In search of Rama

Its that time of the year when we celebrate one of our oldest traditions. The homecoming of a king to his rightful kingdom, ending an exile that he gladly chose out of respect and honor. While the Deepavali (and I honestly prefer to call it that rather than the more anglicised Diwali) festivities are celebrated by the majority of our country and enjoyed by all, it really brings me to wonder as to when if ever will we see that form of governance again, one that was built on righteousness and the true principles of dharma. So why this outpouring of celebratio each year? Have we even seen a Rama in our midst in recent memory. As the effigies of Ravana burn, does it even send a message to those who rule us, leave alone a tingle down their backs. Today even as we live in an ancient land one that probably had most of the answers we show scant respect for the real value we could get from following many of those paths. Most of our self proclaimed secular politicians are really Ravanas in poor disguise, ruling a divided and mostly preoccupied general citizenry lost in their personal world of either survival or money making. A perfect storm really. Of course now that the current Americann President has quoted the upanishads and lit the lamp on the occasion of Deepavali I'm sure we are going to be just fine. Happy Deepavali.