20/10/2025
*Lighting the Intersectional Diya: A Feminist Vision for Diwali*
As we prepare for Diwali, my reflection is on the many layers of light and shadow in our society. Leading Asian Bridge India with an intersectional feminist lens, I see Diwali not just as a personal purification, but as a collective call to expose and challenge the complex, overlapping systems that create darkness for so many.
The true "victory of good over evil" is the victory over the entrenched evils of caste prejudice, religious intolerance, economic exploitation, gendered violence, and homophobia/transphobia—all of which are deeply connected. We cannot fight one without acknowledging the others.
This year, when we light our diyas, let each flame represent a commitment:
· To see the unique struggles of a Dalit woman, a trans person facing violence, a q***r youth ostracized by their family, or a woman with a disability.
· To challenge the gender binary and celebrate the full spectrum of gender and sexual identity as a natural and beautiful part of our world.
· To celebrate in a way that does not silence or marginalize, but uplifts, affirms, and includes everyone in our collective joy.
May the lights of Diwali guide us in building a bridge to a future where justice and the freedom to love and be oneself are not a privilege for a few, but a radiant reality for all.
Happy Diwali,
Mohammad Moosa Azmi
President,
Asian Bridge India
