PM urges ‘knowledge over ignorance’ for Divali

THE Prime Minister urged the nation to choose knowledge over ignorance at his keynote speech at the final night of the Divali Nagar on Wednesday.

“Divali is part of the Hindu community’s canopy of festivals. It represents a spiritual victory of light over darkness, good over evil, knowledge over ignorance – themes which find great relevance in our modern TT,” Dr Rowley said.

“Let us dwell on the spiritual theme of “knowledge over ignorance,” because here I recognise its relevance to our nation, at this time. Even as an ever-increasing number sponsor divisiveness, practice hypocrisy, encourage ingratitude and glorify hatred, true Hinduism sees knowledge as beyond the mere acquisition of information.

"It holds knowledge instead as the path to seeking, knowing, understanding, and feeling God’s presence in our every action.”

Rowley recalled that Hinduism came to TT with indentured labourers who came from India in 1845. He said the community had since flourished to being among the most distinctive communities in the Indian diaspora.

“For centuries, it was dismissed by the West as “another oriental religion” but in the turning tide of the past century its complex philosophy, with its unique path of enlightenment has been acknowledged.

It has since been recognised as born out of a civilisation, once considered as a “centre of wisdom” that dates back around 1500 BCE.”

He lamented that modern man was at a crisis point where many had lost faith.

“Our nation is at a crossroads in a turbulent and uncertain world. It is in times like these that the true teachings of The Bhagavad Gita and I dare say, the Quran and the Bible provide valuable underpinnings for a nation whose youth and even many adults are existing without the moral and spiritual upliftment necessary to guide us to that place of safety, comfort and progress.”

He encouraged people to take responsibility and ownership of their lives.

“I see Divali as reminding us of the need for Divine therapy, our communication with God, on one hand, and our duties and responsibilities as citizens of our great country, on the national level.”

Rowley's speech was broadcast live and uninterrupted on local state-owned TV station TTT.

Virtues of courage, tolerance assigned to PM, Energy Minister

Earlier, Rowley was told he held the virtue of courage while touring the booths at the Divali Nagar on Wednesday, while Minister of Energy Stuart Young was told he held the virtue of tolerance.

Rowley and Young were playing a game at the Bhrama Kumaris Raja Yoga Centre at the Nagar, where participants spun what was called a “virtue wheel” and were given a card which described each virtue.

Rowley's card, courage, said: “I have courage. I am willing to try new things. I admit mistakes and learn from them. I have courage to do the right thing.”

On Young’s card, tolerance, it said: “I am patient and forgiving with others and myself. I accept things that I wish were different with humour and grace. I accept things that I cannot change.”

When Young received the card and read the title out loud, one passer-by overheard him and said “You really need that.”

Young responded, “I know I do.”

Young has recently come under fire for comments made in Parliament that were meant to ridicule members of the opposition and Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar in particular. The comments, though inadvertently broadcast over the Parliament Channel have been deemed by many to be intolerant toward the LGBTQ community.