Every nation has a new year's day to observe. This allows the people to give expression to their thoughts on their history and heritage, culture and tradiUons. This day is selected historically in consideration of the climate and the farming practices which rhyme with the traditional way of life of the rural folk. It could not be dictated by kings who lived thousands of miles away to suit the convenience of their revenue collectors.

When Mughal Emperor Akbar decided oh Pahela Baishakh to be the new year's day for this part of the region what was perhaps uppermost in his mind was how best to collect revenue In grain. The dryest season of Bengal or Baishakh was found to be the most convenient for the revenue collectors to move around and corny the crops to a storage centre. The Emperor s order came tn effect in 1558

Pahela Baishakh also suited the British when came and made Delhi as their capital. But they later abandoned the system of collecting revenue In grain and shifted to money. Being a nation of traders, they developed road, rail and river communication to a great extent facilitating traveling from the rural areas to the cities

In my view the new year's day in post - liberation Bangladesh ought to have been chosen by the people keeping the climatic condition and the need for trade and commerce in view We had weekly holi days on Sunday for last 200 years dictated by the British In the early eighUes. the gov ernment changed It to Friday ^nd set our calendar accord-

ingly.

1 think II is time we did a little bit of research into what our annual calendar looked like before Emperor Akbar set Pahela Baishakh as the beginning of a new year. According to the meaning, and significance of the climate? the Bengali month of Arga-Hayan (Arga meaning before and Hayan meaning year) must have been the first month of the year before the Mughals came. Agrahayan is the time when the new crops come to the farmers homes, the climate is most hospitable and communication Is easy. The people are the happiest at this time of the year as they have some money in their hands and food is abundant. This is the time most people choose for their festivities including weddings In contrast. Baishakh is the time when the crop Helds are on fire (virtually burning under the cruel sum), nor westers hit almost everyday. unbearable heat and severe shortage of food and water make people worry a lot about their fate. At this time most people in the rural areas are very short of cash; this makes them Jittery and short tempered

Now that the considerations of revenue collection, which were uppermost In the minds of the alien rulers, are no longer valid In the context of more modern and scientific methods of economic management tn the present day world I humbly suggest that we spare some thoughts on the question of choosing a new Bangla calendar drawing upon the wisdom of our old tradl Hons — which I think Is Agrahayan to start with 1