Hindustani Awam Morcha-Secular (HAM-S) President and Bihar Minister Santosh Kumar Suman on Thursday, 17 September defended a proposed Deepotsav — a lamp-lighting celebration — organised to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthday, saying there was no legitimate ground for controversy over the gesture.

Suman's Core Argument

Addressing questions over the initiative, Suman drew a direct parallel with the birth anniversary of India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, which has for decades been observed nationally as Children's Day on 14 November. He argued that if honouring Nehru's birthday through a designated national observance was accepted practice, marking the incumbent Prime Minister's birthday through a Deepotsav was equally unremarkable.

The HAM-S chief stressed that a birthday is a significant occasion that can be commemorated in multiple ways, and that choosing to light earthen lamps — known as diyas — was rooted in Indian cultural tradition rather than political calculation.

Cultural Symbolism Behind the Deepotsav

According to Suman, the deep (earthen lamp) occupies a central place in Indian civilisational heritage, traditionally representing light, auspiciousness, knowledge, and well-being. He contended that lighting lamps on a birthday is an expression of those values, not a partisan statement.

He acknowledged that cutting cakes and blowing out candles had become a mainstream birthday ritual over the years, adding he found no fault with such modern customs. However, he argued that embracing contemporary practices should not come at the cost of abandoning indigenous traditions. "A birthday should be a celebration of light, not darkness. Lamps should be lit, good wishes expressed, and the new generation should move forward while remaining connected to its cultural roots," he said, describing this as the animating spirit of the proposed Deepotsav.

Political Context

HAM-S is a constituent of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Bihar, and Suman's defence of the initiative aligns the party publicly with the broader campaign around Prime Minister Modi's birthday. The Deepotsav concept — mobilising citizens to light lamps at homes, institutions, and public places — mirrors the visual language used during Diwali celebrations and other state-backed lamp-lighting events in recent years.

Notably, birthday observances for sitting Prime Ministers have historically drawn scrutiny over the use of public resources and administrative machinery, though Suman framed the Deepotsav specifically as a voluntary cultural act by citizens and institutions rather than a state-mandated programme.

What Suman Said on Tradition vs Modernity

Suman argued that India could progress by maintaining a balance between modernity and traditional values. He said that wishing Prime Minister Modi good health, longevity, and success through lamp-lighting should be regarded as a positive cultural expression rather than a matter of political controversy. The broader subtext of his remarks was a push to reclaim everyday ritual — birthdays included — as a space where Indian cultural identity can be reaffirmed.

With the Deepotsav planned for 17 September, the political optics of the event will likely be watched closely in the run-up to future electoral cycles in Bihar.