08.08.08

There seems to be excitement about the August 8th phenomenon. Humanbeings go crazy when unusual patterns happen in the dates. Eight years ago, when the year 1999 ended, everyone was so excited to have a year ending with three zeros ! And, the whole world celebrated the new Millennium, as if it was going to make any material difference. Of course, there were some purists who tried to spoil the party by saying that the new millennium actually starts in 2001 and not in 2000 ! The argument became more interesting, when some people started saying that Jesus Christ was born in the year BC 6 (that is, "-6"), and not the year 0.

So, it is no surprise that there is excitement about 08.08.08. It seems, the number of people who want to get married on this day is quite high. People have booked in advance to register their wedding on this day, as they consider 8 as auspicious. Why ? Because, 8 looks like infinity (if you look it sideways !). I am sure, parents would like their offsprings to be born on 8th August. Even China is thrilled by the Eightomania. The olympics is going to be inaugurated at 8 PM on 08.08.08


I must confess that in 1988, I also didn't escape from one such excitement. (My god, it was 20 years ago !) It was 8.8.88 that time. I was studying in IRMA and had a blissful friendship with Bharani, Rajan and Nalini. The happy foursome. It was the first day of our Fourth term in the college, after the MTS-2. We wanted to capture that day for posterity. So, we went to a photo studio in Anand and took this photograph. (From left to right, myself, Bharani, Nalini and Rajan).

That day, we wondered where we will be in 9.9.99. We were not sure about it, but definitely, we didn't think that one of us will be no more by then. Rajan died in a road accident in 1990, leaving us just to live with this photograph.

Many unique dates have come after that. 9.9.99 for one. In the new millennium, every year we are having something like 1.1.1, 2.2.2 etc. We even had 01.02.03 and 09.08.07 and all that. But, nothing could match the lovely day four of us had at the photo studio in Anand on 8.8.88 !