Divali is a celebration of triumph-light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and butcher over the pig.
In northern India, Divali marks the return of Rama to Ayodhya after his defeat of the demonic king Ravana. In western India, Hindus celebrate Divali to commemorate the defeat of Narak, an evil king that held thousands of women in captivity. Many Indians interpret this as a triumph of women’s rights in India more than 5,000 years ago!
Preceding Divali was the nine-night of worship to the goddesses. The highlight of this period of worship called Navratri is the slaying of the demon Mahishasura. He was described as a shapeshifter, that is, one who was able to change his form. Despite this conniving, Goddess Durga was able to defeat him after a terrible fight. She took the ferocious form of Kali, the conqueror of time, to destroy the wicked demon.
Demonic forces continue to assault Indian society not only in the subcontinent but also in the diaspora. Religious bigotry runs riot as the two dominant religions -Islam and Christianity- continue to convert Hindus by force, bribery, and trickery. Fortunately, the cosmos has brought forth the nationalist BJP government led by Narendra Modi to implement policies and programs to annihilate such illegal and immoral practices, much to the chagrin of Islamic and western leaders. Narendra Modi is not relenting but pushing forward his policies to make India a Hindu rastra where religious diversity would triumph over one god, one book, one prophet bigotry.
Only three weeks ago the government in Assam, India, banned the teaching of the Koran in State-funded schools. An official of the government argued that if such a policy had to continue then it would have to be extended to the Bhagavad Gita and Bible. This policy was implemented notwithstanding the rise in religious extremism that is threatening the security and ethos of the Indian people.
To this end, the Modi government banned several Christian-sponsored NGOs earlier this year. Projecting an image of piety and working for the welfare of the poor, in reality, the Church is engaged in a most sinister plot to undermine the security of the country. These religious bigots have connived to paint a false narrative that Prime Minister Modi is fascist and akin to Adolf Hitler of Germany without an iota of evidence. Fortunately, such diabolical propaganda is not deterring PM Modi from implementing his plans to strengthen the security of the Indian nation.
Unrelenting in his drive to lift Hindu consciousness, Modi is unapologetic in the midst of criticisms by his detractors. Despite the majority of media houses in India are owned by Churches and Islamic organizations, Modi has courageously stood up against their lies, half-truths, and innuendoes. They now have to exercise retrains in the exercise of their duties or feel the full brunt of the law.
Al Jazeera, a media house with its headquarters in Qatar, has been accused of peddling one version of its news to its western audience and another’s to the Islamic Middle East. For example, Al Jazeera has peddled the falsehood that the Jewish holocaust in Nazi Germany did not happen. Such distortion of a historical fact is now being challenged by Jewish historians.
Hindu leaders in the diaspora have to learn from Modi. They must stop getting enraptured in the adoration and love showered on them by chamchas (ass-lickers). Given the looming threat prevailing in the diasporic communities, Hindu leaders have to move swiftly to command their followers to work harder for the preservation and propagation of dharma.
Hindu politicians in the diaspora function distant and apart from Hindu dharma. Indian culture is treated like taboo by these opportunists and apologists. Imagine men and women in politics without an opinion on issues of culture and proselytization? How does one explain Hindu politicians quoting profusely from the Bible at rallies in the Hindu heartland? What is most scary is that Jamaican reggae and dancehall music have legitimacy at political rallies in the Hindu heartland while local chutney are shut out! It must be KALIYUG; if not political lunacy!
It is heart-wrenching to read the racist assault on the Political Leader of the UNC in social media and not a defense from the UNC’s Parliamentary Arm, Executive, or Constituency Councils. This absence of second-tier leadership within the UNC is most unsettling. It does not augur well for the future of the party. It is now obvious that the Indian community is voiceless and has to search for new leadership, not just in the political arena but also in the cultural front.
The PNM has its carnival, pan, calypso, and soca to rally its supporters. And you can add to that Christmas and Parang. The PNM has a cultural identity! What is UNC’s cultural policy?
How long can the UNC continue denying its Indian roots? Do UNC supporters know of the role of Bhadase Sagan Maraj, in the social, cultural, and political development of the Indian community?
Divali is the triumph of good over evil and so long as negative forces continue to stalk the land, there is truly no reason to celebrate this festival of triumph. The closing of PETROTRIN, perennial flooding, and the destruction of homes, and blatant marginalization of farmers have not been addressed. It is only after the demonic forces stalking the land are defeated that we will earn the right to celebrate Divali-the triumph of good over evil. Only the brave and fearless celebrate; cowards live in mortal fear of the enemies!
