This was the 100th time I was watching the climax scene from the Bollywood movie, Rang De Basanti. I felt a new dose of inspiration being infused in me every time I heard these dialogues from DJ, one of the protagonists of the movie, who in the climax of the scene says -” there are only two ways to live life. One is to accept whatever is happening without complaining or cribbing about it. The other is to take the onus on yourself to script the change.?

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It basically hammered home the point that we should abandon the ‘culture of silence’ we’ve been subscribing to since ages and be the change we want to see in the world around us. We should show some courage to at least stand up for our rights. We should not indulge in ‘passing the buck’ habit when it comes to bringing a change in the way our corrupt and wicked system works. With these thoughts racing through my mind, I was getting ready to go for my CAT coaching classes. We were just a day away from celebrating Diwali but still I had to go for my coaching class while my other friends were busy making plans for Diwali. ?Aditya, try to come back home early after your classes. You?ve to help me clean your room,? my mother reminded me.

?I remember, Mummy,?? I said.

As I was about to leave, there was a knock on the door. I opened the door, only to find a middle-aged man who introduced himself as the Passport Verification Officer. Actually my father had applied for a passport some time ago, and this gentleman had come to see the applicant in person. But my father was out of town. We asked him to come after Diwali as father was scheduled to be back only after Diwali.

?No, problem. I?ll come again when the applicant is back,? said he. After a brief pause, he added, ?Well, won?t I get my ?kharcha-paani?(bribe)??

?What “kharcha-paani?? We’ve paid the entire amount that we were asked to. So, why this extra demand for money?? I asked that fellow.

?Hm mm…my dear… as many as 4 people in your colony have shouldered this ‘so-called’ demand. You can ask them if you wish. They got their work done without any hassle. So, it’s your choice, sir,? said he, making his intentions crystal clear – pay the bribe or, wait for ages to get the passport verified.

“No, no. We don’t have any problem. He is young. He doesn’t know these ‘procedures’. Come next week,” said my mother to the officer, pushing me aside. Once the officer left, we were joined by Sinha aunty, who too had to give in to the unjustified demand made by this officer.

?Aditya, you don’t know these people. If you don’t pay them, they can make life very difficult for you. We are common people. They can bring a thousand obstacles in the way of getting your work done. So, why get into their bad books? It’s just a matter of few hundred bucks. Give them that and get relieved of all tensions and hurdles,? advised Sinha aunty.

?But aunty, that’s just not justified. It’s a direct attack of corruption on us. We should raise our voice against it,” I suggested.

?Shut up! This is not a movie. Be practical. We don’t live in a fantasy world. This is the way the world works. You’ll do yourself a world of good if you accept this as soon as possible. You are no hero who is going to change the world,? confronted my mother.

I had no option but to withdraw myself from the argument. It was another one of the many occasions where I was forced to accept the ‘culture of silence’ and couldn’t stand up for justice, fairness or rights…call it what you will.

I left for my CAT coaching classes.

As I was returning home from my coaching, I happened to run into Manish-my neighbour with whom I was never on good terms. Manish was a spoilt brat who never let any opportunity to make unpleasant and abusive remarks about me pass by. Today too, he uttered an abusive word as I brushed past him and entered my house. I have had enough, I thought!

I thought of beating him black and blue right then and there and settle all my scores with him once and for ever. May be he mistook my dignified silence for cowardliness. I had decided what I had to do. This Diwali was going to be very fatal for Manish, I promised myself.

It was Diwali night. My family had gone to take part in the Diwali Pooja organised in the community hall of my colony. But I stayed at home. Once they left, I went to the balcony of my house and placed a rocket bomb in the direction of Manish?s house. The windows of his room were opened, which made my task easier. I thought of abandoning my ?Mission Revenge? for a split second, but the anger and hatred against Manish refused to go. I had contacts with some goons through a friend of mine. So, I decided to take his help to bash up Manish in case I didn?t? hurt him with the firecracker. I was about to light up the rocket bomb when, suddenly, my phone rang.

?Hello, can I speak to Aditya?”, the voice asked.

?Yes, this is Aditya speaking. Who’s this?? I replied.

“Mohan Das Karam Chand Gandhi,” he said.

