ON REPUBLIC DAY

my country’s flag flies full mast to the full-throated singing and cheer
it’s great to have a public holiday … please pass on some more beer!
let the school kids do the drill… the national anthem is beyond us to sing
freedom took away the foreigners… now elected leaders do worse things!

the pathetic politician waxes eloquent in his superficial sermon
puffed up chests will wane… republic day is just another occasion!

you see, it really isn’t something to be much bothered about…
in my country’s consciousness, democracy is plagued by doubt!

I can rattle off the problems and fail to be part of the solution
it is sad but true that patriotism is just a plastic emotion!
but then, why is that when India wins that rises in my heart a cheer?
and why is it that when India loses that I succumb to my tears?

a foreigner’s abusive words may make me see red…
but, in deed for my country, I prefer to play dead!
I maintain my stoic silence as my nation is raped and razed
it is just a piece of land… my behaviour remains unfazed!

so what if I am a man of honour, so what if I talk the lofty talk
how can I forgive myself when I can’t do the patriotic walk?
we have to take the initiative, by each let this be heard

call it saving ourselves; call it patriotism or any other word!

don’t wait for someone to begin, it really starts with me…
…to save my land, its people and every threatened tree!
they are so few… those who grab, loot and terrorise
we are so many and stronger… if only together we rise!

Republic day belong to us… we the public that is eager
to do what it takes to secure our country’s future….
Republic day is a time to make the commitment again
to do what needs to be done to pull my country out of the drain…

love for our country should never be an occasional intention…
love for our country is when we speak through hands-on action…
let each moment be where, together we walk the united way
let each day be celebrated as my country’s Republic day!

---- Pravin Sabnis (January 2007)

THANK YOU SATISH & PATRICIA

Thank you Satish & Patricia,
you are the bright blaze
that uncovered our shifty eyes
and our lame daze!

We shed only teeming tears
We hid behind our selfish fears
Refusing to take on the threatening might
Running away from the righteous fight!

The police came without fail
And send the saviours off to jail.
But then something happened to me
… my mirror reflected the cut tree!

Keep going Satish & Patricia,
you are the igniting flame
that dispelled the darkness
and exposed the dangerous game!

The aggressors had to be tackled…
their greed had to be humbled…
The Goans now began to talk
and dawned the urgency to walk

We must save the Goan identity
where Mother Nature lives with dignity.
We want the real Goa and not a fairy tale
Don’t you dare put up my motherland up for sale!

Thank you Satish & Patricia,
you are the motivational flare
that lit up our spirits
and reminded us how to dare!

We must also gather our guts
To take head on the two-faced nuts
Let’s challenge every deceitful argument
That speaks for fallacious development

It isn’t just about saving our land
Or the forests, mangroves and sand
It is about saving our future generation
From the necropolis of misplaced progression.

Rest assured Satish & Patricia,
you are no longer the lonely embers,
from Odxel, Saleli, Sulcorna and everywhere,
Goa is showing the numbers!

No money and no muscle can deter
The Goan who has cast off his fear
It is after all, the fight for true freedom
From the insatiable rulers’ fiefdom.

The people are awake and aware
The rude rulers have to beware
You are out to abuse our mother
And expect us not to bother?

Smile Satish & Patricia,
we have thrown away our pretexts
'Save Goa' is no longer
just another spoken concept!

---- Pravin Sabnis (December 2006)