Bald eagles perched on Mount Gunnbjorn, Mount Damavand!

New Year's arrival renews hopes, beliefs, expectations, fears and resolutions of the obligate bipedal mammals, who think their wants are worth more than the lives of other animals. They long to fly high in the sky like a bird and explore a jungle like a lion or a tiger, but these two-legged animals never wish to turn into a fowl or a mouse or a skulk. Why? Around the New Year, if songbirds have faced danger, how birds of freedom, vultures or white falcons can survive the brutal attack of a bald eagle. Threat is looming over the common nightingale too.

These obligate bipeds might deeply desire to attain the highest summit or plunge into an ocean's depths, but at no time they aspire to transform into a mountain or a sea. Such a transformation might, beyond everything, make them susceptible to a range of unwanted changes brought about by human actions. If only the Himalayas, Aravallis, Western Ghats and high seas could speak! Or for that matter, Mount Gunnbjorn (Greenland) and Mount Damavand (Iran) could express their views.

As the world overflows with obligate fellows, it is natural for the obligated to take a splash in the river of resolutions. It's a different issue that no one wants to become the river itself. Just a dip of ablution and it is done. If the major rivers could voice their struggles and share their grief, the wise men would probably understand the reason.


The river of resolutions has navigated for ages and changed its course because of natural events and (in)human interventions. Since rivers do not flow backwards, the course isn't likely to take the bullock cart route again. But as streams are known for merging into larger rivers or seas, even Gen Alpha and Gen Beta remain oblivious to the current that may emerge from the conflux.