The rape and murder of a tribal girl
Chandramohan S
No newspaper carried a headline or a photo feature,
No youth were roused to protests,
No city's life came to a standstill,
No furor in the parliament,
No nation's conscience was haunted,
No Prime minister addressed the nation,
No TV channel discussions,
No police officials were transferred or suspended,
No candle light marches,
No billion women rising,
a tribal girl was raped and murdered!
~
Casteless society and Secular state
Do talk about haves and have nots
Do not talk about caste!
Do talk about workers and owners
Do not talk about caste!
Do talk about “proletariat” and “bourgeoisie”
Do not talk about caste!
Religious conversions of Christianity,
Ideological conversions to communism,
Theological conversions to atheism
Do not
Scrub off the stain of casteism
Do not
Deodorize the stench of untouchability
Do not
Obliterate caste!
There are no emancipatory ladders
To
Descend the ascending scales of reverence
Or
Ascend the descending scales of contempt.
Chandramohan S is a poet and activist based in Ernakulam, Kerala.