My dear Rajeev,
Happy Diwali . . . .
It brings happiness to every family, isn’t it (?) – lights, sounds, gifts, new clothes. You must have prepared for the festival with cleaning and clearing the old, many do . . . . i.e. putting the past behind and, ends with making a new beginning. Traders and business men worship Goddess Lakshmi for prosperity in the New Year – they close the books of accounts and start new ones, in some parts of India people prepare to bid farewell to the departed ones who were called and welcomed to this (bhu)loka on Mahalaya Day, while some others celebrate it as a victory of good over bad – burning of effigy of Ravana.
Indian kaleidoscope of cultures through up a variety of rituals and celebrations of Diwali – but all the diversity has one focal point – making a paradigm change from the past and, making new beginning – the sheer happiness born out of hope of a new and bright future is symbolic in this festival of lights, sound, gifts and new clothes and, of course wishing of Happy Diwali.
College campuses in the country are not spared – the spirit of new beginning soaks them too, like a blanket of fluffy white mist covering the plains, hills, rivers and habitats – the students’ community of all professions and disciplines eagerly look forwards for a new beginning – the placement season begins – students move closest to fulfilling their dream of a career.
I saw five Diwali’s….. as an instructor – I lived with them, felt every emotion, heard every heart beat, saw the spark in their eyes and occasional clouds of anxiety on their faces – five times, in a b-school, Asian School of Business Management, Bhubaneswar – home for over 3000 students since 2008.
Closer they are to placement, more they are – like a young girl who is about to get married. Fear of unknown – the new place, new people and, new environment – away from known people, known places and, known surrounding. Devoid of small happiness’s and luxuries, taken for granted in parents’ place. Expecting the unexpected and, to learn and follow all rules as laid down in the new house – to be disciplined in duty and behavior. Same time, with a strong will to make it to the hearts of everyone in the sasural, to love all and get love from all – to serve all and be useful, become indispensible and responsible and, never to let down the maike. Probably, one phrase that will tell it all is – pregnant with expectations of a dream like happy satisfying life.
All that the young bride-to-be is thinking, planning, expecting are the realities for her and, they are the realities for a career-seeking student – fear of unknown, fear and excitement of everything different from the existing, to learn new rules and follow them with discipline, to work hard, smart, and be a team member, take responsibilities and, never let down the alma matter.
Throughout, until marriage the bride-to-be gets very useful and sometimes confusing and scary description of sasural and, plenty of advice from those who have had experience – didi, bhabi, chachi, massi, maa, dadi, nani etc. and married friends. I belong to the category of advisers – you are invited to visit again my blog at
balaramswamyj.wordpress.com or
balaramswamyj.blogspot.in or
balaramswamyj.com
Prof. Balaram Swamy J. 