My Resolution this Diwali.

Every Diwali Jnana Prabodhini, a reputed Poona school sends out it's students to sell crackers to mostly other kids, and these kids pan out across the localities and collectively sell a lot of crackers. They get a commision and thereby a large number of enthusiastic kids go out every year selling their stuff.This is in stark contrast to efforts by other schools, notably DPS, who make efforts to reduce the mindless cracker-bursting that goes on. No doubt this contributes to their entrepreneurship skills, but aren't their other ways to achieve the same objectives. Selling lanterns or diyas for example.

Not only is it contributing to air, noise and water pollution but also leads to a large amount of garbage being deposited on the roads. Also most of these crackers are made using child labour,at least in some places and buying such crackers would amount to supporting such heinous activites. Also a country already ravaged by endless monsoons, pot-holed roads, terrorist blasts and railway accidents can ill-afford small/large mishaps causing additional strain on public resources.

As a kid, I've always despised bursting crackers and I feel I've contributed somewhat to the 'say-no-to-crackers' movement. This year I felt that more needs to be done, so I've decided to convince one kid every year, not to burst crackers. I did that today, with a cousin of mine. If any of you could also so the same, then we would be contributing in a small way to saving the country from all the things I talked about.

Here's wishing all the readers of crossStyx a Happy, Safe and Cracker-Free Diwali! Go out and have a blast, figuratively that is!

Cheers,