This a poem that I wrote after being inspired by Kaushik Raj’s words: “Aane wali naslein aap se puchengi ki jab ye sab ho raha tha to aap kahan the?” (The future generations will ask you, where were you when all of this was happening?)
This is how I’d narrate to my to niece what is happening:
Dear Inayat,
There was a revolution when you were little;
When you were still learning to read.
There was an uncertainty of whether you’d be found an “INDIAN” or your forefathers a refugee,
Even though you loved reciting the national anthem.
There were some people who hated you, not you, my baby, but your religious identity,
And when people fed up of this unfair treatment
There was a revolution.
It was led by women who didn’t care about the freezing weather;
It was led by students who didn’t budge when faced with hostilities;
It was led by people who made thought-provoking statements;
It was led by young poets who with their work could make you shiver to the bone.
It was led by people who weren’t afraid of the regime;
It was led by comedians who risked everything just to voice their opinions,
Who were trolled for asking obvious questions.
Listening to them was an education;
There was a revolution.
And I took part in it,
Proud of being a little part of it.
There was a revolution,
Which shook the foundation of the hate-driven government,
Which drove them to insanity,
Which they had no answer to,
Except to instigate people to kill others,
Except to turn innocent kids into armed monsters.
There was a revolution,
Which was led by people who had the courage of “Shaheen”,
Which the posterity would remember as a struggle for “Azaadi”,
Which managed to do what the weak opposition could not,
Which shook the ministers to the core.
There was a revolution,
Which had the strength of the universe in itself
Such was the power of the revolution!!!