by B Someswar Rao
Holi teaches us that a gift or talent should not be misused. A boon is to be used too save someone and not to kill. Prahlada and Hoika are just symbols. This lesson is significant today : technology, a gift to humanity, is being misused.
Most terrorists are highly ‘educated’ people who use their knowledge wrongly as their religion does not teach value of vasudaivakutunbakam and justifies killing of kafirs’ and destruction other religions’ idols. Fanatics are not alone in using knowledge of technology wrongly. A computer virus is a wrong program code written by someone with IT knowledge; so are cloning of ATM cards and other cyber crimes. Education today only means degrees and not imbibing of ethicsal values. Holi is not just smearing colors, abuses or gambling which North India associates with it today. Unfortunately ritualism crept ireasons Hinduism and we follow only when the colour of religion or custom is smeared on a practice, ఏచరవచ without understanding. All Hindu festivals have scientific . It is a distortion of idiom that Northerners believe gambling on Holi day is a MUST. Taking liberties with women and using abusive language are later distortions of the need to shed inhibitions. Holi is a colourful lesson in ethics.
