Last Friday, Perth Rotary Club came together to celebrate Diwali, the Festival of Lights. The meeting was filled with warm fellowship as members, old friends, and guests gathered to experience a culture rich in tradition, color, and vibrant custom.
A highlight of the gathering was the Diwali message presented by Harsha Gupta, partner of Immediate Past President Manu Gupta. Harsha delivered an insightful, heartfelt, and inspiring address.
Read on for the full address.... .
What is Diwali? For many, it is a religious celebration associated with Lord Ram's return home after 14 years of exile. But Diwali is much more than that. It is the festival of lights, celebrating the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil and hope over despair.
Every year, we light diyas in our homes, decorate our surroundings and celebrate with family and friends. But I often wonder, beyond all these celebrations, what is the light that we are actually trying to bring into our lives?This year, I would like to look at Diwali from a slightly different perspective – the light of knowledge and the power of education.
If you think about it, one of the most powerful ways to remove darkness from someone's life is through education.
A diya can light up a room, but knowledge can light up an entire lifetime.
Education is not just about getting formal degrees, qualifications or building careers. It is about learning to think, questioning what we know, understanding different perspectives and having the wisdom and confidence to make better choices. Most importantly, education creates opportunities – not just for ourselves, but for generations to come.
This is why I feel Diwali and education share such a beautiful connection. Both are about enlightenment. Both encourage us to move beyond what we know today and towards a brighter tomorrow.
It is therefore particularly wonderful to have the Vice Chancellor of the University of Western Australia, Professor Chakhma, with us today. Universities are not simply places that award degrees; they are places that nurture ideas, encourage innovation and shape the leaders of tomorrow.
But I also believe that education does not begin and end in a classroom. Every one of us has something to teach. Our experiences, our successes, our failures and even our mistakes are opportunities to share knowledge with someone else. Whether it is a parent guiding a child, a mentor supporting a young professional, a leader inspiring their team or a community member helping someone find their way – we all have the ability to enlighten another person's life.
And this is where I see such a beautiful connection with Rotary. Through volunteering, mentoring, fundraising and community work, Rotarians create opportunities, inspire people and help others build a brighter future.
So, my message this Diwali is simple: Let us not just celebrate the light around us; let us become the light for someone else.
Share your knowledge, encourage someone to learn, inspire someone to dream and help someone discover opportunities they may not otherwise have had.
Because perhaps one of the greatest measures of our success is not just what we achieve ourselves, but what we enable others to achieve.
I wish you all a very Happy Diwali, filled with love, laughter, harmony, prosperity and, above all, the light of knowledge and wisdom.
Thank you.
Harsha Gupta
Perth Rotary Club 2026.