“What? Mahatma Gandhi on Diwali! If it was 2nd October,15th August or 26th January, I might have believed you my so-called Baapu. But getting a call from Gandhiji on Deewali sounds a little out of place. So stop playing pranks with me and tell me seriously who are you?” I asked again.

?That?s the saddest part that people remember the freedom fighters, and all those who died for the cause of the country, only on their birth and death anniversaries. Rest of the time, they are left in the cold. Just organising a function or event in their remembrance can?t be called real homage to them. Trust me, I?m Mohan Das Karam Chand Gandhi, my son.”

I had had enough of this fellow. ?Listen, I’m in no mood to entertain you. I’m already worried. So, spare me my dear Baapu!” I said angrily.

?Worried over all the vices like corruption, crime prevailing in the society and Manish’s disrespectful attitude towards you, isn?t it?” he asked.

The last question forced me to take this fellow seriously.

I : ?Yes…but…how do you know about all these things?”

Baapu : ” You shouldn’t get upset or angry with people like Manish who hold such an important place in your life.”

I: ?Important and Manish? I don’t give such culture-less people any importance.”

Baapu: ” Unimportant? Don’t lie. If he means nothing to you, then why do you get upset at his remarks? If you are getting upset or reacting to his remarks, it means, at some level, you’re acknowledging his importance and presence in your life so much so that he’s able to disturb you peace of mind at his will. Am I right?”

Yes, Baapu was absolutely right. Getting affected by Manish’s remarks meant I was giving him importance. If he?s a nobody to me, then why lose my mental peace over his hurting remarks.

I: ?I got your point Baapu. But you tell me, whatever he’s doing to me, is that right?”

Baapu: ?Whatever he does, it’s his culture. May be that’s how he’s been brought up and those are the values he’s been taught. You have no control over that. Least you can do is to not to lose your dignity and lower yourself to his level.”

I: ?Ok, so what should I do?”

Baapu: ” Nothing.”

I: “Nothing? What do you mean by ‘nothing’ Baapu? Wouldn’t my ‘silence’ be interpreted as my weakness or cowardness?”

Baapu:? ?Son, reacting to him by taking the course of foul/dirty language or violence would not qualify as bravery. That is the path only weak individuals take. If you could control your anger and hatred for him, that would be the real sign of your bravery.”

I:? ?I?m listening to you Baapu…”

Baapu:? ?Answering our enemies in the same coin would not help the cause as it would only increase hatred and ill feelings. If we keep behaving well with them, irrespective of their behaviour towards us, sooner or later they’ll also start respecting us and their attitude towards us will gradually change. So, keeping silent is not always a sign of weakness.”

I:? ?I?m getting your point. But silence is not always golden, Baapu. We are too scared to call a spade a spade and stand for justice, our rights. We just watch corruption, crime, nepotism making deep inroads into our socio-political system and do nothing to drive them away. We all just indulge in passing the buck when it comes to be a leader and fight for justice, equality, fairness and truth. We are forced to adopt a ‘culture of silence’. What do you have to say on this?”

Baapu: ?I can only say that that BE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE.? THE BEST WAY TO CHANGE THE WORLD IS BY NOT BEING CHANGED BY IT.”

I: ” I’ll keep all things in mind and try to imbibe these in my life Baapu. By the way, I forgot to wish you A Belated Happy Birth Anniversary. What gift can I give you?”

Baapu: ” If you can be a good citizen, a good human being who would never leave the path of truth, who would spread love and peace all around and help in bridging the gap between humans who fight in the name of cast, creed, religion – that would be the best gift for me. After all, that?s what festivals like Diwali teach us too. Ok, I’ve to go now. Try to follow the path I’ve shown you.”

I:? ?I?ll try my level best to live upto your expectations Baapu and make this world a better place to live in. Thank you for mentoring me. Bye…Thank you again. We miss you Baapu. By the way, how can I contact you again Baapu??

Baapu: ?I?ll contact you on my own whenever you need me,? said Baapu, and hung up the phone.

Minutes later, the firecrackers meant to harm Manish were replaced with a bag of sweets and I headed for Manish?s house to wish him a Happy Diwali and bridge all our differences.