How high can an arrow fly depends on the stretch of the bow string. The stretch of the bow string is determined by the strength of the hands holding the bow. The hands, in turn, gain their power from the steadiness of the arms. Steady arms require a calm mind and resolute heart to achieve the desired goal. Calm mind and resolute heart are but attributes of a strong character built by years and years of practice. Years and years of practice include

repeated failures, lessons, lessons learnt and slow rise to success. Success then flows from character to heart and mind and then on to arms and hands. And all we see is an arrow flying high!

And look how our society waits for arrows to fly high without realising that it is not just the bow string but the very air which allows arrow the hope that it can fly.

Today, we again celebrate memory of that glorious day when an arrow met its target. The hands that pulled the bow string had the strength of entire universe and more. For, the possessor of those hands was the universe unto Himself and yet when He pulled the string it was all about years and years of practice in lesson learnt, in shaping of heart and mind and of building character.

The arrow that flew that day, centuries and centuries ago, ended a tyranny and cleansed the air. To this day, its memory is cherished and celebrated. Vijayadashmi is the day when Lord Rama defeated Ravana. And while pages and pages have been, could be, and will be written about the glories of Lord Rama, to a society in constant search for its soul, Ravana himself offers a great case study.

Here was a great man with greater potential for further greatness. A magnificent king who ruled over a nation of gold, a great scholar who not only knew the four Vedas and six Shastras, but was also the creator of great compositions like The Shiv Tandav Strotra. An ardent devotee of Lord Shiva, blessed for his deep devotion and penance. And yet so easily given to temptation, so easily swayed by ego, so engulfed by arrogance - traits most of us carry in different measures. It was perhaps his greatness which magnified his evils, of course, along with the gravity of his action.

How can a great devotee of Lord Shiva, a revered scholar and a man who achieved his greatness through penance and devotion stoop as low in his action as to abduct a woman, someone else’s wife? What did his greatness succumb to - lust for a beautiful woman, arrogance of being very powerful, or a mindset which looks at woman as only a thing to possess?

As we celebrate the day of Vijayadashmi in happiness of the demise of that very

vileness, the truth that only the physical Ravana died that day cannot be negated. That vileness, which killed Ravana (or perhaps unmasked him) still lives.

The epic Ramayana describes Ravana, as the king of Asuras – people who did not care much about nobility and social discipline necessary for a civilised community life. They indulged themselves in whatever pleased them and excesses were common. There was no dearth of intelligence in the beautiful asura land of Lanka but simple wisdom of good life was not adhered to. Voices of sanity and good sense were in terrible minority and so easily ignored. In our individual lives also, at times, indulgence leading to excesses is common and voices of good sense easily ignored. As a society, our strife has always been to bring about social discipline necessary for a civilised community life. On this auspicious day, the question as to how far have we succeeded in our attempt in establishing such a society needs contemplation. If, the number of crimes happening throughout the country, particularly against women, are any indication, there is hardly any need for us to think deep, is there?

So, there was a Ravana – a great devotee of Lord Shiva, who composed verses in His praise, and yet remained untouched by Bholenath’s compassion, grace, serenity, dispassion. On this day, let us pray, we do not do this to Maryadapurushottam Lord Rama – remain untouched by His magnanimity, good sense, restrain and nobleness.

Ravana, the scholar, who gained only the knowledge and not wisdom from the Vedas and the Shastras, in which he was so well-versed! We, the citizens of the information age having all knowledge on our fingertips and yet wisdom….? On this day, let us pray that with the bulk of our knowledge, we move towards and not away from wisdom.

The majestic King Ravana of an asura land, who when needed, found in himself the resolve to perform great penance. On this day, let us pray for such a resolve so that we do not flinch while seeking atonement.

Ravana - a great devotee of Lord Shiva, the scholars, the king and then… the lecherous abductor, the arrogant ruler who pushed his country into devastation, a powerful man lessened by his own raucousness! Moments of giving in to vices and life-time of good work gets destroyed.

Here are we as individuals and as members of a society, telling ourselves these tales again and again and yet managing to remain untouched. Forgetting that individually and collectively we are the arrow, the bow string, the hand, the arms, the mind, the heart and the very air which propels everything. Still oscillating between the vices of the Swarna Lanka and the wisdom of Ram Rajya, we must, on this day, pray for that strength of character, gained of course, by continuous practice in noble thoughts and deeds, that we do not fall prey to those fickle moments where arrogance and folly guide our actions.

As individuals, as society, we must defeat Ravana within so that the Rama inside all of us can flourish. Or else, this day will turn into another of those many days when we reach the doorsteps of wisdom and return empty-handed.

“Jalte hue Ravan ke us putle ne

Un dhanurdhariyo se puccha,

Tum mein se Ram kaun hai.”

(While burning, the effigy of Ravana

Asked men holding the bow with fire arrows,

“Who among you is (as chaste as) Ram)

This simple question has but a very simple answer. But we as a society will choose to ignore it. For if we answer, the arrow will pierce our hearts and souls as well.