I don't generally write any post on the anniversary of Babri Masjid demolition. This year is no exception. However, I thought I could share this poem titled 'Common Pain' with you.
Qulfi is as we all know, is the desi ice-cream. Khobragarhe is a common surname among Dalits and Buddhists. This verse has been penned by Anand Gaikwad, an eminent Marathi poet. He is a Marathi poet and activist]
Now read the Nazm:
The poem has been translated in Urdu, Hindi and English here. It was once published in Shair magazine in Mumbai too]
December 6
Chhota Nasru sold Qulfi
Khobragarhe picked junk
Every morning they met at Patipura
Khobragarhe would buy a Qulfi from Nasru
That day Nasru said
'Qulfi nahi khayega, Ba'sha' [Buddy, won't you eat qulfi today?]
No, said Khobraghare
"Today is Baba Saheb's Niravana Day
......but where is your qulfi box?"
"Today they had demolished the Babri Masjid!
Nasru replied in a choked voice"
Silence stamped the street
And
The atmosphere around them, froze
Just like the Qulfi box
Anand Gaikwad
December 6 is also the death of anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkar, an icon for most Indians, especially, the weaker sections--Dalits, Minorities and Bahujans.
It's said that for a large section of India, 1992, is now history. It is also being said that we have moved ahead and there is perhaps a new generation that doesn't care about communal conflicts.
Now read the poem in Devnagari Hindi script and Urdu
The fate of those--The top ten--who were 'heroes' of the Ram Janmabhumi Movement and Save Babri Masjid campaigns is known to most of us. However, there has hardly been any justice for victims of the communal riots that had occurred in the country after the mosque was demolished.
Also, there has been no action on the culprits of the Babri Masjid demolition riots. Two terms and the 'secular' Congress governments in Maharashtra still remain averse to action on even the Mumbai policemen involved in Hari Masjid firing and similar other incidents & even tries its best to shield them.
Ayodhya remains a besieged City that has an extraordinary presence of the Men in Khaki. The make-shift temple is there but for devotees it is yet to become a trouble-free place. Should fear stalk devout in the City of Lord Rama!
One hopes that as sanity returns, there will be national consensus and the issue is amicably resolved. Though there have been voices regarding national monument and hospital or construction of mosque nearby in the past, renewed efforts have begun recently, specially among Muslim intellectuals, who want the issue settled.
Qulfi is as we all know, is the desi ice-cream. Khobragarhe is a common surname among Dalits and Buddhists. This verse has been penned by Anand Gaikwad, an eminent Marathi poet. He is a Marathi poet and activist]
Now read the Nazm:
The poem has been translated in Urdu, Hindi and English here. It was once published in Shair magazine in Mumbai too]
December 6
Khobragarhe picked junk
Every morning they met at Patipura
Khobragarhe would buy a Qulfi from Nasru
That day Nasru said
'Qulfi nahi khayega, Ba'sha' [Buddy, won't you eat qulfi today?]
No, said Khobraghare
"Today is Baba Saheb's Niravana Day
......but where is your qulfi box?"
"Today they had demolished the Babri Masjid!
Nasru replied in a choked voice"
Silence stamped the street
And
The atmosphere around them, froze
Just like the Qulfi box
Anand Gaikwad
December 6 is also the death of anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkar, an icon for most Indians, especially, the weaker sections--Dalits, Minorities and Bahujans.
It's said that for a large section of India, 1992, is now history. It is also being said that we have moved ahead and there is perhaps a new generation that doesn't care about communal conflicts.
Now read the poem in Devnagari Hindi script and Urdu
The fate of those--The top ten--who were 'heroes' of the Ram Janmabhumi Movement and Save Babri Masjid campaigns is known to most of us. However, there has hardly been any justice for victims of the communal riots that had occurred in the country after the mosque was demolished.
Also, there has been no action on the culprits of the Babri Masjid demolition riots. Two terms and the 'secular' Congress governments in Maharashtra still remain averse to action on even the Mumbai policemen involved in Hari Masjid firing and similar other incidents & even tries its best to shield them.
Ayodhya remains a besieged City that has an extraordinary presence of the Men in Khaki. The make-shift temple is there but for devotees it is yet to become a trouble-free place. Should fear stalk devout in the City of Lord Rama!
One hopes that as sanity returns, there will be national consensus and the issue is amicably resolved. Though there have been voices regarding national monument and hospital or construction of mosque nearby in the past, renewed efforts have begun recently, specially among Muslim intellectuals, who want the issue settled.