A day prior to Diwali is celebrated as Narak Chaturdashi. Goa has the unique distinction of holding large-scale competitions of floats depicting the assassination of demon king Narakasur by Lord Shri Krishna. Narakasur was notorious for his cruelty towards women and children during his reign over large parts of North India. Diwali is celebrated marking the conquest of Lord Krishna over Narakasur.
Many centuries later, when it is presumed that mankind is witnessing the best civilization in human history, the world is witnessing war, bloodshed, deceit, cruelty, irresponsibility, authoritarianism, corruption, communalism, etc. The cruel authoritarian leaders akin to the Narakasurs, reign over the people in the name of democracy. Waging wars against neighbours in the name of self-defence has become the easiest tool to distract the citizens from the shortcomings and corruption of the leadership.
It’s more than a month that Israel, a state which was created by settling down refugees after the holocaust, has today bombarded almost the whole of Gaza city and more than 10,000 have been killed with nearly one-fourth of the victims being children. Calls for a ceasefire have been falling on deaf ears and even the United Nations has been proved to be a toothless tiger. While a State has the right to self-defence, should a government facing corruption charges and for decades accused of subjugating lakhs of people into open-air prisons be allowed to carry out a genocidal attack against defenceless civilians? While the super powers of the world have backed this more than month-long aerial bombardment campaign, and history will judge between the oppressed and the oppressor, Palestinians await the modern day Krishna to end the century-old human catastrophe.
Diwali also marks the day when Shri Ram, Lakshman and Sita returned to Ayodhya after a 14-year exile. However, on this day Sita is celebrated as the incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi marking the return of wealth to Ayodhya.
As per government data, more than 5 lakh Goans are dependent on the public food distribution system, which is nearly one-third of the population of the State. On Diwali evening, while performing the Lakshmi pujan, thousands of homes in Goa will pray for a year which will not be the same as the one gone by. The State government should ponder upon its policies and the way forward in uplifting the economic status of the backward sections of the society. Mere slogans won’t get citizens financial independence; rather empowering individuals and families through employment and business opportunities will go a long way in providing economic stability.
Diwali is an occasion and celebration not just of and for a specific community, but an aspiration of all to shun evil and march towards good. Turning to the government, every Goan today wants democracy to win over authoritarianism, secular ethos to defeat the communal divide in the society, and accountability to win over irresponsibility.
Neither Lord Ram nor Lord Krishna would have been heralded to a heroic welcome had they not only seemed to have justly reigned over their subjects but in truism had reached the men and women, old and children, when their citizens looked up to them for their social and economic well-being.
The society awaits to usher in prosperity of all and not a selected few.
Happy Diwali!
