It's been in vogue from
past 4-5 years , to receive ' Advisory ' messages / mails on how we should
celebrate our traditional festivals , Dos / Don’ts , a little ahead of major
festivals like Holi , Diwali , Ganesh Chaturthi etc . Now in a repeat
cycle for this year , it's turn of Holi .
Most of the '
suggestions ' in such mails seem logical on the surface and yet when one gets a
little deeper than skin the ' logic ' seems to melt . This got me
thinking on the application as also the relevance of such good looking '
social messages ' ; for some time now . Felt necessary to share my personal
reflections with you in this Original mail . My advance apologies for a longer
mail :
Let's look at the Content first :
Main social message in
this years ' Campaign ' is : " Scarcity of water ,
especially severe drought in Maharashtra & hence an appeal to not celebrate
Holi or celebrate ' dry ' "
This seems very logical
, sensible & highly relevant in the water scarcity context of today . As
responsible citizens we need to be sensitive to what is happening around us --
no issues . In the least what Asaram Bapu was shown doing seems
preposterous in Maharashtra context . It was in current circumstances rather
inappropriate , can be seen as insensitive & not befitting his public
standing .
Now the Context :
If the advise on ' how
to / how not to ' play Holi this year is driven by concern for water scarcity
.... if the central issue is how to conserve / not waste water .... playing
responsible Holi is certainly a part of the measure , but how is Holi the
ONLY & Holistic solution for water crisis ? How much does ‘ One
day ‘ of Holi celebration “ Waste “ water ? How much therefore is the ‘ savings potential
‘ by solely concentrating on Holi celebrations at the complete exclusion of any
other measure to address drought situation ? … This singular focus is baffling
!
Did we hear these
protagonist talking about a comprehensive plan to conserve water , of which one
measure is ' Responsible Holi ' ... NO . Did we hear their ideas on avoiding ' wastage
' of water through swimming pools , using bucket for bath v/s shower , RWH
efforts ? Did we hear them appealing common consumers to conserve on liquor (
which has 55 % water ) or beer drinking or soft drinks consumption ... which
consume water in large quantum & which may not be the priority consumption
when some of us are struggling to get daily bucketful of water ?
How much then is saving
/ not using water in Holi which is only 1 day in a year , serving the cause of
water ( where is the A/B/C of water consumption )
Alternatively why is
then Holi being focused on for this ' Cause ' . On the other hand if it's
not for the ' Water Cause ' , then what is the real reason behind running this
' advisory ' campaign , targeting Holi . This seems to me either ' aimless ' /
superficial or motivated .
If we put 2 + 2 together
, it appears that the real target is Indian culture . I have been seeing this
systematic campaign against traditional celebration of community festivals in a
very predictable , repetitive pattern .
In today's world , Conquests
are won not by physical killing but via psychological warfare ... by diluting
identity & making one feel guilty of self . British started this during Raj
days , where our History was re written , we were told how backward , barbarous
we are & made feel ' less than equal ' , inadequate .
I believe there are
elements today who are on this task of systematic cultural annihilation
--- targeting a specific community -- which is too gullible & naive
& whose minds start crumbling in self doubt at a slightest application of
pressure .
That is why when this
superficial messages start circulating , many of us fall prey by quickly
endorsing " Me too "
It's important to be
conscious to social context , prevailing circumstances & hence while we
should play Holi responsibly , we need not go to another extreme by working on
a ' dry ' adaptation of Holi .... there is no point in diluting a celebration
to an extent where it loses its identity / purpose or the fun of festivities .
What is mutton biryani without mutton in it ? We might as well not eat biryani
rather than fooling ourselves .
In sum my response to
such ' campaigns ' will be : Be a socially conscious , responsible citizen
while celebrating festivals , however also be conscious to ' see through ' any below surface plan & not be
gullible to be a pawn in their hands . I'd not like to lose my identity &
self respect , while I understand my social responsibility . I will decipher
and decide what I need to do -- not just float on the ' advise '
