“Ban Sterlite,” was a voice unheard!
Years ago, when it all began
When a copper giant set Sterlite up
To dig the grounds of Tuticorin
TNPCB gave the “consent to establish”
Though it did not fall into the norms
Also said, “Let’s cut down by one-tenth
the forest cover and fuck some norms”
“Ban Sterlite,” was a voice unheard
Years later, after it all began
As cough and cold and cancer even
crept insidiously into Tuticorin
“Ban Sterlite,” was a voice unheard
Years later, after they found
elements and toxic waste that come
from “Sterlite” were profound
“Ban Sterlite,” was a voice unheard
Months later, When Scientists said
that these smelters not only
smelt metal but also life in Tuticorin
Then the High Court ordered a closure
To be only revoked, by the Supreme one
Funny, though true! it agreed upon
The hazards that threatened one’s lives
But, Brutus is an honourable man
And he delivered, that the revenue
Was too good to shut down the plant
And what if it did endanger lives?!
“Compensation” is the word of law
One can pollute the region as he likes
I am fine, as long as he pays some bucks
Said, Oh – my Brutus, the honourable man.
“Ban Sterlite,” was a voice unheard
Though the issue started floating in air
And then the giant planned to expand
And double the production of copper
Why won’t he? As this was the cheapest
setup that he had, all over the world
Why wouldn’t it be? As we don’t regulate
him, In India from emitting toxic waste
Oh! I forgot that there were these boards
In India to regulate pollution and waste
But they wont mind giving me a clearance
For they don’t deny a thing – their etiquette
They had to conduct a public hearing
But, MoEFCC was generous to exempt
As it was located in the SIPCOT complex
But little did it know that it was not
Can’t blame our boards for it’s their etiquette.
It appeared that these were farming lands
And more and more of concealed facts
But, they won’t mind for they don’t deny.
Protests erupted all over the place
One could see people’s eyes ablaze
It went on and on for a 100 days
Not even a notice fell into their place
There were men, women and children
At roads, for about three months in a row
“Ban Sterlite,” was their only voice
Other than that, they had made no noise
On the 100th day, they wanted to picket
The Collector s office, as they got vexed
Of waiting for ninety-nine days
They wanted a response, at least a notice
An 144 was issued the previous day
By Mr Fleabottom who had flown his way
Already to a lair, safe and sound
Easily forgetting to stay dutybound
To picket as planned, they marched to his office
Little did they know, what was to follow
Agitations slowly turned to violence
And the police began their crowd control
Tear gases, lathi charges did no good
For them, as the people were so stubborn
On their cause and demanded only the ban
Of Sterlite, amidst all of that they suffered
None of the state expected
What was about to happen next
Like as if they were playing a lyre
The police personnel opened fire
Turning waters from red to brown
Cops killed people before copper could
A 17-year-old shot through the mouth
Depicted that intentions were no good
Zero protocol was the song of the day
As they gave no prior warnings away
They did not open fire out to the sky
Nor did they shoot on the ground, they say
All that it hit was the chest and the head
Of those select protestors who had lead
These were no rebel or mutiny troops
But those who had raised their voice against pollutes
Would you believe? When they deliver
All they did was just crowd control
When they did not use rubber pellets
But self-loaded rifles and real bullets
“At least shoot one to death,” was the call
And they really did well to shoot a dozen
These were not any misfire or aborts
But well-positioned long range shots
All they had asked for was a good habitat
So that they could lead a morbidity-free life
But they had been shot with bullets
And lay down with their dreams, now dead
Now, they make a joke that it was out of defence
That they had shot ppl with AK- 47s
Yes, you heard it right about the rifle used
And this is how they gave the penance
Did any news not come from intelligence?
Or was this an exhibit of incompetence
Rather, what was to be more explicit
was the fact that they were all complicit
This was truly a bloody massacre
In the name of Vedanta, the copper giant
Though I cannot deny – he was a baker
Of charms in the lives of the politicians
How pitiful is it to make a killer choice
And pull the trigger at those who raised their voice
Do the Centre and State have no mercy
Or has it already become a plutocracy?
“Ban Sterlite,” the voice has not died
For their demand is still unshaken
Even when their kith and kin had died
They refused to take bodies, if unheard
“Ban Sterlite,” was still a voice unheard
Even in the aftermath of this massacre
For all that they had received
Was one more lathi charge and bullets
Netas labelled them easily as nefarious
And they had no concern for their lives
When they had said that it was bound
to happen in case of fringe elements
No one dared to speak a word that assured
That the company shall be inevitably closed
One even said that these deaths were certain
as their party had no votes in the state of TN
“Ban Sterlite,” the voice had not gone faint
Even a little, despite all the woeful cries
But still unheard, it is to the deaf ears
That do not hear out a single lament
“Ban Sterlite,” is the voice unheard
Why would it be? If even bullets
Don’t disturb anyone’s slumber
For its no real sleep, but clear pretence
Oh! Please do not, Mr Drama Queen
Lend your ears, you are now a fitness freak
It’s work out month, what if someone dies
All that you need to worry is how to be fit
I wish there was a fitness test to see
If you were anything more than a drama queen
Oh! Please do not lend your voice
We can hear your silence out so loud
“Ban Sterlite,” is a voice unheard
And unheard, it will always be
In this age of plutocracy
what else to expect, but simply be!