On Deepavali

The Brihardayanaka Upanishad so States:

"Lead me from the UnTruth to the Truth.
Lead me from darkness to Light. Lead me from death to immortality"

So beautifully have the 3 principles of life been propounded .... Truth (Satya), Light (Shiv) Immortality (Beauty) ... Truth is Life, Light is God, Immortality is the only True Beauty.... and all three can be found only in the grasp of God who represents all these 3 principles within himself.

It's the festival of Deepavali in India .... the festival of lights .... the celebration of lights ... a soulful remembrance of the magnificence and munificence of Light..... for as even the Torah states ... He (God) fashioned us in his image in Light ....

More than that, there is Knowledge in Light, there is Innocence in Light, there is Love in Light, there is Purity in Light..... Even if we discount the mythological and religious aspects of the festival, there is a lot to celebrate in this beautiful celebration of Human Existence, this ceaseless continuing journey of Life. Maybe Robert Jordan, understood this principle more than others, hence he made the men of the right Path follow the Light in his brilliant 'World of Time' Series.

But Light is not something that's easily accessible, though it's readily available .... the dazzle of Light can often be stolen by the lustre of mysterious darkness.... It's true that good intentions are important for a man to reach heaven, but it's also true that the path to hell is strewn with not only good but also noble intentions.... and where do we need to remember this more then in our India! A land of dreams, a land of opportunities that rides on the slightest grasp of a silver thread that could break at any moment in time and space.

Savera Tum Samjhe Ho Chamkile  Andhere Ko
Apna Hum-Safar Tumne Banaaya Hai Lutere Ko

Is this apt at any place more then India? Half of the continent is under the influence of either China or America; or shifting towards one of these ... How can we, the sons and daughters of the most illuminated nation on Earth, the most illuminated civilization on Earth, be so foolish that we are ready to cut the throat of a brother at a moment's notice but fail to recognize the enemy that stands on our hearth and home? 

This is because of the dazzle and shine that the crackers of the Far East and the New World that have momentarily and dangerously shifted our gaze away from the light of knowledge.

Deepavali, in it's mythological aspect is about the defeat of evil. I wish it was so easy to understand evil and to move away from it. ... but in a continent that boasts of so many points of effective control, so many nations that make up one nation, from Badakashan to Arakan... how can we undermine the threat to our nation?

Barack Obama visits India today.... the high point of the visit is to sell this country $2B worth of weaponry, which it expects will instill fear and a perception of threat in our sister states. Accordingly, it had, with this point in mind, cleared sales of $2B of sophisticated weaponry to Pakistan..... Isn't this the classic case of the two cats fighting and the monkey making off with the bread? I am a foolish man, but I feel so.... Why are the leaders of both these countries and those of the others, not able to understand the threat emanating from this docile friend?

Burma similarly is getting entangled closely in the String of Pearls strewn by China against India... why does it fail to look 35 years back in history and see how China treated a friend like Vietnam after it's primary objective was done?


What more has to happen for the nations of this one continent to wake up from their slumber and understand that they are sucking their own blood for the vampires that surround them? Why can't we shun these enemies of our nation, our civilization in our pursuit of Truth and Unity? Remember, if we can turn our backs to the weaponry provided by these people, we can effectively end their interference in our and our brother's state.

I would like to end with a beautiful observation made by Iqbal, long back....

Rulaata Hai Tera Nazaara, Ai Hindostaan Mujhko,
Ke Ibrat-Khez Hai, Tera Fasaana Sab Fasaanon Mein

Diya Rona Mujhe Aisa Ke Sab Kucch De Diya Goya,
Likha Kilk-E-Azal Ne Mujhko Tere Nohakhwananon Mein

Nishaan-E-Barq-E-Gul Tak Bhi Naa Chhoda Bagh Mein Gulcheen,
Teri Qismat Se Razm Aaraaean Hai Baghbaanon Mein

Chhipa Kar Asteen Mein Bijliyaan Rakhi Hain Gardon Ne,
Anaadil Baagh Mein Ghhafil Naa Baithe Aashiyaanon Mein

Sun Ai, Ghaafil, Sada Meri, Ye Aisi Cheez Hai Jisko,
Wazifaa Jaankar Padhtey Hain Taair Aastaanon Mein

Watan Ki Fiqr Kar, Naadaan, Qayamat Aanewaali Hai,
Teri Barbaadiyon Ke Mashware Hain Aasmaanon Mein

Zara Dekh Issko, Jo Kucch Ho Raha Hai, Hone Waala Hai,
Dhara Kya Hai Bhala Ahd-E-Kuhan Ke Daastaanon Mein

Ye Khamoshi Kahan Tak, Lazzat-E-Faryaad Paida Kar,
Zameen Par Tu Ho, Aur Teri Sada Ho Aasmaanon Mein

Naa Samjhoge To Mit Jaoge Ai, Hindostaanwaalon,
Tumhaari Daastaan Tak Na Hogi Daastaanon Mein

We did not listen to him the last time .. Will we listen to him this time?

India has been partitioned 9 times ..... how many more partitions do we intend to see before we say, it's enough? The time has come to initiate a fight-back, but do we have the purity of heart, the purpose of mind and the strength of the soul to do so....

This Deepavali, let us arise from our small barriers of race, language, region, religion, caste, creed, colour, community, gender and status and get together with the force of light behind us to mend all that's wrong and to strengthen all that's right.....

Happy Deepavali to all of you.... From a Beast!