All Guyana know that Diwali’s about “the victory of good over evil; light over darkness”. But, as with all Hindu commemorations, Diwali is intended to remind us of one or another of the fundamental lessons gleaned from their 6000+years’ experience on how to live successfully together as a society. And lord knows – in this instance Mother Lakshmi knows! – that we need such lessons in our 60 years of trying to make it on our own!! For us it’s important to know that Diwali also signifies the victory of knowledge over ignorance. Today in Guyana we gotta accept that much of our problems comes from the lack of knowledge about each other -and consequently our motives!!
Hindus tell stories that make it easy to learn “where they’re coming from.” The major story surrounding Diwali is about Prince Ram – their ideal King – and his wife Mother Sita, returning to their Kingdom of Ayodhya on Diwali night after a 14-year banishment. The story emphasises that there are challenges in all societies, but a ruler must be guided by the welfare of his people in his actions and be prepared to fight evil when it raises its head. But it also says that each citizen can -and must -play a part in this battle. We can’t just “throwback” in this war to repel the forces that would keep Guyana in darkness!!
The victory of knowledge against ignorance is key for all mankind in every aspect of their lives. It’s because of ignorance, for instance, that most of us follow leaders who act in the most reprehensible manner, both in their private and public lives. Sri Ram’s life, indicates how a person should act not only as a leader of the people or nation, but also as a brother, a husband, a son, a teacher and a friend. Sri Ram himself has taught us not just the art of warfare – as for instance how we should confront Mad Maduro – but about values in his own life.
But perchance THIS might be the message of Diwali 2024: since we’re in the midst of the campaign to select a leader of Guyana come next year!! We gotta go beyond the rhetoric that’s already being spouted on platforms and look at the actions of those presenting themselves for leadership. Can we really consider people who betrayed our trust and attempted to steal the last elections – denying us of our most sacrosanct right to choose our leader – as suitable for that role?? Your Eyewitness believes that we gotta apply the lessons of Diwali to our own actions or we can be accused of being hypocrites.
How much do our leaders-to-be words match their deeds? Happy Diwali Guyana!
…genocide reports
It’s been said that “the first casualty of war is the truth.” The corollary, of course, is that “the first weapon of war are lies”!! So, what are we to make of what we’re being TOLD about the genocide that’s been conducted in Gaza and its surroundings since last October?? The Israelis will tell you that Hamas crossed their walls and killed 1200 civilians and soldiers on Oct 7th… but they will not say why there is a wall enclosing the people of Palestine which they have occupied since 1948!!
Then there’s the claims and counter claims about “atrocities” and “killing of civilians” etc. But what is the moral equivalence to 1200 Israelis killed versus 42.000 Palestinians – mostly women and children – slaughtered?!! In this time of over 1 billion Hindus commemorating the victory of good over evil, Gaza is the living proof that such victory is not automatic.
We will all have to do whatever we can to make the Israelis see the light.
…East Coast Demerara
The Dharmic Sabha’s 50 years of motorcades have done a lot to bring Diwali to the Guyanese people. Originally celebrated in homes and yards, the motorcades in each of the coastal regions literally takes Diwali to all Guyana!!
