Happy we are, but would our attendance at the venue where the Ravana statue will be put to ground by God Ram be enough? Or just by sending across messages with inspiring thoughts, will we serve any good to the society? The modern Hinduism has just confined itself to speaking of pluses, while the society, of which we all are the members, is busy ruining the teachings of Ramayana. God Ram is in our discussions, our thoughts, our Temples, but is He in our deeds too? Why did someone pen down the incidents relating to Ram and why is the mankind following those rites and celebrations until today? For sure, the ancestors wanted the upcoming generations to absorb goods that bonded men. From past many years, we have been debating over the rising prices and pervasive corruption, but did we care to notice our participation in all such ills? The poor households do not relish crackers, do not have access to sweets, and rarely do they buy new clothes to celebrate Dussehra or Diwali. Do we care?
Now you may ask what role can a common man play when the job of ensuring inclusive affluence has been entrusted topolitical men. Have we then also delegated the task of building a better environment for our children to the government? Or why did Ram kill the king of Lanka? Was it just the forced take away of Sita that led to the defeat of the mighty Ravana? You would agree that the incident substantiates a basic fact that good always rules over the bad and that ego is vulnerable to downfall. The character of Lord Ram is not just confined to a loyal husband, son, or brother. It embraces love for all the men and women that combine to form a society. Lord Ram’s persona is beyond a trusty king serving his province. But yes, for the rulers of today, He is a model to replicate. Believe me, Ravana is alive, and he rests within all of us. Just recall the last incident when you cheated your parents, your colleague, your boss, or someone else from the society. Recall how rude you are many a time, how egoistic you become at trivial feats, and how self-seeking you are when you foresee success.
I will boil down to the subject that we are celebrating today. Dussehra, as we usually term it, has been derived from a Sanskrit expression, ‘Dasha Hara’, which means ten of the badattributes lying within us that we should look to win over. Kama Vasna (Lust), Krodha (Anger), Moh (Attachment), Lobha (Greed), Mada (Over Pride), Matsara (Jealousy), Swartha (Selfishness), Anyaaya (Injustice), Amanavta (Cruelty), and Ahankara (Ego) are the ten evils that a human shall surpass. But do we pay any heed to these preaching of God. Busy we are in buying clothes and crackers; however inner cleanliness is something that we always overlook. A day of work-off and we feel relaxed and duty-free. While relishing the back to back fireworks on the day of Dussehra, shall we not analyze what bad lies inside us that too needs to be burnt? Those lessons of ourtextbooks that embraced the good works of Ram and Krishna find no place in our lives once we step out of schooldays. And then we say, ‘To survive in this cruel world, one has to be cruel.’ Tell me, ‘Are we not the ones who make this world?’
The statues of Ravana, Kumbhkarana, and Meghnaad do not just denote minds with ill ambitions. Their collapse symbolizes a statistic that rulers are to be humans first. In the Mahabharata and the Ramayana, lies the key to living. How to manage family, society, and the reign is all covered in the books of our existence. From life to birth, childhood to old age, and dharma to adharma, the epics in themselves are an inclusive piece to moksha. Yes, today’s India and Indians are sensing a change, achange from decades old form of politics, governance, andsocial divide. But will it be authentic to pass over all the liabilities to rulers? Why then we deserve a holiday for Dussehra and Diwali? History and principles of Hinduism convey an aptmessage that a human, be it of any religion/ caste, is the creation of God. Why then the ‘we’ has been overshadowed by ‘I’? With new clothes, we will not be able to overcome the internal evils. For the same, we need self-realization. To rise from where we are, a revolution is the need of the hour.
Of course, everyone has to identify inner faults, but prior to expecting the same from others, shall we not lead from the front.I saw the Prime Minister of India with a broom on national news channel. Even you saw the same. But we debated, admired/ criticized, and believed that our job is over. Think how many Ravanas reside in our society today and is there even one Ram to kill them? Then why not to be a Ram ourselves by killing the evil Ravana, who takes us to the path of greed, injustice and lust? ‘Vijayadashmi’, the other synonym for Dussehra, means win over the ten bad qualities within you. The day not just seeks our participation in fireworks, but expects that we realize the vitality of good deeds and incorporate the attributes of Lord Ram’s personality in our own. Ram is not a historic icon; He is anever-ending symbol of love, impartiality and dharma. This Dussehra let us pledge to be honest towards the society, our country, and the world as a whole. Let us put to ground the ten evils and be a Ram.
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