“We have a duty to remove darkness wherever we find it” – Minister Ramkissoon

…as HSS hosts 11th National Diya Light-up

As human beings and as citizens of Guyana, everyone has a responsibility to remove the darkness in the lives of others, bringing to them happiness and prosperity.

This was the message delivered by Minister within the Agriculture Ministry, Vikash Ramkissoon, at the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) 11th National Diya Light-up, which was held on Sunday evening at Rahaman’s Park, Greater Georgetown.
Delivering the feature address, Minister Ramkissoon, who is also a practising pandit, explained that Diwali is known as the Festival of Lights, and lights remove darkness. Similarly, diyas, which are lit by Hindus on Diwali day to adorn their homes, are also a symbolic removal of darkness.
“And so this festival is saying to all of us as human beings, that we have a duty to remove darkness wherever we find darkness. And so our responsibility as citizens, our responsibility as a human being, is that wherever we find darkness, we remove darkness by [using] light,” he stated.
Ramkissoon added that part of that responsibility is ensuring that happiness and prosperity are brought into the lives of others, and that includes helping those living in poverty.
According to the Minister, the government similarly has a responsibility to ensure that the nation is not in darkness and that prosperity and progress come to every citizen.
“We also have our responsibilities…our job is to ensure that our nation does not be in darkness. We have a responsibility to ensure that prosperity and progress come to our nation. And so, I want to assure you that every policy, every program of our government, is aimed at bringing prosperity to our people… And so that responsibility, we take it very seriously. And you can see across your nation that great things are happening,” he posited.
In the same breath, however, the minister noted that citizens also share that responsibility to bring prosperity into their own lives by making use of the opportunities that government has provided for them.

Compassion and Dharma
Sunday’s National Diya Light-up was held under the theme “Igniting Guyana’s future with Courage Compassion and Dharma” – something which Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr Amit Telang, emphasised on during his remarks.
The Indian diplomat explained that “dharma,” by definition in the ancient scriptures, does not mean religion but rather duty and conviction.
“Dharma also means to take the right path, to pursue it despite any kind of obstruction, any kind of hurdles, and to achieve your goal,” the High Commissioner noted.
According to Dr Telang, it is this definition of dharma that is enshrined in the work that the HSS is doing. He added that at the crux of this organisation’s work is the concept of “family” – not the traditional meaning.
“The family we are talking about is one where, in case of any difficulty, in case of any problem, in case of a situation of adversity, the one who comes and stands with you is your family. So, when we talk about a global family, whom do we count upon? Whom do we look for in case of adversity, and also when we celebrate with? Who is it that comes and stands with us?”
It is against this backdrop, that High Commissioner Telang pointed out that Guyana and India are part of the same family.
“Guyana and India, we recognise that we are part of the same family, and in case of adversity, we are with each other. And in case of happiness, we share that happiness with each other… Sometimes we tend to believe that the prosperity is your own welfare. If you have to win, then somebody has to lose… This is not that concept. This concept is a win-win concept… That is the concept that we believe in when we talk about a family, and once we start believing in that, all our differences mean nothing, because at the end of the day, we are looking at the welfare of a country as a whole… So, there is no reason why we should think that in order for Guyana to win or Bharat (India) to win, somebody else has to lose. No, all of us can win. All of us can prosper,” he asserted.

HSS
Established in 1996, HSS Guyana, also called Hindus for Selfless Service, is committed to fostering community spirit, selfless service, and cultural values among youth, while promoting unity across Guyana’s diverse society.
Through initiatives such as the National Diya, the organisation continues to contribute to national development by encouraging service to others and celebrating traditions that inspire collective harmony.
HSS Member and Indian Rights Activist, Ravi Dev, lauded the work being done by the organisation’s members especially the youth to keep the values and ideals of the HSS intact.
“Many of them have kept on against great odds to try to put their shoulders to the wheel to transmit these values. And this programme is celebrating Diwali in terms of it’s essential meaning – the triumph of good over evil.”
“So, in Guyana, this young organisation that was founded by the young people of HSS decided that one of the darkness that must be removed in Guyana are the walls that separate us. And this Diwali light-up, the first in Guyana which started 11 years ago, it would represent in the togetherness of all Guyana,” Dev noted.
The National Diya initiative serves as a beacon of hope, unity, and peace, bringing together Guyanese from all walks of life to celebrate the values of love, harmony, and cultural pride. Each year, the lighting of the National Diya inspires joy and solidarity, reaffirming the importance of service and community upliftment.
Diwali celebrates victory over evil or darkness and the coming of a new year. The light refers to following a path of virtue such that our thoughts are always pure in heart, and the darkness refers to negative thoughts which bring about hurts and sorrow.