What can Malaysia learn from Deepavali?

 

I wish all Malaysians who celebrate, and even those who don’t but enjoy the revelry, a Happy Deepavali 2021. In a year that has been so bereft of reasons to celebrate, I reckon we ought to clutch at any opportunity that comes by, to have a good time.

Even as we reel from the effects of this dastardly pandemic, dodgy political machinations, and a racial polemic that seems to have seized the country, critically thinking Malaysians know that the only way forward is to embrace the diversity that our nation offers.

We need to continue to work towards a more fair, just, and inclusive society.

Malaysians of Indian origin will join the 1.35 billion other Hindus around the globe to party over the next few days. This year, for me personally, it’s even more exciting than usual, as I usher in my milestone 50th birthday, the day after Deepavali.

Suffice it to say that I will be consuming way too much ‘murukku’ and mutton curry.

What is Deepavali, aside from our universal love for good food?

Deepavali or Diwali is the Festival of Lights observed in many parts of the world, including Fiji, Guyana, India, Mauritius, Myanmar, Nepal, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and even in the Sindh Province in Pakistan.

It signifies the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, knowledge over ignorance, and hope over despair. Symbolically, lights are lit outside homes, around temples, and other buildings in the community.

The origins of Deepavali vary from place to place. As is with many beliefs that are steeped in mystique, the are several explanations.

One of the most commonly held beliefs is that it is celebrated in honour of the return of Lord Rama, his wife Sita, and brother Lakshmana, together with Hanuman to Ayodhya after King Ravana was defeated.

To rejoice their return from Lanka where they had triumphed over evil, and to illuminate their path home, villagers lit ‘Diyas’ or oil lamps made from clay, with a cotton wick dipped in ghee.

Every year, the festival passes with people celebrating change and happiness. For most, it is a week-long holiday with partying that involves lots of food, drink, new clothes, exchanging of gifts, and much joy with their families.

But can we glean some ideas on how the tenets of this festival can be translated into Malaysian life?

Personally, the biggest learning for me every year during Deepavali, is to remind myself about how I must behave as a person. I must not become like the defeated King Ravana.

Ravana was a master tactician. But despite the strategies he engaged, and the enormous amount of military knowledge and the soldiers at his disposal, he lost this war.

And, we can attribute his loss to his leadership style.

He was a narcissistic maniac whose leadership was rooted in fear. Ravana operated on the assumption that he was always right. He made his own rules, used people thoughtlessly, and disregarded the common courtesies of war.

He was the epitome of a leader who never allowed any other opinion to surface.

If you want to be accomplished in any field, you simply must learn to accommodate alternate views. And, you must have the humility to consider the views of others. This also means you must be willing to admit your shortcomings, and be prepared to work on rectifying them.

So, remember that even if you are hugely talented, if you lack the ability to empathise with the people around you, you’ll ultimately fail, especially in a leadership role.

Perhaps, ironically, this is also a lesson for all our leaders in Malaysia.

The second thing is to surround yourself with proper people who add value to you.

In the same epic, Hanuman was the monkey god. He was a great disciple of Rama, and part of his crew. But Hanuman struggled to realise his full potential.

It is another character, Jambavan, in the Ramayana, who counsels Hanuman to realise his tremendous potential as a warrior, and leader. He helps the monkey god understand his massive abilities, and encourages him to ‘fly’ across the sea to search for Sita, in Lanka.

It is vital that you surround yourself with empowering people, who will inspire, and help you connect with your full potential. Drop people who disempower you, for people who truly recognise your talents.

In our country, we need leaders who surround themselves with people who make them better, and not just sycophants and minions who will drive Malaysia deeper down the abyss.

My third lesson from Deepavali is the value of being purpose-driven in any endeavour.

When Rama went to Lanka to avenge the kidnap of his wife Sita, he had no army. He only had his brother Lakshmana, together with Hanuman, and a cadre of monkeys.

But he was able to defeat Ravana’s professional warriors, because his fleet of monkeys led by his follower Hanuman, were fuelled by deep-seated purpose.

When you are purposeful, you become thoughtfully strategic. This is simply how the amateur taskforce beat the highly skilled combatants.

In business, I have learnt that if you empower your team to make decisions, and if they are connected with purpose, they will be able to achieve even seemingly impossible tasks.

Now, isn’t this what Malaysia needs today? A nation fuelled by purpose and purposeful leaders as well as citizens who strive to salvage a country teetering on the brink of walking down the wrong path.

While this festive season, like others, offers us an opportunity to connect with family and friends, it also offers us lessons for living which are more than useful for Malaysian life.

Happy Deepavali!

 -FMT

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.