India Shining

Dear Diary:

Today is 5th March and 12th day of 21 days total lockdown in India, to fight Corona Virus Pandemic. Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi has given a call to the Nation to switch off all electrical lighting in their homes exactly at 9.00 PM tonight and light a lamp at the doorstep to demonstrate solidarity and unity of 1.3 billion Indians in the fight against the deadly virus. A simple yet powerful gesture to feel the support of each other and be reassured. It is impossible to miss the palpable excitement all around and how do I know? Well, it is through WhatsApp! Every one of us is eagerly waiting for 9 PM tonight.

Some politicians have attributed various motives to this simple idea. It is not surprising that some of them are criticizing and opposing for the sake of opposition. But it is amazing that some of these politicians who also are eminent lawyers, diplomats, intellectuals, writers, and leaders, capable of rational thinking, also joined the bandwagon only to please their party leaders. Some elite, influencers in society and even a few members of the press are also supporting them. What is so odd about lighting a lamp? In our culture, we light a lamp every morning and if possible in the evening to drive away darkness and symbolic of our wish to illuminate our lives and our minds. Where does the lighting of lamps come in the way of social responsibility? Citizens are following social distancing, Doctors and health care workers, Police, field administration, Media and Press are fully engaged in serving the society during this Corona Pandemic. Why do these politicians with convoluted logic think that entire 1.3 billion Indians are morons, oblivious of the happenings around them and incapable of discriminating good from the bad? Don’t they realize that sometimes it is better to be silent than engage in a hollow talk? Well, let them be happy in their own Paradise while we focus on our life.

At 9.00 PM everyone in the neighborhood lit lamps with reverence and Joy. I believe all the Indians had joined in this endeavor and surely the universe would have blessed us! All of those who believed would have felt the bliss. I felt that it is also apt to invoke Shanti mantra:

Asato mā sadgamaya

Tamasomā jyotir gamaya

Mrityormāamritam gamaya

Oṁ śhānti śhānti śhāntiḥi