I want the year 2006 to be the year of comedy. Why not make people laugh all 364 days? The year may very well be the turning-point in comedy.

Earlier, it was music that captured people’s attention. But now comedy has taken over. Who would mind a nice laugh without any malice? Comedy that is sans any vulgarity is always welcome by everyone. My New Year resolution is to make comedy the most popular form of entertainment. I am sure this is a workable resolution!

We want to give our best to the people. Our promise is to make available all basic amenities to residents of the city. The year 2006 would see functional street lights in all localities. We would try our best to provide clean drinking water to the residents. Our other focus area would be the sewerage system that would not clog. The residents also would have a new flyover as the New Year gift. After all, voters have reposed their trust in us and we cannot disappoint them.

A New Year augurs a new hope. As the year 2005 draws to a close, it’s time to say welcome to the year 2006. We want to take new initiatives and begin new ventures, and seek the Almighty’s blessings for all this. The whole atmosphere is charged with hope and positive feelings. As a doctor, I feel the year 2006 is beckoning us to tackle the problem of AIDS in all earnestness. It’s high time that we understood the medical aspects, and the psychological and social ramifications of the disease. I feel that spreading awareness about AIDS and counselling AIDS patients are the two most important things that need to be done.

I think all of us need to be aware of our collective responsibility vis-à-vis society. We can’t turn a blind eye to what’s happening around us. We have to stop being passive recipients. Unless we adopt a proactive approach, we cannot expect things to change.

I hope to be a responsible citizen in the true sense in the year 2006. Also, I have resolved to contribute whatever I can to social causes.

My resolve is to try my best to bring back the folk idiom in Punjabi songs. Our songs have a charm that you cannot find in meaningless peppy numbers that are ruling the roost these days. Why can’t we have the songs which speak of Punjabi culture? Such songs are not only melodious, but also they are packed with meaning.

I have promised to myself that I would continue to do my bit for social welfare. There are quite a few social welfare organisations that are doing a lot for society. My commitment to them remains intact.

Sandeep Chahal, Department of English, Doaba College