“Dekhiye paate hai ushshaq buton se kya faiz Ek barahman ne kaha hai ke ye saal achchha hai...” Imagine, the great Asadullah Khan Ghalib, a master of the art of weaving rebellions into poetry, so easily submitting to that age-old sentiment at the start of the year just as we do. “Dekhiyein paate hai kya…” and the need for “…ek barahaman ne kaha hai…!” “…ke ye saal achchha hai,” is such a wonderful thing to hear at the start of the year. The sceptics can stand by their commitment to rationality how-so-ever firmly they want to, but the larger group of notso-sceptical and the ‘so sentimentals’ do love to hear from the Brahman. For, a little indulgence in the tiny pleasures of hope is all that the world needs, particularly when we are off to such a dramatic start. Agreed, 2026 has started on a rather diabolic note with peace seeming more elusive than even the peace prize to a certain wannabe gentleman. But the Brahmans, the astrologers, the seers and the fortunetellers had already predicted a comparatively bad year for peace as did the political analysts, the economists and the social scientists. While the former saw the position of Mercury, Saturn, Mars and Moon, the later concluded that the writing on the stars perfectly aligned with the writing on the wall. The world’s going crazy and we and our stars will have to live through it. War is ravaging many parts of the world. A President has left the world ‘tariffied’. A President has been kidnapped.

 

                                                     JUST LIKE THAT  

 

A Supreme ruler is trying hard to remain supreme. Precious metals are redefining the meaning of the word precious. People are protesting everywhere. Fear rules the roost. The old order (if one can call it so) is tumbling. Definitely, not a good start to the year. Amid so much of chaos, if an astrologer comes by your way and tells you ‘… ke ye saal achchha hai..” then he should be given your utmost gratitude if not complete faith. At the end of the year, things might be no different but such words at the start of it really help one sail through. Many people think that predictions of the future are unscientific indulgence of the less intelligent. May be, but I’d rather be less intelligent and indulgent than very intelligent and untenable. Hope keeps me floating and I would like to remain afloat. And that is perhaps the case with millions and millions of those who dutifully read their weekly predictions in newspapers, who listen to podcasts and who also visit astrologers with their ‘kundalis,’ just to listen to those golden words… “ke ye saal achchha hai.”

 

There are many advantages of listening to predictions. Firstly, you realise that your stars treat you much better than the world does. I mean it is such a charming thought that while people around you may completely ignore you, the far away planets -- Jupiter, Mercury, Venus, Uranus and Neptune are not only watching you closely but, like a true near-and-dear one, want to leave an impact on your life. Honestly speaking, never do I feel as important as when seeing my own Natal chart. The other charts of my life are in fact charters of nothingness. My academic record, my balance sheet, my bank account details etc, etc, etc, nothing can ever make me feel more empowered than my Natal chart. With Surya, Budh, Guru, Shukra, Shani, occupying their right and wrong places, it is my Natal chart alone that gives me the feeling of ‘Aham Bramhasmi.’ (I am the Universe.) I may sound like a megalomaniac, but I’m not. (I know, world can afford only one at a time.

 

And that place is occupied. And the queue for next-in-line is also very long.) It is just to preserve a feeling that while the world concerns itself little, the world above cares. Secondly, these come as great rescuers when you yourself and the world dumps heaps of failures upon you. Ohhh!!! You can say, “The fault is in our stars!” The sadesaatis of the Shanidev, the Rahus and the Ketus’ come quite handy. They tell you that all things around you are for you and yet not. They are about you and yet not. A far greater force is at work. Thank heavens, for the heavens. Thirdly, it helps in that business of remaining afloat. I have never succumbed to hardcore rationalism. Hardcore of anything disturbs the softness of life, I feel. I so like to feel that I am a product of divine design rather than nature’s rigmarole and as such I have much to look forward to. “You will shine brighter, once the Rahu changes house,” says the astrologer and I am all ready for that time. I know the scientific world will consider my indulgence in the stars petty. The argument if astrology is a science or not will break afresh. I don’t care. The Brahman has told me that “… ye saal achchha hai..” and I am all up and about for it.

 

“The year will bring you rewards that you deserve,” he has told me. ‘To get what you deserve’ is such a priced blessing that it does not get covered even in the little labour laws of our government.” But the laws of cosmic justice are about to deliver me my dues. If, going by the logic of ‘the morning shows the day’, January may be showing the year. The world, on the edge, is not going to retreat anytime soon. The soothsayers, too, may have to look past the naysayers to extract hope of a better future for people. So, when a Brahmansays, “… yeh saal achchha hai,” indulge in that hope. In this chaos, even if the heavens may not be particularly inclined to keep you from falling, that little hope will keep you afloat.