Penganut Hindu kini mulai sibuk menyediakan kelengkapan bagi menyambut hari Diwali atau Deepavali. Cumanya di sini sambutan Onum lebih besar berbanding Diwali.
Pengalaman di Kerala; utamanya di Calicut dan Mallapuram ketika ini mengingatkan saya kepada kajian lama Amartya Sen mengenai tahap pendidikan asas di Kerala yang pernah suatu ketika mengatasi pencapaian di New York sekitar tahun 1970-an.
Cukup mengasyikkan tatkala menyorot kembali permuafakatan di antara Muslim dan penganut Hindu, saat itu tidak berlaku sebarang pergaduhan atau rusuhan agama kerana masyarakat kebanyakan mengamal sikap keterbukaan dan menerima percanggahan pendapat sebagai suatu proses mencari persefahaman.
Manakala penyerapan perubatan moden dan Ayurveda dapat dihayati dengan baik serta diterima semua sebagai warisan tempatan.
Menjelang Diwali, maka saya teruja mengembara ke dalam dunia Ramayana dan Mahabharata yang penuh mitos, dengan mengadunkan peranan Tuhan mereka yang dianggap kudus tetapi juga bersifat fana, dan juga persoalan nilai kemanusiaan dan haiwan.
Kisah pertembungan dan wacana segar saperti yang berlaku di antara Krishna dan Arjuna telah menyebabkan ianya menjadi sebuah kisah yang kekal relevan hingga kini. Pokoknya karya besar tersebut mampu menjadi teladan hidup dan tritis sosial yang bermakna.
Saya sengaja menjemput saudara menghimbau kembali persoalan Diwali dengan ucap selamat, keraian persaudaraan dan usaha memupuk persefahaman yang abadi.
Buat semua yang meraikan hari Deepavali, saya mengucapkan Deepavali Nal Valthukal!
ANWAR IBRAHIM
For english version
The Hindus are now occupied with their preparations to celebrate Diwali or Deepavali. However, the celebration of Onum is bigger compared to Diwali. My experience in Kerala; especially at Calicut and Mallapuram during this time ignites my memory of the old study by Amartya Sen regarding the basic education in Kerala, which had once in the 1970s, surpassed that of New York.
It is fascinating to look back at times of complete harmony between the Muslims and the Hindus. Conflicts or religious riots were completely unheard of because the people were open and accepting to each others beliefs. Difference in opinions were regarded as a process of mutual understanding. Modern medicine blending in with Ayurveda was practiced by everyone and is considered a national heritage.
With Diwali around the corner, I travel into the world of the mythical Ramayana and Mahabharata, and am humbled by the role of the gods they see as sacred but also transitory in nature, and the relationship between men and animals. The meeting between Khrisna and Arjuna, is a story that is still relevant till today. That legendary tale serves as a life example and a meaningful social treatise for us to learn from.
I invite you to reminisce in the spirit of Diwali. May it strengthen our friendship bond and teach us to develop an everlasting friendship amongst each other.
To all who celebrate Deepavali, I wish you all Deepavali Nal Valthukal!
ANWAR IBRAHIM
