We wronged Liberty

Paeans were offered to Personal Liberty,

Temples were built in the name of Thee,
We prayed in public to your worth and wisdom,
In private we never bowed to Thee.

We bowed to Power in all its glory,
And the chance to cut Liberty's tree,
We prayed in public to Liberty's worth and wisdom,
In private we never bowed to Thee.

For the Greater Good, was our Clarion call,
For the Greater Good, O' Liberty we guillotined Thee,
We prayed in public to Liberty's worth and wisdom,
In private we never bowed to Thee.

The Priests today only worship Power,
No sacrilege in their ways they see,
This is the price to be paid O Brothers,
By a Nation which murdered Liberty.

I, a Woman

I started my fight, in the womb of my mother,

As they were not sure if they wanted me or a brother,

The next fight I had when I wanted to study,
My father asked to me stay home and behave like a lady,

The next fight I had when I wanted to play,
And I was told that the family's honour is of clay,

The next fight I had when I became a lady,
I was touched and was groped, by men and by ladies,

The next fight I had when I fell in love,
And I was told that all love is foreclosed,

The next fight I had when I wanted a job,
I was told house work is the woman's only job,

The next fight I had when I went for an interview,
I wasn't asked any questions, but was stated as a view,

The next fight I had when I went to my work,
I was told of a glass ceiling no matter what work,

The next fight I had when I wanted to marry,
And I was told that there is no marriage without dowry,

The next fight I had when I didnot consent one night,
And my husband came home and raped me all night,

The next fight I had when I didn't want a child,
I was told it was my duty and my family's right,

These are the fights that I have had in this life,
This life is not over and nor is the fight,

But remember O world this righteous cry,
I am a Woman and I shall fight into the night.

जशन ए राम

आज सुना था जशन ए राम है,

आगमन ओ तख्त ए ताज है,

दीवाली सी एक रात है,

आज सुना था जशन ए राम है।

जो राम कह गए हमें,

उसका ना कोई आगाज़ है,

अब राम के ही नाम पे,

हर कु- कर्म की बुनियाद है।

कलयुग के इस संसार में,

मर्यादा के आभाव में,

हम राम को हैं मानते,

पर इंसान को दुत्कारते।

है एक सवाल इस जहां से,

इस जहां के इंसानों से,

जो राम को हैं पूजते,

वह अल्लाह को कैसे दुषते।

हैं राम मेरे मन में भी,

हैं अल्लाह मेरे मन में भी,

मैं राम को भी पूजता,

और इबादत ए क़ुरान में भी झूमता।

इंसान की इंसानियत में,

ही इबादत है बसी,

जो इंसान को ही ना पूछता,

उसकी इबादत क्या भली।

Nothing different today.

I hear that that death blows are coming my way,

I swear there ain't nothing different today,

I have heard about a tryst with destiny one day,

That promised day remains a promise today,

I have heard about my secular ways,

Those ways were lost much before today,

I have heard that death blows are coming my way,

I swear there ain't nothing different today.

I, an introvert.

I feel at home in my own company,

But in a crowd I feel all at sea,

I can't stop talking when it's you and me,

But on a stage I am stupefied like a tree,

I dissect the words that are spoken to me,

But miss the unsaid cues that are there to see,

I am an open book don’t judge me by my cover

Grounded I stay and live not in an ivory tower, 

I may not sing to the tunes of this world,

But in solitary peace no grudges I hold! 

Walk my path if you have the strength 

Just hop along don’t fear the length.