Nourin N K
Hands off my rights!
Like the damaged headlight
Of my neighbour’s rickshaw,
At first,
My country flickered
In deadly saffron,
Was it a warning? Are we all dead?
No! No! No! I see a living ghost,
Hovering over
Hopeless future.
Gates closed, crowds gathered,
But you are still too weak to face my sisters
Who are all alone and equally brave.
I can hear your fear whimper
Under that hate stinking chant,
Mouthing those goons in power.
You think you can shut our voice?
Ah! How naïve of you!
You think your chanting will burn our skin?
Ah! How little you know!
India! You are no longer
A sense of pride
In my oppressed veins,
Ripping off my rights
As if I am in the grave.
Our screams have become
Your source of laughter,
Our lives have become
A plaything in your leisure centre.
I pity! I pity your foxy play
I spit on your cowardly political games.
Call it your so called liberal thoughts!
Name it as democracy!
Oh wait! But You have forgotten to hide your bloody hands in haste.
Is it our religion that offends you?
Or the way we cover ourselves!
Or should I ask, Are you altogether terrified?
Do not dare to bind us as
Yet another victims,
We have names and beliefs
Strength and equality
We too are the citizens of this nation,
Celebrated in the name of so called diversity.
Paint those oceans in your
Inhuman saffron if you can,
Smudge those clouds in
Ugly hue if you want,
But our blood will remain
As divine as our faith;
Together and powerful in unity.
~
Nourin N K, from Kerala, is a graduate in English language and literature and is currently pursuing MA in English language and literature from Madappally Government College. She’s the author of the book Untying My Wings, a collection of poetry. She is an art enthusiast and loves sketching and painting as well.
