A Girl In Gujarat Genocide

Gujarat was a land of violet, red and green But colors deceived like lizards People lived happily in Gandhi’s country Within that harmony assassins nurtured their dreams They plotted looting and rapes On a hot summer day fires exploded Those who stayed close through joy and sorrow Violence stands between them like a wall of hell A zealot in saffron takes out his sword And digs a fetus out of its mother’s womb [Translated by Catherine Fletcher with the poet] Rapists are sons. The raped are mothers. Religion hosts this banquet The child whose papa is dead and mammy raped Finds no refuge in the relief camp, though Gujarat is her home The girl with a broken dish in her hand Standing at the riot-relief camp’s doorstep is Gujarat ’s angel Give her a piece of bread and a bit of hope Give her firm land beneath her feet.