A year has come and gone. Diwali finished a fortnight ago and today, on 5 November, the auspicious day of Kartiki Purnima, as we write this column, we find ourselves celebrating Dev Diwali!
For ordinary people like you and me, Diwali is the ‘festival of lights’, the festival that illuminates our hearts and minds. But Dev Diwali, in my view, is the ‘festival of life’, a celebration of our existence itself.
On this day, it is believed that Lord Shiva destroyed the three demons called Tripurasura, thus freeing the celestial world from their tyranny. Hence, the day is also called Tripurari Poonam. To commemorate this victory of righteousness over evil, the gods lit countless lamps, and that divine illumination came to be known as Dev Diwali.
We call the day after Uttarayan “Vasi Uttarayan,” - the day that follows kite festival. Yet, the Dev Diwali that comes after the traditional Diwali is never called “Vasi Diwali.” In essence, this sacred day reminds us of a deeper truth. Every living being that is born on this earth, one day, will leave it. The span between arrival and departure, between birth and death, is what we call life.
The true purpose of life lies in how, positively, and meaningfully we live it. When we use it not only for our own joy but also for happiness, growth and well-being of those around us, that is when life finds its true purpose.
Visit to the House of Lords
On the 4 November, I visited the House of Lords for a private dinner. When old friends often call me to such gatherings, I gladly join them. We chat, exchange ideas and share light moments, sometimes over tea, lunch or dinner. After all, who doesn’t enjoy spending time with friends?
Last evening, I had a long and pleasant conversation with Professor Lord Bhikhu Parekh, the true pride of Gujarat.
Lord Parekh is truly a deep thinker and one of the most respected intellectuals in the entire Asian community and, of course, a distinguished Member of the House of Lords. Those who know Bhikhubhai well will agree that spending time with him and engaging in conversation is a joy in itself.
He is the embodiment of simplicity and humility. Despite his immense knowledge, there’s never a trace of arrogance or pretence in his words. Whenever you meet him, you always leave with something new, a thought, an idea, or a fresh way of looking at things. We spoke at length about many topics.
During this visit, I also had the pleasure of meeting several other distinguished friends and dignitaries, such as Lord Navnit Dholakia and Lady Ann Dholakia, Lord Kamlesh Patel, Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC among others. We exchanged warm greetings, enquired after one another’s well-being, and then moved along.
Similarly, a few weeks earlier, during another visit to the House of Lords, I had received a gracious invitation to attend a luncheon at the Members’ Dining Room. On that occasion too, I had the opportunity to meet several eminent personalities, including Lord Neil Kinnock.
My association with Lord Kinnock goes back several decades. Naturally, I first saw him in his youthful days, full of charisma and vigour. My first meeting with him took place in 1982, and that connection has remained strong and steady ever since.
Of course, now his face bears the marks of time, as does mine, naturally! But that’s how life goes on; the years do their work, and we continue to move forward in our own ways.
It’s been nearly four and a half decades since that first meeting with Lord Kinnock. Just imagine, how many times we must have met during this span, how many conversations we must have shared! We reminisced about those old days and revived many fond memories. When you recall such pleasant moments and warm friendships, your heart simply blossoms with joy. You can’t help but smile and think, “Ah, those were the days!”
Dear readers, the House of Lords, the upper chamber of British democracy, has nearly 800 distinguished members. Since the Second World War, people of exceptional ability from many fields have been appointed to this respected House. Though the system has changed over time, the tradition of appointing Lords continues even today.
From my own experience, whenever I visit the House of Lords, I notice that most of those with whom I share a close and friendly bond are senior members, many of them well over 80. While I often meet younger peers such as Lord Krish Raval, Lord Jitesh Gadhia and Lord Karan Bilimoria, my deeper connections are definitely with the elder Lords.
During my visit to the House of Lords yesterday, I noticed three or four distinguished Lords who were around 93 or 94 years of age. Among them were both men and women, some of Indian origin, some British and some Caribbean.
I had a delightful conversation with a remarkable 93-year-old lady, a Baroness, who had, many years ago, been a regular attendee of several of Asian Voice events. She had even visited Karma Yoga House and shared a meal with us there.
Although our acquaintance goes back many years, we had lost touch over time. But, true to my nature, I approached her and rekindled the thread of conversation once again.
“You walk with a stick… you live nearly eighty miles away from London… you travel all the way by train, it must be quite difficult, isn’t it? What inspires you to make such an effort? Despite all these challenges, what keeps you coming to the House so regularly?”
