各位排灯节快乐

Good morning. Later this week, India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, arrives in Britain for a packed programme including lunch with the Queen, and a spectacular event at Wembley Stadium to be attended by 60,000 people. Prime Minister Modi believes that the UK and India have “no ordinary relationship”. Despite past, and present, controversy, he is being welcomed because of what he says are “unlimited possibilities to build partnerships of prosperity and sustainability.”

However, his own ambitious vision for the development and upliftment of India’s poor has faced challenges – often connected to the claims that his party encourages sectarian intolerance; and is promoting a Hindu nationalist agenda in what is meant to be a secular state.

Narendra Modi’s visit comes at the end of the Diwali festivities this week. It’s a natural time to invoke from the Diwali story the concept of Rama-Rajya – which epitomises for Hindus the ideal of good governance established by Rama after he returned to his capital Ayodhya and ushered in a period of peace and stability for his citizens. However, at the birth of modern India, Mahatma Gandhi warned of the abuse of this ideal: Rama-rajya does not mean Hindu-rajya, he wrote, it means establishing a kingdom of God; that is:- a nation of justice, equality and respect for everyone.

In the Diwali story, Rama is one of four brothers. Each of their names offers a principle to guide both political leadership and personal spiritual character. According to Hindu texts: government and character are not disconnected.

The name of the first brother, Rama, means the bestower of pleasure. Ultimately, the Hindu texts say: a nation should be happy – not just because it has access to all the trappings of modern consumerism, but because its citizens can pursue their life and beliefs without worry or fear. Then there’s Lakshman - which indicates the importance of wealth and prosperity for the people – but wealth that is based on long-term economics and ethics, and is utilised and shared for everyone’s benefit.

The next brother is Bharat. His name infers responsibility; as Bharat himself demonstrated with great personal sacrifice whilst Rama was in exile. The youngest brother is Shatrugna – literally one who subdues the enemy. Security of the population is the prime role of government. But, this epithet also refers to subduing the internal enemies of pride, greed & hate. It would be foolhardy to concentrate on external threats, if at the same time, we’re stimulating these disruptive traits within our society.

It is said that Rama ruled as a father loves and cares for his children. And he remains an example for Mr Modi and the other leaders of the world if they are to achieve a harmonious future for their countries. A Happy Diwali to you all.