Now that Divali is upon us, I was hoping that a Hindu organization would have announced plans to build a hospital, Sanskrit University or to develop programs to eradicate poverty and illiteracy and stem the tide of conversion. Sadly, this was not to be! We do not even have plans to improve on what already exists!
Nevertheless, the middle-class Hindus continue to do well in upgrading their vehicles and changing their windows, travelling abroad for holidays, and having lavish parties and weddings. Moreso, their children continue to graduate as professionals. All in all, the middle-class is doing well for themselves despite the community being orphaned and depraved.
As for our working-class and those on the margin, they appear to be in a daze, not aware of the forces that are working against them. While they struggle for their daily roti, a major portion of their meagre income is wasted in alcohol and poor dietary practices which leads to life-style diseases such as hypertension, kidney failures, heart diseases etc., thus perpetuating the poverty cycle. Has any Hindu organization ever considered developing a medical program to address these life-style diseases? Sadly, the major economic enterprise in our community is dreaming to win Pick 2 and the Lotto!
Where is the next Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Inshan Ali? Are we investing in sports and cricket in particular? What can be done to encourage our youths to play cricket? Are sports enthusiasts and the business community ready to provide the technical and physical infrastructure for our young players to excel in the game?
Religion is good but it can also become a drug if not interpreted properly. It is time for the Hindu community to address itd failings and for our pandits to look beyond the seedha and dakshina. Today fewer and fewer Hindus are doing poojas and it may be that our pandits are killing the ‘goose that lays the golden egg.” The Hindu community can be likened to a cow. If the cow is well fed and cared for, it would provide all the nourishments that the community needs. Let us not only think about drinking milk but also cutting a bundle of grass for the cow!