Dispel Darkness of Ignorance This Diwali
By Dr Arvind Kumar
Tamaso maa jyotirgamaya
Mṛityor maa amṛitan gamaya
Om shaanti shaanti shaanti
Lighting the lamp of true knowledge to dispel darkness of ignorance looming large on our minds is the need of the day. On this festive occasion of Diwali, let’s pray to God: `Tamso Ma Jyotirgamaya’ (Lead me from darkness unto light). Without emphasizing the obvious we may say that it is the inner darkness that needs to be dispelled. When the pall of ignorance envelops the inner self, and the individual loses his sense of direction, his mind becomes numb and he loses his mental equilibrium. He fails to tell what is right and what is wrong. He becomes aimless and rudderless. He is caught in the whirlpool of false beliefs and superstitions leading to observance of meaningless rituals. Eventually he sinks into the dark abyss.
On this auspicious occasion of Diwali, we can help in the dissemination of literacy amongst non-literates and encourage promising students from dalit and poor segments of the society for pursuing higher studies.
