#2 : India : dulce et decorum est

Part-I

What is that song you protest?
Who was the painter you paid?
To paint pretty golden coins for your collection;
After the morning sun is down
Below the gulfs of a country born
Whilst the world was sleeping.

India, when will you treat your mirrors with respect?
India, When will your children treat with you with hate not love?
Or did they do so just yester-night?
I told you how the books I read were in bad English,
Bad context,
And bad taste.

India , I told you I threw away every novel where you were criticized.
India, all I have to offer you are words,
If I’m a little richer, maybe some scotch.
I know you don’t drink, they tell me you don’t smoke either
But then, why India, does your health fail you so often?
Me and my friends were all born after you
And will probably die before you,
Yet we pray for you, cry with you,
Run after you and sweat for you,
But somehow I don’t remember bleeding ,
Do you?

India,
All your states are flawed .
Your head and arms are smoldering
While your feet are submerged in water.

Part II

Assam, when will you learn from our mistakes?
Please accept me
For then only will I know you exist.
Bengal , when will you get over your rightful superiority
That flourishes in your coffee houses?
Delhi, how rich are we?
Maharashtra, when will you get over Bombay ?
Karnataka, whats in a name?
Punjab, how many cars are too many?
How do you survive with such large hearts?
Rajasthan, when will you respect Venus?
Bihar, when will you grow tired of cowsheds and fodder?
And begin remembering what you really were.

India, why am I oblivious to the rest?
India, why do they have brown eyes?
India , how fast can you talk without losing breath?

I love you but then you always knew that.

How are the car makers right?
Why is slavery not dead?
And did you maliciously pretend to the contrary?
India, why are your novelist entrapped within the cities?
Why can I only read Amitav Ghosh?
India, is the media conducting a pig circus?
Should we put them, on trial?
The greatest fashion trend was the death sentence,
But now its way too passé.
India, Should I write you an electronic mail?
Please don’t return to sender.
My red haired friend was right:
We are a country of thinkers not tinklers!

Part III

India, are you unconstitutional?
Are these really modern times?
India, when will you repeal the AF(SP) Act
Please do repeal the AF(SP) Act.
Most of us really don’t like it all that much.

India , should I become a defense lawyer?
Will you cherish me more then?
India, did you vote for the lotus or the palm?
Did I tell you?
I prayed for the nuclear deal.
But I do abhor smoking.

India, where can I buy homeopathic medicines?
I desperately need R-49.
I want to register a complaint
My local store has run out of MBAs and LLMs.
Though, I actually wanted a DSC.
India, Dr. Sen just told me that the Sensex is suffering from insomnia.
Should I give it some sleeping pills?
I think we should collectively veto all fashion shows,
I find the models too striking!
Lets reinvent the dhoti.
Yes! Lets reintroduce the dhoti!
No, I’m no super patriot,
Nor am I political.

The vote banks!
That’s the real democracy.

India, have you heard Joan Baez sing
‘We shall over come’?
You should give her an honorary citizenship.

Part IV

India! Oh India!
We are frozen between ice sheets;
Melting - the heat of the Moon!
Floating inside airwaves and neon sunshines;
Shining gold coins for memory,
Shiny silver coins for reflection.

The seasons are changing colours;
Electricity is gaining spark;
Cynicism is dying a slow death
and under water exhaust fans are taking pictures,
Of gold fish and gold bullions
some where very far.

Country born; country died;
Country torn; country tied.
Country! country! country!
Yielding its weight,
along side blindfolded time.