We came on foot, we came on boats, shouting slogans of Azadi.
We stood on roof tops and sat on walls under the burning midday sun,
Listening to the words that we had longed to hear for so long.
Words that had been scripted through the lonely fears of our hearts.
Words that were spoken now with the clarity of courage.
Words that were spoken now with the suppressed strength of pent up anger.
Words that were spoken now with the certainty of belonging to the soil
Which had become one with the dust of our ancestors.
We stood there in the waves of heat
Feeling the surge and press of countless bodies around us.
Bodies meshed through the odour of sweat
And the shared fear of a common persecution.
And hanging from the roof tops,
And tied to the poles,
And clutched in hands slippery with sweat,
And wrapped round the pillars,
And spreading into our blood,
Were three strips of colour with a wheel of spokes,
Sewn together into the shape of our being.
Woven into the folds of our future and the creases of our past.
Stitched to the seams of the earth, the water, the air and the sky
That belonged to us and to which we belonged.
And we stood there from noon to evening,
We the people of India.
Raising our clenched fists like signposts to the future.
Chanting slogans like a new anthem.
Kin to each other through the ties of community.
Born to live and die
In a nation that was ours to hold on to
And ours to belong to.
Dr Parinitha is a professor of English in Mangalore University. She penned the poem soon after participating in the historic protest against CAA, NPR and NRC at Shah Garden, Adyar, Mangaluru on 15th January, 2020.
Also Read:
‘The more you try to divide us, the stronger and united we’ll be’: Record turnout in Mangaluru’s anti-NRC protest
Anti-NRC protest in Mangaluru brings ‘media bias’ to the fore
Comments
If Owaisi compains for jds and bsp, he will lose the respect what we kannadigas have in him. He is being used by these parties only to divide muslim votes and alternatively support bjp. In case Owaisi did so, it will be very clear that he is hidden agent of bjp. If actually he needs betterment of muslims, he should keep away from Karnakataka elections. |this is our sincere advice to Mr. Owaisi otherwise we will support or respect him any more. Besides this if he comes to karnataka, i reqeust muslims to welcome him by rotten eggs and black flags. Let him understand that this is not Hyderabad. Why is he showing double standard? Why cant he stand in one boat. He should not try to be another Mir Jafar or Mir Qasim. I was a fan of him, but if he comes to karnataka on the hidden agenda of bjp, i will disrespect him for ever and will not consider him as a sympathisers of Muslims. He will do it for his own benefit. In every speech he speaks about unity in Muslims but he himself is going against it. I doubt he will keep on his popularity and may lose next election in his own constituency and AIMIM will also be thrown out. Hope Owaisi will understand the situation and take back his plan to visit karnataka to divide muslim votes.
Mr. Owaisi, try to follow one ideology. Dont spread your leg in two boats at the same time, you may fall down
He only denied the campaign offer before. Now again..
Double Standard guy, we know about you and we know about your dealing With BJP president Amith Shah close door meeting , do not try to fool Kanndaigas , we are very clear whom to vote ...........
Wonder land man from wonderland AIMIM looks not Indian degree, may be United Kingdom Degree after MIMIM this is Masters degree to the wonder Owaisi!!!!! any way he is the Gate way of "Devide and Rule" good money bai sabb, you divide or Sale no problem, we need our comission, he did in Uttarpradesh, Bihar now he came to Karnataka, no worries "Every Dog has its own day Bai sabb" I am sure Kannadians will not listen your stupidity
Jai hoo Siddaramanna
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