Private Passivity
This poem is written in the style of W.H. Auden’s famous 'Refugee Blues'. It refers to how in times of political turmoil, private universities and some people choose to remain silent.
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“Once we had a country and we thought it fair,
Look in the atlas and you’ll find it there:
We cannot go there now, my dear, we cannot go there now.”
– W.H. Auden
Across manicured gardens within a gated university and on an LCD TV,
We watch the protests on the news, (over the curve of a burgeoning stomach), watch passively,
Hum kuch nahi karenge, meri jaan, hum kuch nahi karenge.
(We will do nothing about this, my dear, will do nothing about this.)
Tear gas lobbed at students in JMI, DU and AMU
Students (our future) riddled with, “not fired” bullets in the ICU.
Hum bas dukh ke sath baat karenge, main meri jaan, hum bas baat karenge.
(We will only speak of this with lament my dear, only speak of this.)
The country gathers to condemn the callous CAA,
Some risking their, ‘reputation’ for it, even their lives, along the way.
Hum kuch nahi karenge, meri jaan, hum kuch nahi karenge.
(We will do nothing about this, my dear, will do nothing about this.)
“We tried with the administration”, we tell each other,
“Admin, (oh that all-powerful, divine admin!) wanted to remain a-political one way or another.
Hum yahi soch ke chain milenge, meri jaan, hum yahi soch ke chain milega.
(We will receive comfort from these thoughts, my dear, we will receive comfort from these thoughts.)
The fight goes on, the fight for justice rages.
Our biggest bid for justice were, ‘hashtags’ on Instagram pages.
Hum kuch nahi karenge, meri jaan, hum kuch nahi karenge.
(We will do nothing about this, my dear, we will do nothing about this.)
One day – today – I hope we will see past our privilege and class,
Walk with you my fellow students through our democracy’s shattered glass.
That does not reflect any light anymore.
But the future I hope, has better things in store.
It is in our passivity, that unconstitutional activities gain strength
But from our resistance, that equation could be bent
To represent what is fair, kind and about this I am emphatic,
100% democratic, yes democratic.
Hum iss bar saath chalenge meri jaan, hum iss bar zaroor saath chalenge
(We will definitely walk together this time, my dear, definitely walk together.)
Featured image credit: Pariplab Chakraborty
This article went live on January tenth, two thousand twenty, at zero minutes past twelve at night.The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
