The Goodness of Animosity

There could not have been a more appropriate time of the year to delve on this topic than today, which marks the victory over evils. In our endeavor to celebrate the victory, there is little realization that what sparked the conflict between the evil and goodness is a revolt. In all our teachings, we are never taught confrontation, revolt, and the courage to pick up a fight as virtues.

It is an irony of the human life that we die a thousand deaths in our lifetime before finally laid to rest. More often, it is to look nice or be accepted among the people we know that we avoid conflicts.

Anything that we hail as a new order became a reality because someone refused to accept things as they are. The person at the root of the new order strongly felt against the social norms or gross injustice or suppression and took upon oneself to challenge the status quo.

Goodness, peace have their places in a prospering, fun-loving healthy society. However, these things should not come at the expense of suppression, exploitation and, injustice. So, let us not just celebrate the victory over the evil, but give a due recognition to animosity that brought the new order. Happy Diwali 2024!