

 

However, it is a hard truth that when we remove a leaf from the sheet calendar, it means, one day has passed in our life and we have moved a little closer to the inevitable. Yes, it's a hard take!

 

I still remember an old calendar with a cute baby’s photo appearing therein for the advertisement of Murphy Radio etched as it were in my mind, the memory of which still lingers.

 

In the olden days, Calendar used to be simple but contained a mélange of information but without any attractive stuff. What started as a simple information provider soon became a commercial source and/or tool to advertise the goods and services offered in the trade and business sectors. In those days, Calendar was one of the main advertisement sources for the commercial world. The traditional and conventional utility calendar turned commercial carrying advertisements to lure customers with photos mainly of different GODS and GODDESSES and NATURAL/BEAUTY SCENES treated to attractive oil paint came to dominate the scene. The trend still continues.

 

Diary which also contained sheets for each day helped busy people to organize the day. It also encouraged people to write down the happenings of the day in the relevant sheets. Daily diary writing is considered important by some. One would be too surprised that sometimes, diary writings helped in throwing light/clues to the police department to ferret out truth and realities useful to criminal investigation agencies to zero in on some criminals, unravel mysteries, and also untie the suspicious knots.

 

Although technological advancements have revolutionized the scenario bringing in a new trend of digital calendars, dairies, organizers, reminder mechanisms, etc., the traditional ones still continue in their pride place.

 

For children, at the initial stages, the school Almanac/calendar may appear to be a ‘hassle-laden harder order book’, but once they cross the obstacles, start their hurdle race, and make the best use of the calendar, they will start increasingly feel its utility and value in due course as they grow up.

 

Calendars tell us, time is not the main thing; rather, it is the only thing. And, there is no actual upgrade without a ‘down’ time.

 

History tells us that Shah Jahan’s favourite daughter Jahanara Begum had the habit of diary-writing. Those writings later on revealed many important events that had happened in the Mughal Empire during her lifetime including unmasking some secrets that remained a perplexing puzzles to many.

 

Sometimes, we abandon even contemplated moves/actions thinking that we are too small a creature without stuff or substance and not capable of accomplishing them; there may only be a ‘starting trouble’ in such cases. And once you start attempting, it would turn easy. Remember, an unattempted task would always appear to be well-nigh impossible and a gargantuan task until it’s willingly taken up and carried out. Earnest and enthusiastic actions hold the key to success.

  

Here is a word of caution “Put your priorities on your calendar before someone else puts theirs on.”

 

Stay positive and optimistic. While tearing off the sheets of the unlucky past days, you may curse yourself for good things not happening on those days. But, why do you remain oblivious to the fact that many more sheets are intact?

To quote Charles Kettering “Every time you tear a leaf off a calendar, you present a new place for new ideas and progress.”

 

Ellen Goodman said “We spend January 1^st walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of works to be done, and cracks to be patched. Maybe, this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives… not looking for flaws but for potential.”

 

There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it’s going to be a beautiful butterfly one day. Don’t underestimate yourself or others.

 

If you tear off the sheet of a failure day, see the possibility in the next sheet. After all, hope is the perfect rail on which the train of life moves and goes well - smoothly and successfully. Have the fond hope that tomorrow could be the someday you have been eagerly waiting for, so far. 

 

Every day offers another new beginning; give the slip to ‘what might have been’ and look at ‘what can be.’

 

 

MONDAY - Motto and Motivation

TUESDAY – Topnotch Talents and Tenacious Toiling

WEDNESDAY – Wholehearted Workhorse Withstands, and Wear Well

THURSDAY – Tirelessness, Tedious (work), and Telling effect

FRIDAY- Firm, Forceful and Fight-to-the-Finish

SATURDAY – Strong and Sturdy, Staunch, and Stalwart

SUNDAY - Sure Success and Satisfied

 

If you ask ‘Which day is my good day?’ - the reply would be ‘Every day is a good day if you make it.’

 

All the best to all!

 

 

R.SAMPATH

17/4/2023