There were many such questions, but her answer was simple and deeply impactful. She said something truly beautiful. In essence, her words were: “Time does its work and we must continue to do ours. Age may advance, the body may weaken a little, but that’s all a natural part of life. Should we let that bring life to a standstill?”
The spark within
The Baroness’ powerful words reminded me of one beautiful term: “Jeejivisha.” It means the will to live, the deep, instinctive desire to continue life. Every living being carries this spark within. People often say, “Oh God, I’ve had enough, take me away now…” but those are just words. Deep down, no one truly wishes to die. Everyone holds a quiet wish to live a little longer, to see more, to feel more.
It’s the bond with one’s children and grandchildren, the longing to spend more moments with them, the wish to enjoy life’s comforts, success and joy, all these keep us beautifully tied to the web of life and its countless attachments.
Dear readers, you must have read the editorial published in our grand and festive Diwali special issue. Its essence was this, that in life, challenges and problems of all kinds are bound to arise. Yet, there is no need to surrender before difficulties or circumstances. Stand firm in the face of obstacles; confront them with courage.
When the heart is determined, no barrier is too great to cross, nothing is impossible to overcome.
Self-belief — this one word carries the strength of a thousand elephants. When the Indian women’s cricket team went to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi after winning the One-Day World Cup, this very idea was discussed. Smriti Mandhana said,“Sir, two years ago when our team lost the World Cup and finished as runners-up, you told us, have faith in yourselves, in your ability, in your preparedness and keep working hard. That’s exactly what we did… and today, look, we have come to meet you with the World Cup in our hands.”
On this sacred day of Dev Diwali, let us make one simple promise: whatever challenges come our way, we will not lose courage and never give up. Whether the struggle is physical, emotional or worldly, we will face it with faith and strength. Even when the winds weaken, we must stand tall and steady, holding firm to our belief. Let’s keep reminding ourselves that the Divine has filled each of us with great power. We are capable of overcoming any obstacle, no matter how hard it seems, and we are never alone. The Supreme Power is always by our side. And remember, when God stands with someone, that person already holds the majority. So, when the Giver of Life is with us, let’s live each moment fully, with body, mind, and soul.
Friends, why does that elderly Baroness travel 70, 80, even 100 miles to the House of Lords so often? Because there, she meets people, her friends and talks about everything from politics to life. These conversations keep her mind lively and fresh. There’s no real life in just sitting quietly at home. True happiness comes from staying active and involved in the world around us.
As the saying goes, “Those who dive into the flow of life are the ones who truly enjoy it, the rest just watch and envy.” Such words couldn’t be more true.
Speaking for myself, whenever I meet certain friends or well-wishers, they often say, “CB, you’re always on the move! You should slow down a bit, after all, age has caught up.” And I always reply; yes, age may have advanced, but that’s no reason to sit quietly in a corner at home. Going out, meeting people and staying connected, that’s my charger! It’s what keeps my body and mind alive and active. What I gain from it is priceless. When I see our younger generation, our society, our community, our people of Indian origin, growing and achieving, I feel re-energised and inspired. And truly, could I have felt all this by staying at home? Of course not!
The distinguished individuals who grace the benches of the House of Lords have each made remarkable contributions in their respective fields, and it is in recognition of those contributions that they are granted a seat in this esteemed chamber.
But does receiving peerage mean that they retire from their work? Absolutely not. Whether man or woman, whatever their background or age, their efforts continue tirelessly. Their sense of purpose never fades. At this point, I am reminded of something a 94-year-old British Lord once said to me in conversation. He remarked, “We are simply trying to give back to the community, in whatever way we can, for all that it has so generously given us.”
From my many years of knowing and interacting with different Lords from various fields, one thing has always been clear, they all see work as something noble and meaningful. “Work is worship” isn’t just a phrase for them; it’s how they live. No matter what their field is, staying active and involved gives them purpose and joy. They believe that since society has honoured them with this position, it’s their duty to give back and never neglect their responsibilities. That’s why they keep contributing, through their effort, time, knowledge, wealth and kindness, always finding ways to repay their debt to society. In short, life isn’t about counting what we have gained, but about multiplying it, by sharing the light and goodness we have been blessed with.
On this day of the ‘festival of life’, the sacred occasion of Dev Diwali, let us all pause for a moment to remember the timeless messages and messengers of our Sanatan Dharma, and offer our heartfelt prayers to the Supreme, Compassionate Almighy: “Lord, bless us with vitality, with a new light of life.”
