Dr Jas takes a tongue-in-cheek view at bursting crackers in the name of traditions. An exclusive for Different Truths.

Over the years, humans have tried to give legitimacy to many excesses by calling them a part of the popular culture. A few of the examples include bursting of crackers to express joy at the cost of creating a gloomy environment, smoking to give a nice black tint to the lungs, alcohol intake as a patchy solution for myriads of emotional issues or just for kicks, climbing of Mount Everest by poorly trained amateurs for instant fame and shutting down of a major part of one’s brain by following dogmas. This list of human foibles is very long and everything can’t be elaborated in an article.

I admit that I used to burst a lot of crackers on Diwali when I was young- but that was before PM 2.5 particles became known as one of the most notorious villains of the modern era.

I admit that I used to burst a lot of crackers on Diwali when I was young- but that was before PM 2.5 particles became known as one of the most notorious villains of the modern era.   Since the last ten years, the only fireworks in our home have been of the vocal type (I will not reveal the source) and that too few and far between.

Despite appeals with folded hands by environmentalists and empty threats by the administration, lot of crackers continue to burst, not on only on Diwali but also on other religious festivals and at marriages. I think a lot of us are not able to avoid them out of habit. Often, the kids force their parents to buy crackers by pointing out a toy pistol at them. There is also a competitive spirit among many of us – if crackers are burst at your religious occasion, we will burst it with even more gusto at ours. The green activists, who are as yet in a minority in our country, are quickly silenced by the trolls who shoot arrows of hatred at them while protecting themselves with shields of tradition.

The Courts have refused to ban crackers completely because that would endanger the livelihood of those who are employed in units manufacturing them.

The Courts have refused to ban crackers completely because that would endanger the livelihood of those who are employed in units manufacturing them. I have a suggestion – these units could switch to alternative products. Since Valentine’s day is becoming as popular as the major festivals, unique products could be designed for it. I have thought of a gun that produces bubbles in such a way that ‘I love you’ is displayed. This can convert one’s aspirational beloved into an emotional fool instantly and give him or her an easy passage into one’s heart. There could be many more products. But I will not rack my brain further – what are the IITians there for?

Photo from the Internet