The writing’s on the wall for calendars

In this digital age, old-fashioned wall calendars have to be not pretty, but pretty different in order to survive.

While the government of India has stuck to offering a compilation of its achievements for monthly contemplation throughout 2016, the curious case of Pirelli tiring of top(less) models and going in for a more sophisticated marquee is proof enough of changing times.

Indeed, the current edition of the calendar, with its collection of (mostly) fully-clad women of substance bears little resemblance to the body of work the brand has been famous for so far.

Of course, India’s Pirellimeets-Sports Illustrated avatar — the Kingfisher calendar —is still clinging on to the bikini brief.

While the bold step of a Russian paper to feature President Vladimir Putin in a variety of dashing poses for what is being touted as a sell-out calendar this year may well inspire someone in India to follow suit, albeit with a modified version.

It may be germane to also note that the other best-selling calendar in Russia this year features 12 Orthodox Church priests and their cats.

Prompt Indian copycat publications of this meme may not be that likely, however.

Those with a thrifty bent of mind should note that 2016 shares a congruity in day and dates with 1988, and will be useful again — not merely as a collector’s item — in 2044.