An Earthen Lamp of hope

My father is a social-media junkie — a real addict. He sends multiple WhatsApp messages throughout the day, expecting me to reply to them all. It is exasperating. Moreover, he’s very naive. He thinks LOL means Lots of Love

That said, my father’s a gifted storyteller. Here’s a story he told me four years back.

It is Diwali (i.e. festival of lights) 2015. I’m predicting a barrage of messages from my Dad. Diwali is one of the most celebrated festivals in India. As expected, I receive multiple messages but there was one which had a profound effect on me. The message is actually a story, a story about “Talking” Urban Lamps. It sounds incredible, doesn’t it? It’s a fable — a famous Indian story.

An urban lamp is an oil lamp made of clay. It has a cotton wick dipped in ghee or vegetable oil. On the night of Diwali, Indians light up their houses with candles and urban lamps. This message involves a conversation between five urban lamps.

The first lamp said, “There are so many lamps around me but no one gives me any attention? I am just another lamp. What’s the point of lighting up the place when no one gives me any attention?” Hence the first lamp decided to blow itself out. This lamp represented Enthusiasm. Enthusiasm died.

The second lamp represented Peace. It, too, wasn’t happy. The second lamp said, “Our world is filled with violence, corruption, jealousy. I don’t have a place here.” As expected, the second lamp decided to turn itself out as well.

The third lamp represented Strength, and, after looking at the behavior of the first two lamps, it followed suit.

With no Enthusiasm, Peace, or Strength, there was no place for the fourth lamp — which represented Success. Things were looking dim.

The fifth and final lamp was the only lamp still shining strongly.

The state of the other lamps didn’t impact the fifth lamp. It continued to shine. After some time, someone observed it — and lit up all the other lamps. You see, the fifth lamp represented “Hope”.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Hope start in the dark. Just one faint flicker of hope and there is light.

We give up often in times of adversity. We become depressed, de-motivated, and bitter. Depression and lack of motivation give birth to jealousy and we start asking the same old stupid question. “Why me?”

What keeps us alive during tough times is Hope. It’s the nearest, easiest, and most powerful thing to concentrate on when odds are stacked against us. Hope encourages us to keep standing — to just keep standing!

Never give up hope! Hope makes you feel proud of yourself. Hope makes you feel complete, irrespective of our imperfections.

Out of all the messages I received during Diwali “The Five lamps Story” is the one most memorable for me.

The Five Lamps Story contains the best of the messages I have received from my superhero: my father. It’s a message which allows me to relax, to be hopeful, knowing that no matter how many lamps are out, with Hope still shining, I’m secure in the knowledge that before that lamp goes out, the sun will rise to light my way.

Thank You

Tarun