• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Our Authors
  • Contact Us

The Punjab Pulse

Centre for Socio-Cultural Studies

  • Areas of Study
    • Social & Cultural Studies
    • Religious Studies
    • Governance & Politics
    • National Perspectives
    • International Perspectives
    • Communism
  • Activities
    • Conferences & Seminars
    • Discussions
  • News
  • Resources
    • Books & Publications
    • Book Reviews
  • Icons of Punjab
  • Videos
  • Academics
  • Agriculture
You are here: Home / Areas of Study / International Perspectives / Deepavali Day Act: Deepavali for democracy

Deepavali Day Act: Deepavali for democracy

November 7, 2021 By Guest Author

Share

Vijendra Agarwal

Nothing can be a greater celebration of democracy than the world’s oldest democracy recognizing one of the major festivals of the largest democracy in the U.S. Congress. As a proud Hindu and American Indian, I characterize and cherish the Act as – DEEPAVALI FOR DEMOCRACY.

2021 Deepavali or Diwali, a major festival for proud Hindus globally, marks a historical day with legislation to declare Diwali as a federal holiday. It is a proud moment for every Hindu and anyone believing in the tenets of Sanatana Dharma anywhere especially in the United States.

It will be a travesty if any Indian American behaves as a reluctant individual when a “White” Congresswoman, Carolyn B Maloney, introduces the first-ever bill in the House of Representatives to declare Diwali, the festival of lights, a federal holiday. Note her momentous words, “I’m very, very happy and excited to be introducing the Deepavali Day Act this week alongside members of the Congressional Indian Caucus, which will enshrine Diwali into law as a federal holiday.”

Maloney went on to add, “I am very proud to celebrate with you the victory of light over darkness, the triumph of good over evil and the pursuit of knowledge over ignorance as we do every day. It is truly appropriate that Diwali this year symbolizes our nation’s continuing journey out of the darkness of COVID-19….”

If that was not enough, she added, “Celebrations like Diwali speak to the core of what we all desire for our nation to be a beacon of happiness, healing, learning and light and uncertain times.” Could any of us- the Indian Americans- say it with greater pride, more profoundly, and clarity for our own festival of light? Yet, it is distressing that there are reluctant Indian Americans who are questioning the spirit of the Act. They are perhaps under the deeper darkness of ignorance requiring laser light and not ordinary traditional earthen “Diyas” to pull them out of the darkness. Of course, everyone has the right to freedom of expression because celebrating Diwali too is part of democracy.

I wonder if Maloney was taking cues from Modi’s way of confronting the first wave of COVID-19 in India in April 2020? Readers may recall that Modi asked and entire India came together for nine minutes at 9 pm on April 5 to “march against the darkness towards the light.” It was Modi’s way to cheer people who had been under complete shutdown due to the raging COVID-19. It was a kind of Diwali celebration in April when he asked for lighting candles and lamps or switching on flashlights and electric torches. That was the display of Modi’s unusual leadership to bring the country out of COVID-19 darkness to lighten the human spirit at least for those 9 minutes.

Diwali celebration in the US

One of our own Indian Americans,Congressman Krishnamoorthi, complemented and completed the rest of the story about Diwali when he said: “On this holiday of Diwali, we should say, be the light you wish to see in the world. Be the light in your community that is needed to dispel the darkness. Be the light in this community that brings hope to the hopeless. Let us be the light that helps the last, the least and the last.” What a strong testimonial for India’s heritage, culture, and valuesfrom someone who knows it well as an American Indian.

Another Congressman Gregory Meeks, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, declared his support for the Act. He said, “This is something that should be shared with all of us in American society. It’s a good day because we’re talking about light over darkness. And that’s what this is about.”

While Hindus and Indians must celebrate this historic Deepavali Day Act, I want them to think of 2021 as just the beginning for India and American Indians to be proud of with more to come. First, October 2021 was proclaimed Hindu Heritage Month and now Deepavali Act Day. What a triumphant 2021 with two major successive events? Let us keep the momentum going as united Hindus and American Indians so no right-minded individual or group dare dream again to dismantle Hindutva and Hinduism.

To my fellow Indian Americans, take pride in your achievements. It is a recognition for who are Indian Americans and Hindus, and their collective contributions in all aspects of cultural, economic, social, political, education, spirituality, yoga, meditation, Vedanta philosophy, Ayurveda, classical art, drama, and music, literature, generosity, and community service. Your head should rise higher and you should feel proud that American Indians, particularly Hindus, are leading successful careers in almost all professions like physicians, lawyers, scientists, economists, philosophers, artists, academics, business leaders, government officials, politics, information technology, and engineers, pharmacy, retail industry, and others.

