The most beautiful time of the year is back. It’s the time when the entire nation hurls itself into the sea of happiness and enjoyment. It’s that time of the year when prolific lightning of diyas and candles fill one’s heart with cheerfulness. People sharing a good laugh and young kids incredibly excited to burst crackers, the atmosphere that builds up is really worth experiencing. Everybody looks happy, everybody keep all their worries and tensions aside to slip into this celebration of the triumph of good over evil. But the question that is worth pondering is that do we really need to celebrate Diwali in the manner we do it nowadays?
Do we really need to go out and buy crackers that cost tens of thousands of rupees? Do we really need to be this happy despite being fully aware of the fact that Delhi is treading on the destructive path to become one of the most polluted cities in the world? But then we, the people, are in my view wholly responsible for the creation of this dreadful problem that we are currently grappling with.
By now, some might have declared me as a cynic who can’t see people celebrate, who has a problem with the positivity that spreads out during this time but no, I may be castigated only after I express myself. Since last few years we all have been reading big preachy articles urging people to discourage bursting of crackers.
Articles mentioning the lamentable quality of air in Delhi have also become quite frequent and despite the presence of much needed awareness, people fail to acknowledge the fact that bursting crackers will make situation difficult. But then the argument that is generally used to vindicate the act of bursting crackers and make it look reasonable is that, ”government fails to implement stringent norms to check the pollution caused by factories and industries but when time comes to celebrate Diwali, all such advices and suggestions are proffered”. I support this argument because I personally feel that at some point government has failed to understand the gravity of the situation. The quality of air that we are taking in is slumping to become worse and this issue has been kept on the backburner by the concerned authorities.
Even the Supreme Court of India turned down the move to ban crackers saying it would add an unnecessary intrusion into personal liberties. This decision is justified too as if an individual feels like bursting crackers in front of his house then no one has the right to stop him from celebrating. Even the Supreme Court can act only in its ambit.
But I believe it is for us to understand that by indulging in the act of burning crackers we, knowingly or unknowingly, are taking away someone’s right to live a healthy life. Nowadays, every third person is suffering from some or the other respiratory disease. By making situation more miserable for them we are actually making a blatant attempt to curb their prerogative to lead a healthy life. Now, some people say that they have no intention to cause discomfort to anyone but it is just a way to celebrate. To all those people I have a few things to say.
Firstly, if your celebration is causing problem to someone and you are fully aware of it then I wonder how your conscience allows you to go on with it.
Secondly, you should realize that so called “celebration” is making things difficult not only for fellow humans but also for all the animals who can’t speak and therefore cannot convey their feelings when they lose out their dear ones due to shock they suffer because of the loud intense noise of the crackers. A large number of birds too get affected by constant bangs and some even die as a repercussion. Therefore re-ignite the doused element of humanity and save these animals and birds from perishing out of fear and shock.
If you really wish to outspread positivity that the festival of Diwali brings with it, then I humbly urge you to go out and share sweets and treats with all those people who are everyday fighting for their life by challenging the thorny convolutions of their decrepit life. Hand over new clothes to all those who have faced long years of penury. This would not only fill your heart with joy but would also bring to you a sense of gratification.
And lastly, I want to make an appeal to all the fellow citizens to see this problem as a personal issue because until and unless we perceive it through that lens, I wonder if cities would remain habitable in a few years from now.
Ending on a positive note, I wish a very happy, noiseless and pollution free Diwali to one and all. 🙂
