Editor,
In his poem “Himero Ratey” (On the cool, cold night) Rabindranath Tagore wrote – – “A clarion call from the deep tells all to kindle their own light to bedeck the earth on this night, announce the victory of light and defeat of gloomy disquiet”.
Light of candles, earthen lamps and colourful electric bulbs on Deepavali evening is fine; but much more important is to kindle one’s “own light” ie light of humanity conscience and brotherhood in the mindset and heart and keep it beaming throughout the year so as to embrace all living beings with love and kindness.
Perhaps it would not be out of context if we recall Tagore’s short story ‘Kabuliwala’ in this perspective. In the said story, the bride Mini’s father donated an amount to the poor fruit-trader Rahmat Khan so that he can return to Afghanistan to meet her daughter after several years. In the process, band-parties and lighting could not be organised during Mini’s marriage; but the heart of Mini’s father glowed with much more vigour and lightened up his horizon. Similarly, only if we cut down our expenditure, sacrifice a little and donate our honest cash or kind to the unfortunate lot so as to include them also in our joy; can the festivals return to its purest divine form and find its real significance.
Kajal Chatterjee
Via e-mail
