“We, the People of India” we again proudly say
On this our country’s sixty-sixth Republic day
We extol the values of our great Constitution
Glad that we have slowly matured as a nation
We say Justice, Liberty, Equality and Fraternity
Are the four pillars of the largest Democracy
There is indeed so much to boast in theory;
In practice dare we look at the painful reality?
The truth is that there is anything but Democracy
The totally one-man show is sheer autocracy
The few powerful rich loot and plunder at will
At their beck and call is a paid media most shrill
A shady nuclear deal is bought, signed and sealed
What will later happen to Indians is not revealed
The poor do lament and in pain they whine
While the guys up there say “all is fine”
The bogey of conversion is part of the game
After all minority-bashing is also their name
As lip –service continues to ideals most high
We wonder whether one needs to laugh or to cry?
“Cry loudly” we say today with depth and in solidarity
Our Constitution to preserve and protect for posterity!
(About author: Fr Cedric Prakash SJ is the Director of PRASHANT, the Ahmedabad-based Jesuit Centre for Human Rights, Justice and Peace)
Yawn. Boring. Change the lines and try again Sir.