Beyond the Gangetic plain and the Jumna,they had their world, women dancing in the nighttapping their earth-and-sky-world into rhythm;their days ruled by taboo and totemlong before Freud had heard of them;cults flowered, and shamans held the long stickCivilisation advanced with Surf and powdered milk;amulets and talismans were pluckedfrom their hair, a rout of the adivasi,and they were told that the cosmos was ruledby a trinity: Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva;others came, white-skinned, and their trinity hada Holy Ghost jungle-folk didn’t know what to do with.(the state knew what to do: it shot their King, Pravir Chandra Bhanj Deo)Socialists jumped in and told them of their rightsto land and livelihood—trouble was theydidn’t know what rights were. Then guns came in,and modern saints – Kobad Ghandi, Stan Swamy.Kobad was kept in Jail for ten years in thedays of Sonia G and Somnolent Singh.The anti -secessionist state was bornas Modiji came into power, strong state.If you had no mai-bap, you were left to fate;no bail, more jail. If accused, you fried.Only votaries of Human Rights cried.Young women of Pinjra Tod spent 13 months in Tihar.Stan Swamy died.Nothing will happen, those who wrote liesin charge sheets, those who denied him bail,those who were heartless in jailand didn’t let him have a straw to drinkthey just let him sink.On his death bed, let it be notedthey’ll all be promoted.Keki N. Daruwalla is a poet, short story writer and former IPS officer.
