With Diwali behind us, it is time to take stock of our collective stupidity. Consider some headlines from the newspapers on the morning after Diwali – Delhi residents defy firecracker ban, light up sky with Diwali festivities/ Delhi becomes world’s most polluted city as firecracker ban goes up in smoke/ Delhi’s Air Quality Level Reaches ‘Hazardous’ levels with AQI over 400; Thick smog envelopes Noida, Ghaziabad after Diwali.
Like me, you have also probably come across arguments in favour of burning firecrackers from even educated, well-read, and aware people – “We haven’t given up cars, so why to give up firecrackers?’’, or “What about stubble-burning?” or the showstopper argument that is supposed to end all arguments, “It is our Tradition!” Some even take pride in defying the rules or norms and burn crackers on the sly, as though it is a brave and clever thing to do!
The damage air pollution causes to our health is well-documented and can be found via a simple internet search. It causes deaths, damages lungs, especially of the young and elderly, and exacerbates respiratory ailments. India has the highest number of the world’s most polluted cities, and our toxic air is known to reduce life spans.
It is mystifying that we continue to wilfully damage our health, and that of our kids, by aggravating air pollution despite being aware of the consequences. Ironically, young children who have spearheaded the “Say No to Crackers” campaigns in their schools for years understand this well! They don’t want to burn crackers, but it is their parents and other adults in their lives who set the wrong example and encourage them down the wrong path.
It is true that that we cannot control every source of air pollution. It is also true that it is a failure of the governments that have failed to address the poor air quality adequately. But the onus is equally on each of us to do our bit! Why must we make a bad situation worse through our entirely avoidable actions? Are the few moments of fun with firecrackers worth waking up to a hazy morning with AQI in the “Hazardous” category that is harmful for the health of our kids and the elders in our family (not to mention how the sound frightens our pet-family)? Surely not!
Diwali is a beautiful festival of sparkling lights, lovely clothes, delicious food, and time spent with family and friends! Modern and progressive thinking requires that we update our traditions in keeping with the realities of our times. Use organic colours for rangoli or on Holi, biodegradable idols when they have to be immersed, biodegradable disposable serve-ware instead of plastic ones for community celebrations and, finally, just “Say No to Crackers”!
And while we are talking about pollution, let us talk about our rivers too. The toxic foam in Yamuna has become a year-round feature and is in the news once again.
Our governments should issue advisories against taking a dip in polluted rivers on Bhai Dooj and Chhath Puja. But they are unlikely to do so for political reasons. So, it should be upon us, the civil society, to put pressure on the governments to clean up the river. Meanwhile, let us educate people to stop being slaves to blind faith and “tradition” and not step into polluted rivers, for the sake of own health and the health of the rivers.
With poisonous air, toxic rivers, overflowing landfills and garbage dumps everywhere you look, Indian cities and towns are facing a pollution and waste crisis of gargantuan proportions. As individuals, we cannot solve these problems entirely, but we can demand better from our elected representatives and ensure these become issues of national importance.
Above all, we can contribute by being conscious citizens who don’t litter, who don’t throw plastic or anything else in the rivers, and who don’t pollute the air in the name of tradition and culture. We owe this to our children.
