Ah yes, Holi! That delightful festival where even the most serious banker in a stiff suit finds himself smeared with pink, blue, and green.

It’s a celebration of colour, of chaos, and of diversity.

But imagine, a Holi played with just one colour — say saffron, or blue, or green.

Dull, isn’t it? One colour everywhere, like someone forgot Holi was meant to be a festival and painted the town with a mournful brush instead!

Now imagine that monotony creeping into our country — a nation as rich and vibrant as Holi itself. India isn’t just a land of one language, one faith, or one way of life. It’s a joyful splash of colours — cultures, traditions, and communities all blending beautifully, like those laughing faces drenched in rainbow hues during Holi.

But alas, sometimes people seem determined to drain out those colours and replace them with just one shade.

Take Manipur, for instance. Instead of the joyful hues of Holi, there’s only one colour that seems to run — red, the colour of blood. The reds of anger, vengeance, and hatred have washed over what should have been a vibrant canvas.

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not against red — a dash of it on your cheek during Holi makes you look like a warrior from some Bollywood epic! But when red becomes the only colour, something has gone terribly wrong.

Those who promote violence, those who insist that only their colour should reign supreme, must be stopped — not with vengeance, but with dialogue and sense. They should be reminded that this country thrives not by one colour dominating the rest, but by many colours flourishing side by side.

The politician painting slogans in a single colour, the speaker ranting about one community, and the mischief-maker setting neighbour against neighbour — these are the people who should be held accountable.

But here’s the brighter side — we have so many good folk still holding up buckets of colour! The teacher in a small village encouraging children from different faiths to play together. The shopkeeper who welcomes every customer with the same smile, no matter their background. The countless housing societies who celebrate Holi together, sharing sweets and smearing each other’s faces in shades of joy.

These are the people who should be celebrated!

Instead of rewarding those who divide, we should be lifting up those who unite.

So, this Holi, as you empty your packet of colour over some unsuspecting friend or enemy, depending on how mischievous you feel, remember this: India is at its most beautiful when painted in every shade imaginable. Let’s celebrate the blues, the greens, the yellows, and yes, even the reds — but never let one colour claim the canvas all by itself.

Happy Holi, my friends! And may this festival — and our country — always remain vibrant and joyful…!

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.