OFF TO A FRESH START

More hopes, another set of resolutions, and renewed beginnings – the New Year brings with it a lot of aspiration to change from within. Citizens tell us their goals and what they want from the coming year

Of a fresh dawn and the onset of something beautiful, people the world over have a lot of sentiment attached to how they start their New Year.

For many, it means pressing that reset button to change themselves for the good and add a new dimension to their lives. For some, it’s doing nothing different, but carrying on doing the one thing they have always loved.

Prominent people tell us what they expect from 2017, their wishes and hopes for their friends and family. I will start my New Year from my home in a remote part of the Nilgiris, peacefully meditating with a couple of friends. In 2017, I hope there is an advancement in medical science to cure cancer through immune therapy. I wish for a more empathetic government to advance healthcare, education and public infrastructure. I want more peace in the world and personally for me and my family— peace, health and happiness G.V. PRASAD, chairman, Dr Reddy’s Lab I always start the New Year doing what I love the most — drawing. This year, too, I will wake up and draw. In 2017, I hope we can get the Lalit Kala Akademi back. We need a space for artists to come together to create something amazing. May there be more power to art and artists this year! LAXMA GOUD, Padma Shri award-winning artist

Istart love to look back at my organiser and

a fresh one on the New Year. I have been maintaining a planner (calendar organiser) since I was a teenager and have been noting all significant events and happenings. Moreover, I download all of the previous year photos on to my MacBook from my phone and replay the year that was on the first day of the year.

Wherever I am, I always make it a point that my daughters — Aanandi, Aaadhy and Ahana are the first ones to wish me and that continues every year with a family lunch at home. Then we do

puja at home so that continues on the first day of the year too. — SRINU VAITLA, Tollywood director

IYear always start the New

with positive thoughts. Although many find it difficult to sustain the sentiment of the New Year throughout the year, I believe if we start with a simple wish, it is much easier to sustain it. I will try to heal and give good health to as many as I can. — DR D. NAGESHWAR REDDY, chairman, Asian Institute of Gastroenterology

The new day of a New Year heralds a lot of expectations in every sphere. Although different sectors in India have different days to usher in the New Year, January 1st is universally celebrated. One looks back on all that was accomplished in the time gone by and raises the bar for the days lying ahead. My wish for 2017 is global peace and universal prosperity. This automatically includes all good fortunes for everyone. It begins with the same prayer for the world and we are the world. — VINITHA PITTIE, designer

Asmile can bring happiness and positive energy to the people around us. It doesn’t cost to bear a smile and can help to get rid of negative energy around us. I like to start my first day of the year with a smile and a good workout. — SUDHIR REDDY, architect

Iam in Shirdi. For the last 25 years, I have been starting my first day of the year with Shirdi Sai Baba’s blessings. For the first time when I visited Shirdi, I felt that someone guided me and since then that power has protected me and my family and whatever I am today is because of Baba. — A. MAHESH REDDY, MD and director of AMR Constructions Limited

My first day of the year is about three things — gratitude, charity and reconnecting. Gratitude because I like to look back on the year that has passed and thank God for everything good that happened in it. Charity, because I feel everybody deserves to start the year with a smile, even the needy. I typically do something, albeit small, for those less fortunate than us. Reconnecting because it is the perfect day to reach out to not only your near and dear ones but also those you have lost touch with to wish them the very best for the coming year. — G. RAVINDER RAO, chairman and managing director, Yashoda Hospitals group