The Creative Post

The dark, compelling image of the Goddess Kali has inspired many an Indian artist. Resonating with bold vibrating colours, some of these works of art were recently exhibited at an art gallery in the city. One of the paintings which caught my eye seemed to uphold an angle completely different from that of the other creations on the theme of Diwali. It was a painting depicting a little boy on fire. The perspective revealed itself all the more to me when the artist told me about the incident which had inspired him to select the subject of a street dwelling boy, although the main theme of the exhibition was “Images of Goddess Kali”

The little boy was being raised by his single mother on the streets of Kolkata. Homeless, they were sleeping on the pavement, when cinders from fireworks fell on them. The child’s tattered shirt caught fire. He suffered terrible burns, in excruciating agony, but no hospital had a place to admit him, since thousands of street dwellers, women, old and infants are similar victims of burns from fireworks carelessly thrown here and there on streets every year in India on Diwali or Kali Puja as the festival of mad revelry is called

The so called festival of lights turned dark for the little boy who became paralysed for life and lost his vision like many others who succumb to burns on Kali Puja night during which it is customary to play with fire.

Millions of rupees are raised as donation on fireworks, and decorations of the idol of the Goddess Kali which is later immersed in the exceedingly polluted water of the holy river Ganga. So is the already extremely polluted air and atmosphere polluted further with incense. - by Kankabati Datta (Editor of The Creative Post)

As technology zooms forward at rocket speed and consumerism increases, our hearts seem to yearn for inward fulfillment. Never before had philosophies been more necessary towards the path of happiness! Hence the efforts of "The Creative Post" to uphold Art, Poetry, Creative Photography, Personal prose, Stories, Novels, Plays, Scenarios. Do please send us your poems,drawings,sketches,photos,views on anything you may observe or think to be worth expressing to this Face book account - by Kankabati Dutta