Diwali has always been a festival of colorful flaunting extravaganza of light and sparkles for Indians. Couple of years back I was no different – a die-hard fan of rambunctious diwali. Lots of crackers – ‘phooljhadis’, fountain-like ‘annars’, thunderous sound of bombs and rockets were essential part of my diwali celebration. Little I had ever given a thought what impact such a diwali could have on living creatures of this beautiful planet until I had my share of experience.
My father gifted me a cute little two months old puppy - scissor on my birthday. He was the most adorable pup I had ever seen. He was loving and lazy for most of the part. I suppose, you become more involved with your pet especially when he is young – he is just like your child; he acts just the way you teach him to do. Most of the visitors of our house instantly fell in love with him and I felt proud when they say they envy of me for having such a sweet pet. He was soooo tempting that I could not stop myself loving and cuddling him.
That year, the effect diwali celebration had on my little pet changed the way I looked at the ominous festival. There is still the flashes of his terrified face somewhere back in my mind. He became so numb with fear that he stopped doing all those stuffs, which he used to take relish in. His appetite went down. He grew restless. On that diwali night, he slipped inside the bed to take shelter and refused to come out. I forcibly took him out and cuddled in my lap. I still can feel the fear in his eyes. I still cannot get over from that experience. That day, that old proverb, I read in my school days was resounding in my ears – “The earth is a beautiful planet but it has got with one disease – Man”.
I started realizing the tumultuous fear and pain of the animals and birds that we, human being, pestered on them. May be, that incident did not changed my whole perspective but yes, it had some effect on me. I began to see things in new light. The month followed by diwali, around new year, when I was coming back to home after a late night party, I saw a poor guy sitting on the pavement near the road. That guy was shirtless - wearing nothing. He was sitting beside the bonfire to warm himself and shivering in a cold. And, I was wearing loads of clothes – a thermal, a sweater and an over-coat and still I was trembling and wishing to reach home early and wrapped up in a warm and cozy quilt. I could not imagine that how this guy was surviving in such a sharp penetrating cold wind. I desperately wanted to help him out…though I came home and was not able to take that out from my mind. I was wondering how I could help him.
Few days later, I was sitting with my friend in a café and, telling him my stint with that poor guy and how badly I felt for him. But my friend, simply shoved away the whole issue saying it’s their destiny and he too felt bad for them but find himself unable to do anything as there are many poor people in the world. But I was not ready sweep my feeling with the fact that I cannot do anything…….I was feeling, I surely can do something……may be a try to make a slight difference in their lives. My mind went back to the statement my neighbour (he was a member of some social group) made many years ago to me, when people did ask him what he could achieve by his street plays; would he think he will change the society and the general notion of public through his transient silly plays. He used to reply; he is doing his bit to bring awareness among the people what is happening wrong in society, encouraging them to stand up and make an effort, the world will definitely change if every person starts doing what they can do regardless of how small that effort may be.
That day, I began to see changes in me. I was started growing out of whole concept of diwali. I decided to use the money that I used to spend on crackers for helping poor people, feeling comfortable in the fact that I am also doing something for the animals and the environment that have as much right to live on the earth as we have. Many of you may not be agree with me but I am satisfied and contented that at least, I am doing my bit.
And, this is also the reason to start this blog to bring those people who want to do something under one umbrella.
By Shilpi Aggarwal
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1 comment:
ya , i m fully agree wd u that each little effort helpfull to change d society .well u mention abt the haarmful effect of crackers on envirnment in form of air pollution & noise pollution.yes, Firecrackers cause air pollution, which especially affects persons suffering from illnesses, the elderly, children and pregnant women. Not only that, but once the air is polluted, it takes several weeks to bring the air quality back to normal.
wd this there r some social issues also connected with the use of firecrackers, for example, thousands of children are engaged in the production of firecrackers for 12 to 16 hours a day for meager wages. The corrosive gunpowder mixture with which they work eats away at their tender skins first and their flesh later. This means that for every firecracker that we buy, we are encouraging those who employ children and are helping this industry to flourish. In the process, we are also denying these vulnerable children their basic right to read, write and play.
well i m vry glad that u guys r making sum effort to over come this evil . keep it up . tc
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