killing in the names of my god
are no different from the killings in yours
we have become so numb we don’t even count bullets anymore
when was the last time we sat together and sang songs?
hugged and told each other that it will be okay.
hold each others’ hands through the new day
when did we stop caring
when did rapes and assaults numb us?
when did violence become the norm?
when did we give in to the masters of hate?
that exploit us till we stopped realising:
“why are we fighting for our share of pie?
why has the cook not made the pie large enough?
it was adequate; we remember.
like a hazy dream before the masters arrived and made hate the norm
before we conformed;
the problem is not someone else taking your seat;
it is her/his right; the problem is we stopped questioning why is there not enough seats in the first place?
that is by design: our money is spent on making the richer rich and the poorer poor;
the two communities fighting should continue fighting; how else will the masters win?
“the biggest trick the devil ever pulled was to make us feel he doesn’t exist.”
and he wears both saffron and green: depending on the changing winds.
anger makes all of us animals.
unable to let go; unable to un-learn
reliving our pasts again and again
getting drenched and sad in the same rains
there are hallowed grounds which are our hearts
the monuments and stones and rocks and walls don’t contain gods.
the holy land is a myth; we create it
we utopia is us; so is the dystopia
keep the guns down and listen: listen to reason.
renounce your preachers
learn from teachers that spread the message of love and unity
anger is a trait better left off at puberty
and it is a work in progress
my bouts of anger still persist
where i give in to my ego and go ape shit crazy.
but there is something bigger than me: my family, my friends, my people
and i will always be there for them
till we meet again
no matter how bitter, no matter how estranged
i am ready to be the change.
that i want this world to see.
Himanshu Chakravarty Sharma / मंच 