Saturday, November 10, 2012

Celebrate Diwali and a cause too please!

Person 1: The Government has limited the number of subsidized LPG cylinders to 6 per connection. It is going to be very difficult to manage with only 6 cylinders per year.

Person 2: If you can't manage with 6 cylinders, you can buy more cylinders at a non subsidized rate at 900 rupees. The subsidized value is around Rs.450.

Person 1: It is almost double. But if you have 2 LPG connections, you must fill the KYC form and surrender one. Now multiple connections are forbidden. This is a blow to the middle class families. That too, at the time of Diwali.
Person 3: But there are rumors that even those who have single LPG connection have to fill the KYC form and submit. Even the gas agencies are in confusion. SO I have to come to get the form and fill it in spite of having single connection. 

My study holidays started a day back. My dad told me to run some errands as I was on leave yesterday. I went to the agency to get the KYC form and I noticed three people talking. I eaves dropped their conversation.

"Oh God! I have forgotten the Diwali. Just 5 more days. How I could possibly forget the wondrous festival!" I almost gasped. That continued with a train of thoughts.

Diwali! Deepavali! The festival of Lamps! We start our celebrations one month prior to it. Buy new clothes one month early has been the unsaid rule. Buy multiple dresses is also another one. One week before the occasion, we happily start to buy crackers. You handpick each cracker while thinking about its fun. At the same time, your mom starts preparing sweets and savories. Two days before the arrival of the function, either you land in your relative's home or your relatives in yours. Then the next few days will be fun.. Complete fun. Wake up early in the morning, have oil bath, wear new-dresses, eat and distribute sweets, burst crackers safely, watch special episodes in television and talk with your people have been the agenda for Diwali for a longer period. Though several admirable things in the life of the people have gone due to the arrival of technology, times like Diwali help us remember our culture.

"Thambi vazhi viduppa!" (Brother, please give me way!)

My thoughts stopped. And what I saw has been affecting me till now. The laborers from the agency were starting to their usual routine. It was 11 A.M. The sun was too much cruel on earth at that time. These people were wearing uniforms. I don't know if those were cotton or polyester. They were pushing the tricycle with nearly 20 gas cylinders fully loaded. They were not pushing it so gently. They gathered their entire strength in their arms and pushed it. Each cylinder must be around 15 kg. Please calculate the entire load! Three of them passed my side. Full of sweat and smell. They perspired a lot like they have got drenched in rain. But there was determination in everyone's face. I started feeling so bad seeing their condition. 


Image: Harikrishna Raghuraman

The images of those laborers pedaling the vehicle are haunting me even now. "The corporations producing LPG are already at a loss," reports our Natural Gas minister. Yeah, I accept the Government is also suffering a high expenditure owing to the subsidies. So they have raised the amount. So what are they going to do with the amount they are gonna get as a hike now? Increase their profit? Deposit in the banks? Invest more to meet the needs of the people? Save for the future? What plans does the Government have?

Aren't they going to do something for their employees?

I am not talking about those employees who are at a higher position sitting in an A.C. room seeing accounts or those who shout at press conferences! I am talking about those who toil under the sun. I am giving voice for those who actually serve the people! 

Image: Harikrishna Raghuraman


After some time, I left the place to my home. When you think about something new, it is most likely that you will see it again and again. That is what happened. As I was on my way home, I saw several more gas people pedaling the vehicle with huge loads. Will this government try doing something for them? Something to reduce their physical strain? Everyone will be ready to pay 20 bucks extra if the government or the corporations decide to use that for buying these people a motor cycle to carry the loads.

I have not thought about this part of the people ever before. For the first time, when it struck me yesterday, it had struck me well. This Diwali may give them something that previous Diwalis have not given them ever. A relief for them! Will government give these people a hope? Let us hope that they and this Diwali will. After all, hope is a great thing.


"Diwali is a time for celebration, but it is also a time for reflection – a time when we must remember that there are always others less fortunate then ourselves. This holiday reminds us all that we should commit ourselves to helping those in need. For many, this is also a time to gather with family and to pray." This was USA President Barack Obama's last year Diwali message. Apart from enjoying these large number of festivals we have, we gotta think about those who are less fortunate than us. Please don't tell that we are less fortunate. There are people who have never had any fortune in their life. Like those people in tin-sheet huts or those who dance for their daily food in train. Think about these hapless people and help them. Let them at-least have good food on this Diwali. Hope this post has created an awareness among several readers.


Image: orkut images

A very happy and a prosperous Diwali to you and your family. Have fun and be safe!

P.S: Today's date is 10.11.12. It is a nice combination of numbers. This is the second last time we have a date like this in this century. The last one will be 11.12.13, next year. And I thought I could blog on this date!

