Not in my name !

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My heart bleeds for the state our country is in now, my heart bleeds !

A strong, sensible voice of reason is what it desperately needs

Minorities are being targeted, lynched with impunity

While, either in complicity or in fear, silently watches the majority communitiy.

Tagore once said ‘ Where the head is held high and the mind is without fear’

That was our country erstwhile, tolerant, inclusive and austere.

Where we hinged on beliefs like ahimsa and non-violence

Now one sees radicalism and bloodshed, sanctioned by religious vehemence.

This was a country where souls like Mahatma Gandhi preached

Now look to what depths it has sunk, the new lows that people have reached

Non-violence, ahimsa, tolerance, truth reigned, people fought for independence as one

Now the same country lies in tatters, of the above good qualities, in people who govern, there seemingly is none.

Corrupt, fanatic politicians now rule the roost

Sanctioning violence based on religion, giving facism a boost

Where, in celebrating festivals, people used to come together and rejoice

People of all castes and creed, hand in hand, gave joy and celebration a voice

What has gone wrong with the country that, to unity in diversity, showed the path

Now, in the name of religion, we see minority festivals turn into a bloodbath.

People are scared to talk, to air their views

From the fascist fanatics in power, most take their cues

For those political leaders who thump their broad chests and claim in vain

Think carefully before you claim ‘on my government, there are no stains’.

Organised religion has turned into a favourite tool

Steeping minds and hearts with hatred, forming vile cesspools

There is so much bloodshed in the name of religion and God

In the name of one who is said to protect and nurture, is that not odd ?

Caste and religion are such fertile breeding grounds today

With politicians whipping up a frenzy, ever ready to lead people astray

The heart aches and the eyes sting with tears

As to false promises, people are radicalized, the minorities live in abject fear

Women now have no place to voice themselves now

What has more protection and respect in the country, is a cow !

Women are still treated as objects to claim and plunder

But mobs lynching people in the name of cows, is this not insanity, I wonder !

Why are politicians sanctioning, spreading such hatred and loathing ?

In doing so, what future course are they charting ?

Lynching, mob killing in the name of personal conviction

Oh brethren !  Human attitudes are so brazen !

People in the country are fast being dragged into a mire

Radicalised fanatics killing people, setting their worlds afire

Humanity is being steadily imprisoned in cages of bigotry

To unjustified violence, killing, lynching, there now seems no boundary.

Protests abound, as people gather and voice their dissent, they care

Placards everywhere,  saying ‘not in my name’, their hearts in despair

Like them, I bear allegiance to the Constitution of my country

One that calls for harmony and secularism, not radicalised pomp and pageantry

My heart bleeds for the state our country is in now, my heart bleeds

A strong, sensible voice of reason is what it desperately needs.