By M L Satyan
Bengaluru, April 5, 2020: “Light oil lamp or candle or use torch/cell phone light for 9 minutes at 9 pm,” was the appeal given by the Prime Minister of India to 1.3 billion people in India.
There is no need for us to undertake a scholarly research or heated debate on this task. Let all of us come to the realization that we are surrounded by darkness at every sphere of life.
The need of the hour for us is to make a paradigm shift – i.e. we must move:
From the darkness of ignorance and various types of superstitious beliefs to scientific reasoning and living.
From the darkness of our practices of feticide and infanticide to respect for life reflecting in pre-natal, natal and post-natal care.
From the darkness of undernourishment/malnourishment of underprivileged children to a quality child care system.
From the darkness of hunger and starvation deaths to improved and equal distribution of food.
From the darkness of violence and atrocities of women to an era of real empowerment of women.
From the darkness of illiteracy to an improved, rather 100 percent literacy level.
From the darkness of poverty to economic empowerment of the economically backward communities.
From the darkness of serious economic slowdown and its negative consequences to an improved and progressive economy.
From the darkness of oppressive caste system to casteless and classless society.
From the darkness of unemployment to improved livelihood options and job opportunities.
From the darkness of all types of corruption to corruption-free socio-economic-political-religious system.
From the darkness of religious fundamentalism and fanaticism to a secular society where the values of every religion will be upheld.
From the darkness of commercialization of God and religions to true spirituality – seeing God in every human and nature.
From the darkness of human trafficking to a life of safety, security and human dignity.
From the darkness of robbery and smuggling to a life of honest living.
From the darkness of smoking, alcohol consumption and drug addiction to healthy way of life.
From the darkness of various types of human rights violation to dignified life.
From the darkness of greed and illegal ways of accumulating wealth to the life of contentment.
From the darkness of meaningless education system to problem-solving method of education that will enable students to become good and responsible citizens and men and women of characters.
From the darkness of various diseases spread in our society and the ill-equipped medical system to an improved and quality health system.
From the darkness of ‘power game’ at the political level to a clean, transparent and democratic political system that will produce enlightened leaders.
From the darkness of self-centered life and its evil consequences to other-centered life of love, fellowship and service.
From the darkness of environmental degradation to ecological balance and harmony with nature.
Om! asathoma sadgamaya… Lord, lead us from unreal to real;
Om! tamasoma jyothirgamaya… Lord, lead us from darkness to light;
Om! mrityorma amritamgamaya… Lord, lead from death to eternal life;
Om! shanthi, shanthi, shanthi.