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.

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Jarjum Ete is a social activist turned politician who has worked for the development of women in Arunachal Pradesh for over three decades. She has challenged patriarchy in the State by openly condemning child marriage, polygamy and women not having equal inheritance and other rights. She is seen as a role model for many young adults in the state.
 
Currently, she is running for Member of Parliament (MP) from Arunachal West from the Janata Dal (Secular) seat.
 
The talk of women’s empowerment should reflect in their political representation 
She recently resigned from the position of General Secretary, All India Mahila Congress (AIMC) after she was not given parliamentary or Assembly poll tickets. She has reportedly been asking for an opportunity to serve as an elected representative in the State since decades but was not given an opportunity. She apparently had to quit the party for the sake of the people who sought her leadership in the State. Although she maintains no hard feelings for the Congress, it is evident that the party could not translate their women representation and empowerment talks into actually providing space to a woman leader like Jarjum.  
 
Jarjum Ete has worked towards reducing child marriage and domestic violence in the State. Her leadership skills have been established by the fact that she has been one of the first Chairpersons of Arunachal Pradesh State Commission for Women (2005-2008). She has worked towards people’s rights in the past and held many other positions of repute like; Chairperson, Rajiv Gandhi Panchayati Raj Sangathan, Arunachal Pradesh, Chairperson, Panchayat Mahila Shakti Abhiyaan (2007-2008), President, Galo Welfare Society (2010-2013), Vice Chairperson, Arunachal Indigenous Tribes Forum, (2010-2013), President, Arunachal Pradesh Women’s Welfare Society (2000-2003) and President, National Forum for Forest Workers and Forest People.2012-2013.
 
She has also been on many technical taskforce committees like Member of the Expert Committee, NE Women in NCW (2003-2008), Member of the Joint National Committee for Review of Implementation of Forest Rights Act, 2006 (2010), Member, National Task Force on Panchayati Raj, Rajiv Gandhi Foundation (1996-2006), and Member of, National Committee for Promotion of Social and Economic Welfare, Ministry of Finance, GoI (early 2000).
 
Her achievement in social work and activism doesn’t end here. She is currently the President, Indian Council of Child Welfare, Arunachal Pradesh, and Member of ICCW-Sub Committee for Protection of Children, New Delhi. She is also an active spokesperson of Arunachal Pradesh Women’s Welfare Society, and Secretary of National Alliance of Women (NAWO), India. She has been advocating for the indigenous rights of people of Arunachal Pradesh and also championed the cause of environment preservation and sustainable development. She is also currently the President of All India Union of Forest Working People, India and Chief Advisor of Galo Welfare Society.
 
She could become the first woman MP from Arunachal Pradesh 
She has always advocated for the participation of women and youth in politics. This is also an opportunity for the people of Arunachal to create history by electing the first woman MP from the State.
 
Jarjum Ete has said that she will commit herself to work with the youths of Arunachal Pradesh to secure the state’s future by reviewing and amending the Arunachal Pradesh Statehood Act under Article 371H to usher in constitutional protections to the state and its indigenous tribal people.
 
At present, Arunachal faces the problem of youth unemployment and she has promised that she will address this issue. She also ideates that the local governance systems in the state need to be strengthened.
 
‘The 2019 Elections for Arunachalis is not only about petty political calculations. It is about the future of our people and our forests.’, she wrote in one of her online posts.
                                       
Jarjum Ete feels that over the years, many thinkers and leaders have pointed out the lacunae in Arunachal’s Statehood Act.  After witnessing the serious concerns, apprehensions and assertions, sufferings and insecurities faced by the Arunachalis, particularly the youths in regards to the CAB-2016 or PRC or Refugee Rehabilitation policy or the long drawn inter-state boundary issue or the indigenous peoples’ land rights, traditional tribal identities and institutions, it is high time for a review of the Statehood Act under Article 371H.
 
She supports the need for sustainable development that will not only provide livelihood opportunities to Arunachal’s ever-growing aspirational youth-force but also protect their various tribal identities, lands, rivers and forests, and sustain the pristine environment that will be the amulet of life for the future generations.

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