Note the notable phrases signifying the essence of Diwali- light over dark; good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance, and celebrate all of them with pride. As a lifelong educator, I firmly believe that the lack of good education in rural India is the biggest evil and Diwali must bring them the necessary resources. I am proud of supporting Vidya Gyan, an NGO offering resources to government schools in rural India, which promoted the message, “VIDYA nurtures hopes, dreams and GYAN.

Let me underscore that those proud moments such as Deepavali Day Act in the U.S. House come rarely. The persistent Congresswoman Maloney brought to bear the needed pressure for a commemorative Diwali postal stamp in 2016 and now the Deepavali Day Act. How often do you have such a strong supporter for Hindu cause among the U.S. leadership?

Therefore, may every Indian American seize the moment to cherish, celebrate, and come together for promoting an abiding friendship between the two strong democracies. Let all Indian Americans write to her/his Congressional delegation in support of the Act because your voice matters in Deepavali forDemocracy momentum. Let the brightness prevail over darkness for all Indian Americans and may they take pride in an emerging One New India of the 21st century.

(Vijendra Agarwal is an academician and co-founder a US-based NGO, Vidya Gyan)

 (Article first published on PGURUS)

 

 


Share
test

Filed Under: International Perspectives, Stories & Articles

Primary Sidebar

News

India celebrates 74th Republic Day on Kartavya Path

January 27, 2023 By News Bureau

ਖੇਤੀ ਫੀਡਰ ਸੋਲਰ ’ਤੇ ਚਲਾਓ, ਸਬਸਿਡੀ ਖਰਚਾ ਘਟਾਓ!

January 27, 2023 By News Bureau

ਸੰਵਿਧਾਨ ਨਿਰਮਾਤਾਵਾਂ ਦਾ ਦ੍ਰਿਸ਼ਟੀਕੋਣ ਗਣਤੰਤਰ ਲਈ ਮਾਰਗਦਰਸ਼ਕ: ਮੁਰਮੂ

January 27, 2023 By News Bureau

पंजाब में मोहल्ला क्लिनिकों पर भड़के लोग

January 27, 2023 By News Bureau

पंजाब के 3 युवा बच्चे हैं जिन्हें वीर नाल पुरस्कार से नवाजा गया

January 27, 2023 By News Bureau

Areas of Study

  • Governance & Politics
  • International Perspectives
  • National Perspectives
  • Social & Cultural Studies
  • Religious Studies

Featured Article

The story of Sahibzada Zorawar Singh and Sahibzada Fateh Singh

December 25, 2022 By Jaibans Singh

Jaibans Singh Some acts and deeds are so profound that they change the course of history! One such is the martyrdom of the two younger sons of the tenth master of the Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh Ji! The young and innocent boys, Sahibzada (Prince) Zorawar Singh and Sahibzada Fateh Singh attained martyrdom on 26, December, […]

Academics

‘सिंघसूरमा लेखमाला’ धर्मरक्षक वीरव्रति खालसा पंथ – भाग-10 – भाग-11

सिंघसूरमा लेखमाला धर्मरक्षक वीरव्रति खालसा पंथ – भाग-10 विजयी सैन्य शक्ति के प्रतीक ‘पांच प्यारे’ और पांच ‘ककार’ नरेंद्र सहगल श्रीगुरु गोविंदसिंह द्वारा स्थापित ‘खालसा पंथ’ किसी एक प्रांत, जाति या भाषा का दल अथवा पंथ नहीं था। यह तो संपूर्ण भारत एवं भारतीयता के सुरक्षा कवच के रूप में तैयार की गई खालसा फौज […]

‘सिंघसूरमा लेखमाला’ धर्मरक्षक वीरव्रति खालसा पंथ – भाग-8 – भाग-9

सिंघसूरमा लेखमाला धर्मरक्षक वीरव्रति खालसा पंथ – भाग-8 अमृत शक्ति-पुत्रों का वीरव्रति सैन्य संगठन नरेंद्र सहगल संपूर्ण भारत को ‘दारुल इस्लाम’ इस्लामिक मुल्क बनाने के उद्देश्य से मुगल शासकों द्वारा किए गए और किए जा रहे घोर अत्याचारों को देखकर दशम् गुरु श्रीगुरु गोविंदसिंह ने सोए हुए हिंदू समाज में क्षात्रधर्म का जाग्रण करके एक […]

