IMMORTAL IDEALS OF BAPU

Piku Chowdhury

Courage and Non-violence

A handful of native salt 

on sprawling shores of Dandi,

A silent blazing resistance – a discourse of protest,

Speechless charka spinning tales of undaunted resilience 

Resonant with eloquence of silent Satyagraha.

Sound and fury blown to winds with

Silent lonesome march to history,

The muted speechless oppressed aroused

 to a fiery timeless victory.

Nation’s Father giving expression 

To the muted numbed maimed nation

Eloquence of silent strength, 

Resilience of non-violence

Pervades every Indian soul with a hope of resurrection.

***


Equality

Populace a museum of macabre relics 

Of defied values and denied peace,

Showcased shreds of Dalit flesh

And brazen might of manipulations.

Winged herald of peace and love 

Flutters in dream hued national flag,

Melody flowing from Sabarmati 

Resonates dreams of Father of Nation.

Each eye lifted in silence

Against injustice, or pestilence 

Of inequity; rage flaming in hearts

Amidst the mindless exhibition - 

Drives a blow to the grandiose walls 

Of  museums of carrion hate 

Speechless surge of solidarity

Bapu’s legacy to nation’s fate.

***


Peace

In the global carnival 

of mirth and blatant holocaust,

Warmongers revel in obscene brazen 

show of mindless pyroclastics.

Candles lit in sublime shrines

Burst in sinewy sickened vines

Wrapping around unsuspecting minds 

Preying upon synergy.

Silhouette of an erect monk

Eyes aflame with frigid glow

Lingers in the horizon, 

with plaintive humanity’s flow;

Stuttering rattling guns and hate

Slaughtering, defiling defeated fate 

Infuse with the glowing mantra 

Of the omnipotence of peace.

Father of Nation wields the shield -

Lighthouse to the radar less vessels 

in the ominous wrecking storm.

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Piku Chowdhury: Assistant Professor, at Satyapriya Roy College of Education (Government Aided Post Graduate College). Ph.D. (English), Ph.D. (Education), Author of 9 books, Translator, Editor, Resource person - national and international seminars, NIEPD, State Resource for SSM in collaboration with UNICEF, Project Director in Research Projects funded by UGC and ICSSR.

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Setu Special 2020 :: Setu, October 2020