In Memoriam...

While the term "Festival of Lights" is reserved for "Deepavali", I have always felt that its immediate successor festival - Karthigai Deepam - has more merit to be called so. Atleast my experience has been thus so far. I do like both and infact, after many years living outside of not only my family but even my country, finally I got a chance to be at home with parents for 2008 Karthigai Deepam festival. Mom has not changed bit in her routines other than what aging process brings in. This time we also had my family - wife and son - at our place. Though not that common, I lit up fire crackers for my kid to see for the first time in his life. New clothes to wear - was like a Deepavali-Karthigai combo.

When the whole world lights up these tiny earthern light pots, its a feast not only to my eyes this time but also my camera's sensor :-) Attached is a photo that I liked most out of the bunch. The arkness and bokeh adds to the luminousity of the lamp. Was windy so couldnt get the flame sharper.

Today - Jan 30th - is Martyr's Day - the day when Gandhi was assassinated in 1948. Gandhi has been inspirational to me in more ways than one since childhood days and as I grow up, I only get painfully aware of how miniscule I am in my ways of life compared to what he achieved. I dont know when I can do something worthy of being from the same nation that gave the world this great soul. I have had my share of time with friends who ridicule Gandhi to this day for his deeds - bless their souls, ignorance is there everywhere still prevalent even among the educated lot. It takes only spur of a moment to life a weapon but lot of courage and strength to put it down. In today's world of brute force capitalism, it seems virtue if a person is able take care of his needs without harming anyone, let alone caring for others and society without selfish interests. Here's a favorite line from "Gandhi" movie - a magnum opus on the great soul -

BOURKE-WHITE:

But do you really believe you could
usenon-violence against someone like Hitler?

GANDHI (a thoughtful pause):

Not without defeats– and great pain. (He looks at her.) But are there no defeats in this war– no pain? (For a moment the thought hangs, and then Gandhi takes their handsback to the spinning.) What you cannot do is accept injustice. From Hitler – oranyone. You must make the injustice visible – be prepared to die like a soldier to do so.

-- and Gandhi went on to live and die like one - a true soldier in all sense of the term. Today's photo pick symbolises the great soul - shining solely among darkness.