RAM AND RAVAN ARE THE DAILY REALITIES OF LIFE




“May the forces of evil become confused

on the way to your house.”

George Carlin

 

Today, we talk a lot about Good over Evil. Lord Ram’s triumphant victory over Ravan is what we celebrate, today. Well, to many of us, it’s symbolic… Ram and Ravan, we believe, lived on this earth thousands of years ago. But, the idea of Good and Evil still lives in this world, today… And, importantly, it lives within our hearts, right here, right now…

Yes, it’s a constant personal battle you and I have to engage in… It never ends. I think, that’s why we celebrate Dussehra – to remind ourselves to stay vigilant… To choose Good over Evil in every step we take…

It’s a tough choice… but, the right one to make…

Incidentally, today is, also, Gandhi Jayanti… Bapu’s last words keep haunting us:

“Hey Ram!”

Each one of us has spent these ten days in his or her own way… My colleague, a college Professor, has lived on only water – no food at all – only water… and, he has walked barefoot through these ten days… He has been doing it for years!

My friend Jayprakash and his wife Shital (both Chartered Accountants) have spent all ten days with lots and lots of people visiting their residence… Their Golu gets innovative every year… Food and Prasad are served to every visitor, from morning till night… Ten days of continuous attention to each and every detail makes them only happy – not tired… That’s their way of celebrating this festive season.



(Beautiful 'Golu' at the residence of Jayaprakash and Shital)


I have lots of Bengali friends, and you know how the Durga Pujo is being celebrated by our Bong brothers and sisters!

But, then, as I said, when all this ends, one thing will not – the choices we all have to keep making at every step of our lives… letting Good win over the Evil…

That’s a constant in life…

Ram and Ravan are the daily realities of life…

“Hey Ram”… are not just two last words of a Mahatma… They are the eternal reminders… That, Good is a right choice we need to make in life. He said:


“Speak only if it improves upon the silence.”


I am still reflecting on what Bapu said….





My extremely talented friend, Sudha, has created this meaningful greeting to wish her near and dear ones. With her permission, I am wishing all my near and dear ones a very happy and blessed Dussehra…






GERALD D’CUNHA

 

Pic’s.: 1. Pixabay   2. Vinay Nair  3. Sudha Ahuja/Creative Chutney

Video: T-Series

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