Standing up to your family - A Diwali story

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My metro-riding, super ecological conscious husband succumbed to peer pressure once. He joined in the mindlessness of cracker bursting and hasn’t celebrated a single Diwali, ever since, not regretting it. No one on this page bursts crackers, I am certain. But have some of us kept quiet or even gingerly swirled a phuljhadi or two, because its tough to stand up and say NO, especially when its your family? (By the way, Phuljhadi is one of the MOST polluting of crackers that there is…) 

 That fateful night of lapsed reasoning, was in my in-law’s house. The whole family was bursting crackers and apparently enjoying the toxic air. I remember standing in the balcony, glaring and refusing to participate. Today, my parents in-law have a solar panel installed, lead a very conscious zero waste life and wouldn’t dream of pumping in fumes into their children/grand-childrens’ lungs. 

It is easy to dial 100 and complain about a neighbour bursting crackers. But its TOUGH when its your own family. What will they think? Undoubtedly that Diwali, they thought my behaviour unnecessarily aggravating. Undoubtedly it was ME against ALL of them. I can say with certainty that I wouldn’t have won the ‘Most popular member of the family’ award that day. But that’s the point. Being with family should not be a popularity contest. If it has to be one, it could be a ‘Let’s make each other better than before’ contest.

 It is very tough. One wonders if standing up for what is right, may hurt those who you love. Wait, doesn’t that sentence itself sound counter-logical? 

So this Diwali, please don’t shy away from pointing out to all near and dear ones who still think the festival is about smoke and plastic wrapped gifts. Some day, they will thank you for helping them understand the real meaning of Diwali – of laughter, sharing and of course, food.

Comments

PM Velankar. said…
Dear Jayati,
You said it all.
Thank you for changing our thinking.
Even now some times find it tough but will not go back to old ways.
November 10, 2020 at 2:55 AM
DilliMeriJaan said…
I didn't change your thinking. It was always there...latent. waiting to come out.
November 10, 2020 at 4:31 AM
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