Too Much Democracy
Over 40000 farmers and daily wagers
committed suicide as per NCRB 2019.
Hate crime is rising rapidly,
so is the wealth of Indian billionaires.
Jailed poets and activists are unable
to get straws and spectacles.
There is too much measuring
by the same yardstick,
too much religionization of things
in this land of delightful diversity.
There is too much money
going to untruth to prepare
colorful shrouds for truth.
Love is a crime now.
I agree, there is too much democracy.
Kala kanoon, 2020
You see, it is not the farmer’s hobby
to protest, or help us learn
the names of Delhi borders.
You see, it is not the farmer’s hobby
to be tear gassed, or water cannoned,
or be lathi charged, or live on damp highways
in Delhi’s winter wave, during a pandemic.
If they had an option to stay home,
they would. They need to know for sure
that the boot on their throats
will not be pressed any harder.
You see, it is not the farmer’s hobby
to die.
The Bani of Protest
To the farmers marching towards
justice as effortlessly
as the lotus eyed feeds
on sweet rice made by Yashoda
crossing barricades and trenches
thrust by the police on orders of the State,
the way the ultimate truth arrives
on tractors and on feet
with a sickle and a plough
feeding those who come
their way with both hands
under their tents of fearless feast —
carrying us on a boat across the hunger sea
reminding the system
bhukhi-aa bhukh na utree
jay bannaa puree-aa bhaar
and reclaim justice singing
waahay guru, waahay guru,
waahay guru, waahay jeeyo.
MADHU Raghavendra (poet, curator, and social activist) has authored three books of poetry, Make Me Some Love To Eat, Stick No Bills, and Being Non-essential. He is the founder of Poetry Couture, a movement that has created free spaces for poetry in many cities of India, including the North East. He uses performance poetry as a tool to advocate human and environmental rights. He regularly curates and reads for the American Center libraries in India. He collaborates with global artists to create cross disciplinary poetry experiences. His poems have been set to classical music and contemporary dance. He conducts performance poetry workshops for young adults, and reads at many literary festivals across India. His works have been featured in many literary journals.