‘सिंघसूरमा लेखमाला’ धर्मरक्षक वीरव्रति खालसा पंथ – भाग-6 – भाग-7

सिंघसूरमा लेखमाला धर्मरक्षक वीरव्रति खालसा पंथ – भाग-6 श्रीगुरु गोबिन्दसिंह का जीवनोद्देश्य धर्म की स्थापना, अधर्म का नाश नरेंद्र सहगल ‘हिन्द दी चादर’ अर्थात भारतवर्ष का सुरक्षा कवच सिख साम्प्रदाय के नवम् गुरु श्रीगुरु तेगबहादुर ने हिन्दुत्व अर्थात भारतीय जीवन पद्यति, सांस्कृतिक धरोहर एवं स्वधर्म की रक्षा के लिए अपना बलिदान देकर मुगलिया दहशतगर्दी को […]

Twitter Feed

The Punjab Pulse Follow

The Punjab Pulse is an independent, non-partisan think tank engaged in research and in-depth study of all aspects the impact the state of Punjab and Punjabis

ThePunjabPulse
Retweet on Twitter The Punjab Pulse Retweeted
salam0786786 salam Islam Khan π  @salam0786786 ·
27 Jan

कल का सबसे खूबसूरत वीडियो अब आप लोगो की जिम्मेदारी की सभी तक पंहुचा दे 🌹🙏
Follow please @Gausiyasalam 👈👈
https://twitter.com/i/spaces/1mrxmkLjmAgGy

Reply on Twitter 1618867969223954432 Retweet on Twitter 1618867969223954432 260 Like on Twitter 1618867969223954432 1218 Twitter 1618867969223954432
Retweet on Twitter The Punjab Pulse Retweeted
the_rebal55 ਬਾਗੀ 🏴‍☠️ @the_rebal55 ·
27 Jan

ਕਈਆਂ ਦੇ ਮਿਰਚਾਂ ਲੱਗਣੀਆ ਹੁਣ 💥 ਭਾਈ ਅੰਮਿ੍ਤਪਾਲ ਸਿੰਘ ਨੂੰ ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਚੜਦੀ ਕਲਾ ਵਿੱਚ ਰੱਖਣ ਨੌਜਵਾਨਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਬੇਨਤੀ ਆ ਭਾਈ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਜੀ ਸਾਥ ਦਿਉ ਤੇ ਬੰਦੀ ਸਿੰਘਾ ਦੀ ਰਿਹਾਈ ਲਈ ਆਵਾਜ਼ ਉਠਾਓ @warispunjabde #ਬੰਦੀਸਿੰਘਰਿਹਾਕਰੋ #FreeSikhPrisoners #Sikhs #sikhsovereignty #Pakka_Morcha #BandiSinghRehaKaro

Reply on Twitter 1618867167319175171 Retweet on Twitter 1618867167319175171 36 Like on Twitter 1618867167319175171 162 Twitter 1618867167319175171
Retweet on Twitter The Punjab Pulse Retweeted
ourindiafirst19 India First @ourindiafirst19 ·
27 Jan

भारत ने बनाई दुनिया की पहली इंट्रानेजल कोविड वैक्सीन,

स्वदेशी वैक्सीन निर्माता कंपनी भारत बायोटेक की नेजल वैक्सीन iNCOVACC हुई लॉन्च !

Reply on Twitter 1618858168049881094 Retweet on Twitter 1618858168049881094 6 Like on Twitter 1618858168049881094 27 Twitter 1618858168049881094
Load More

EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Signup to receive regular updates and to hear what's going on with us.

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Phone
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

TAGS

Academics Activities Agriculture Areas of Study Books & Publications Communism Conferences & Seminars Discussions Governance & Politics Icons of Punjab International Perspectives National Perspectives News Religious Studies Resources Social & Cultural Studies Stories & Articles Uncategorized Videos

Footer

About Us

The Punjab Pulse is an independent, non-partisan think tank engaged in research and in-depth study of all aspects the impact the state of Punjab and Punjabis at large. It strives to provide a platform for a wide ranging dialogue that promotes the interest of the state and its peoples.

Read more

Follow Us

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Phone
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Copyright © 2023 · The Punjab Pulse

Developed by Web Apps Interactive