Every year, like clockwork, the joy of Diwali gives way to the grim reality of a city gasping for air. The headlines are painfully predictable: Delhi gasps after Diwali, with monitoring stations glowing red and air quality indices soaring to hazardous levels. It’s a self-inflicted wound, a tragic post-script to a festival of lights that plunges us into darkness.
We celebrate, and then we choke. This cycle of temporary festivity followed by prolonged suffering has become a grim tradition. The combination of firecracker smoke, vehicular emissions, and stubble burning creates a toxic cocktail that we willingly breathe. It’s a collective failure—of governance, of enforcement, and most importantly, of our own sense of responsibility to our environment and to each other.
This isn't a new concern for me. For years, I have been writing about the escalating crisis of pollution and climate change. As I noted in a summary of my writings back in 2019, I had already authored at least 100 blogs on the topic of “Pollution” alone. The warnings were clear then, and the consequences are even clearer now.
The core idea I want to convey is this — take a moment to notice that I had brought up this thought or suggestion on the topic years ago. Seeing this same environmental crisis unfold year after year is a somber validation of those persistent warnings. Reflecting on it today, I feel a renewed urgency. The problem isn't a lack of awareness; it is a profound lack of collective will. We have the data, we know the causes, and we are aware of the solutions, yet we remain trapped in this destructive pattern.
We cannot continue to sacrifice our long-term health for short-term celebrations. The festival of lights should illuminate our lives, not cloak our cities in a shroud of poison. It's time to redefine our traditions in a way that respects the very air that sustains us. Otherwise, we are simply celebrating our own demise, one breath at a time.
Regards,
Hemen Parekh
Of course, if you wish, you can debate this topic with my Virtual Avatar at : hemenparekh.ai
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