I, too am Indian.
That, No one can deny.
I am the one with the infinite skin tones.
I, too am the one with every gender you can define.
I, too am the one whom you see discriminated by the thousands of vindications,
Which No-one can rectify.
I, too sing the national song,
which everyone abides.
I, too am the one for whom you breaking laws is a deed.
I am the one for whom this motherland is paradise.
I am the one who prays in front of Allah and Shankara,
I am the whom you see fighting for a piece of land.
I am the one whom you see as so resilient with opinions.
I, too am the one whom you see getting knowledge from WhatsApp at all.
I am the one whom you see killing thousands without any hesitance.
I, too am the one whom you see running in riots with endless artefacts.
I am the one whom you see as daring,
I, too am the one whom you see saving the lives without carrying.
I, too am the one whom you see asking for bribe and brides.
I, too am the one who stands when nation outcries.
I, too am the one whom you can see playing in the streets.
I, too am the one who shares the blood when it needs.
I, too am the one who swears in the name of deities.
I, too am thee who share grief with natives.
I, too am the whom you see begging but laugh,
I, too am the whom you see bleeding in the streets but you move fast.
I, too am the whom you see raping a god’s child.
I, too am the whom you see bombing cities and our paradise.
I, too am the whom you see searching food in the trash but eat well,
I, too am the whom you see shouting for equality, justice and good conscience.
I, too am the one whom you see instigating the havoc in the name of freedom and disguise.
And, I am growing strong.
Tomorrow,
I’ll be at the table, from where I will rule this paradise.
When that time comes.
Nobody’ll dare say to me,
Where? How? What? and Why?
Then.
Besides,
They’ll see how beautiful I have become as a Disguise.
And be ashamed, I, too, am India, which no one can rectify.
By Joyjeet Kumar Das.
