What it would be like if the entire population of the globe had suddenly suffered a bout of memory loss or there had been a cosmic conspiracy to eclipse the sun for a day or a two or even the planet Earth opted for a misrotation? The consequence could range from a galactic displacement to a disaster of cataclysmic proportion. But even if nothing so terrible happened, the concept of time or, better say, the calendar now people the world over follow would not be the same. A calendar has chosen to divide the eternal time into fractions for the convenience of its introducers, man that is. He could not keep count of the day and night without such an almanac. Even a clock or watch of early days only showed time, not days and months like its modern versions.
No wonder therefore the invention of a calendar was a milestone one in the history of mankind. Credit goes to the early Sumeran civilization for the invention of a workable calendar with 12 months and 365 days. The Greeks, the Romans also followed such a calendar in addition to another version used mainly for religious purposes. But the important thing is that the 12-moth calendar is more or less similar to the Gregorian calendar now followed the world over. From the simple and unattractive Bangla calendars that traders in this part of the world issued and distributed in the past on the occasion of halkhata, the yearly records of months and days have turned into a highly artistic endeavour, thanks to the corporate culture of modern times.
Each year, therefore, there is an unwritten competition between and among business houses to bring out the best calendar. After all, calendar is both an ad and branding exercise. With improved graphics, designing, colour separation, innovation in printing technique, camera works and explosion of ideas, calendars have gone through a transformation beyond imagination. In one of the articles, this scribe enthused over a calendar that showed little boy peering through the space created by a creeping sea wave on the beach. There were accumulated plastic bottles in that small hollow space under the watery sheet from the advancing sea. It was symbolic in more ways than one. Refuses created by man is not sparing the sea from which the early life sprang. The irate sea is now returning the complement. The message must not go amiss.
Calendars have their seasonal, environmental and many other themes along with simply the natural scenes of aesthetic values. All because man wants more than what serves his practical purposes. An array of glossy, beautiful and tasteful calendars and diaries alongside some crude ones splashes markets. People collect those not only for looking up the day and dates but also at the pictures that add to the interior decoration of a room. Indeed, a lovely calendar can give a character to the room if tastefully hung.
Yet calendars bring the best in man when they are presented as a gift. It has become a culture to exchange or distribute calendars among friends, patrons and clients. Usually people expect to get calendars and diaries as a New Year's present. Banks and business houses use the occasion for promotion of their products and services through calendars and diaries. This year, not many sponsors felt inclined to go for big spending on calendars for reasons understandable. The business bonhomie suffered on account of the political violence and stand-off. When businesses incur losses or have to scale down their operation, it is only a natural consequence. Yet calendars will make their rounds in different circles of society depending on their status. Not all calendars are for people at the lower rungs of society.
However, that is a different issue altogether. After all, calendars received as a gift makes everyone happy. At a time when happiness has taken leave of Bangladesh society, calendars at least have the capacity to give a momentary respite from the anxiety and fearful concerns.
Calendars throughout the ages
Nilratan Halder | Published: January 04, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2024 06:01:00
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