RESPONSIBLE CELEBRATIONS--HOLI HAI !

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 '