Image: Harikrishna Raghuraman

19 comments:

  1. A very thought-provoking piece. On a day like Diwali, we should not only enjoy ourselves, but think about the people who are sacrificing their livelihood so that we can live and enjoy everyday... and thank God that He puts us in such a position of welfare. Really nice write-up... you wrote this with your heart, not your mind. I can tell.

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    1. Thanks Guru :) Yeah sometimes when we see people who are in a pitiful condition, we don't feel to celebrate festivals when they are in misery... Hope things change for them :) Thank you :)

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  2. Wish all of you a happy and prosperous Diwali.May this Diwali bring lots of happiness to your life
    ..

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  3. Instead of plying our friends and relatives with gifts they don't need, we should focus our largesse on the unfortunate.

    Good post!

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    1. Happy that you liked it :) The less fortunate should be helped by the more fortunate ones...

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  4. A thoughtful post Harikrishna. Hope more and more young people will feel like you do.

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    1. Thanks :) Glad yo liked it :) There must always be a focus on these issues from all classes of the people...

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  5. This is a very thought provoking post. We need to remember not to waste money on crackers, especially made by very young children in very unsafe conditions. What is the use of bursting crackers and adding additional work to the cleaning people who already are burdened with so much filth and garbage everywhere, making it impossible to keep our cities clean. First they should regulate and keep a check on the factories that make these crackers, second they should come up with a rule that you would have professionals to burst the crackers at some specified place in each city / town, thereby accidental deaths don't take place, plus everyone right form the poor to the rich can come and enjoy the bursting of crackers in one place, there by also reducing the garbage left after the event.
    However, since our government is too busy finding ways to be more and more corrupt, and escaping all corruption charges by hook or crook, they may never even have the time or inclination to bring any laws that are good for the nation.
    The very meaning of Diwali has been lost somewhere, for people keep wasting money by buying same "palapatra" sweets, and distributing to people who are well off enough to buy these sweets if they want to, and now the chocolates have been doing the rounds.
    Why can't people just pause for a moment and think what good they can do this diwali instead of falling into the same trap again and again.
    I also feel really bad for all those people who have carry so much weight in the hot sun. And i am sure it is some stupid polyester cloth in which there uniforms are made. Really frustrating.
    Our country first needs to improve a lot in all these basic aspects.
    Sorry for the rant, i just couldn't help it.

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    1. First of all, let me tell you a big Thank you for this wonderful comment. You need not be sorry mam! I have never had such a big comment in my blog.

      Now, you have raised a very valid point indeed. Recently I was reading an article in which the author mocks at the way in which people live today. He is not satisfied by the selfish mood of the people. He questions everyone of us as of what have we done to the needy ones?

      The festivals around the world are not only for celebrating the occasions but also for understanding the occasion. Those days there would be old people in home teaching the history of the festival and also its moral value. But now-a-days none are ready to teach the kids about the moral significance of the festival. The surroundings in which they (we) are raised care only about the celebration and not its moral significance. This should change.

      Everyone must realize the needy's hapless condition. They are several social issues Govt is not concentrating actually and some NGOs are doing that. People are afraid to take part in that for the fear that they might lose something. We are only gonna gain by helping the unlucky ones. Yes! The gain is gonna be great. It is the development of our country!

      Hope the situation changes soon. Thanks for that nice and valuable comment :)

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  6. Very thoughtful and intense post! The benefits of any scheme/policy, (if the govt decides) will take ages to reach these foot soldiers of the gas companies!! So, they'll continue to toil in heat or cold and carry the weight so that fires in our homes keep burning!

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    1. Thank you :) Hmmm that is the saddest part of the things happening. We enjoy here and they rot there.. Hope things change for them...

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  7. Exactly! And that's why I mentioned to celebrate with a cause so that we can celebrate it with peace... Glad you liked it :)

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  8. sorry for reading it late.

    wonderful thoughts and indeed, we need to cut down on those unnecessary expenses and think of a way to help those who are not that fortunate. not sure how that's going to happen e.g. in this case only govt or corporation (as you have mentioned) can provide motor cycle for those employees. yes, we will happily pay little extra for that but will that money be ever utilized for them.

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    1. Better late than never :) And Thanks a lot for reading and for that comment too :) Indeed a correct question! Will that money be utilized for them? The people who get good salary often undergo strike for a hike in their pay but these people never do that thinking the people's need... One way or the other things should become good for them...

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  9. Sorry for stepping in late, Harikrishna. Lovely reflection and this blog leaves a great message...:))
    Hope people light a candle of compassion on every Diwali.

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    1. Thanks a lot :) Glad you liked it :) Things should change and all who toil for us must be good...

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Time to hear yours, please

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