So, all of us are ready to take off to celebrate, to glitter, to scintillate the holy dark night. And I am no different. Every year I too enjoy Diawali with my heart out. But this year I’ve got a feeling to make a mark on that day. I’ve chosen this day to show my protest against all inhumanities that shrouded over every nook and corner of this planet including my country like a vicious misty quilt.
And the weapon of my protest is the candle-flame. Apparently a very timid one though; but I know how powerful and transcendent it can be. It is a sign of triumph over all evils. This evening I’ll light up each and every candle remembering those who failed to stay with us to celebrate Diwali as they left this planet earth just for the sake of some atrocious acts committed by others fellow men.
As soon as the evening will set in there will be candles to be lit up in every corner of my house. Then I’ll take my weapons—my guitar, the songs in my mind and the rucksack loaded with candles and will head for as many places I can cover on my bike. Starting from my own place I’ll stop in every public place—be it a cross-road, a park, near shopping mall, makeshift puja pandals, book fair ground. Each of the stop I’ll place my bike and light a candle. Then I pull out my guitar and standing there I’ll address all the passers-by about my today’s venture. Here are the words I want to say to all those I’ll meet tonight.
A candle for Rizwanur
Heard about the story of Riz-Priyanka? Rizwanur was a young teacher in Arena Multimedia Computer Centre, Kolkata. He was a very bright student of St. Xavier’s college who had a charming personality with ever-smiling face. But his only fault was that he fell in love and married a girl named Priyanka Todi, a student of that institute who was the daughter of a hugely influential businessman Ashok Todi. And what the Todi family did? They firstly came to Riz’s house to request Priyanka to come back with them. They failed. Then they took away her in the pretext to send her again within days. When Riz tried to contact with his wife they snapped all contact. He was called to the Police H.Q. and brutally threatened by the officers of the ‘Anti- Rowdy Deptt.’ His cell phone was tapped. He was followed up. He stopped going to his work place. They left him in catch-22 situation. Finally on 21st September, just over a month of their marriage, his body was found on the rail-track. Was it a case of suicide or murder? That will be determined after the investigation done by the CBI. But my candle-light protest (as it has been going on in front of the St. Xavier’s Institution from the day he was died) is against those who think that money can buy everything—even our right to love.
Sorry Priyanka, you lost your love to regain your papa’s pride.
“Wherever you go
Whatever you do
I will be right here waiting for you” –Richard Marx as for RIZ
A candle for Nandigram victims
Another regular incident took place in Nandigram, West Bengal where countless people including women and children were forced to end their lives for they did not understand that govt. wanted to take their lands to give them a glittery future. All the political parties try to get their share of profit using this innocent people. It becomes a turf war to them. While those people becoming the soft targets of police brutality. They are becoming the victims of hatred by their fellow villagers. And they are being killed in the name of political colours!!! I’ll remember them with the candle burning.
“......how many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry?
Yes, 'n' how many deaths will it take till he knows
That too many people have died?” –Bob Dylan
A candle for Hyderabad blast victims
Still those unfogettable pics showing how the heart-wrecking reactions could be of fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters and others of those nowhere people are afresh in my mind. Those lively, charming lives have become the records in paper and in the memories of their parents and relatives. A candle to them from a ‘nobody’.
“Where have all the flowers gone, long time passing?
................................................................................
When will they ever learn, when will they ever learn?” –Pete Seger
A candle for that boy in simla
Tonight that boy of Simla is not among his parents jumping and shouting and running with patakas. They lost him. They did not allow his parents to get through the ambulance that carried that tiny helpless soul with high fever who needed immediate medical attention. All they were doing was clamaoring for their rights in the streets. Those rallies and anti-rallies. Parents pleaded. They truned deaf ear. He left us leaving us in the ocean of shame.
“...Preachers of equality,
Think they believe it, then why won't they just let us be?
...........................................
Baby I'm only society's child....”—from ‘Society’s Child’ by Janis Ian
A candle for Virginia Tech victims
Why those massacre? Innocent students killed by one of their mates? Hatred only gives birth of several hatreds. That South Korean boy was victimized of some kind of revulsion—may be racial, may be colour. My one candle goes for those fallen yet-to-bloom flowers. I’ll sing for the protest of the works of those hate-peddlers.
Candles for the protestors being killed all over the worlds
Like Burma , Indonesia , Pakistan there are lots of places where people through out the years have been facing genocide. People get arrested, tortured, lost jobs, abused, killed and unfairly treated for believing in democracy. My candles will burn for those soldiers of truth.
O.K. time for me to go. Let’s hope if any one could turn his mind against all those negative feelings towards humanity following my works tonight. Then I’ll enjoy Diwali this time that I never enjoyed in my whole life.
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