Wednesday, January 26, 2011

On such a day

[ Ronid Chingangbam of 'Burning Voices/Imphal Talkies' pens a provocative piece of poetry on the 61st Republic Day of India]


By- Ronid (Akhu) Chingangbam

On such a day like 26th January
she carries the country in her basket
wrapped adoringly with the tricolor cloth
and walks in the deserted street

On such a holiday some organizations call bandh
this time it was 15 outfits
the vegetables lay silent
the trees are bored to death
the rickshaws are recharging in winter sun

She stops in the middle of the road
and whisper "i am letting you free"
she sobs and says "i have nothing to feed you anymore
you were left at my courtyard when the India Armies
came to pick up my husband
as armies have a habit of leaving their foot marks
in the soil they have walked
and taking lives that belong to the soil.
So i named you India
and I need this basket now
to decorate flowers for my dead husband"
And Slowly the puppy, India, comes out of her basket
and runs free on the street with its sloppy ears
but don't know how long India will run

On such a day, On such holiday
On such bandh, folks love to eat meat
folks love to eat dog meat.
Run! India! Run!
.........................................................
Ronid strumming chimes against eviction
of students in Delhi University
 and plunder in the name of CWG 2010
Ronid (Akhu) Chingangbam is a protest singer and poet from Manipur who is now based in Delhi. He is also the lead vocalist of alternative band 'Imphal Talkies and the Howlers'. Ronid is often seen performing passionately with his guitar in various protest events in Delhi and beyond. On various occasions, he has also lend his voice of protest in public events organized by New Socialist Initiative (NSI).

3 comments:

New Socialist Initiative Delhi Chapter said...

Another Comrade (Krantik Bordoloi) wrote:

Of the people; for the people; and by the people
but let us replace 'people' with another word
a republic of the ones who can afford
toe the jingoist line to prove that you love the land
vote for a Kalmadi and not a Binayak Sen

oh boy...am i being juvenile or what..
Happy Republic folks :)

Chittaranjan said...

nice one bro..

Phantom said...
This comment has been removed by the author.

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