Monday 5 July, 2021

We killed an old man

 Why the fury? Why so much ire?

for someone who refused to retire

He refused to stop his proactive plan

that's why we killed this stupid old man!

 

He refused to ignore like so many do

he taught others to ask questions too

To halt our progress, he thought he can

but our juggernaut will crush all such men!

 

Our development express refuses to stop

we will do everything to rise over and hop

We will jump over every stakeholder’s plan

we will break down resolve of such old men!

 

He wanted to save people as if his own

He taught them the right to voice and tone

But we know how to halt his every fan

by confining behind bars, their old man!

 

Call them anti-national to dump in jail

apply law that the Raj used to deny bail

Our gullible choir will join and raise cain

as we stifle and defeat their old guy main!

 

Our men seating in judgement seat

are blind to what lies at Truth’s feet

Mere accusation is enough to condemn

each and every one, young and old men!

 

The younger lot has a lesson to learn

By the way we prolong, twist and turn

It is easy with a fake nationalist plan

History is full of felling of such old men!

 

Now for the others we hold behind bars

more voices may say that we went too far

We may have to concede they are no fiends

we tarnished them, like we did that old man!

 

Watch the few that protest and cry

ensure the emotions recede and dry

Pull out the ones who together with him sang

they may undo the death of that bloody old man!

- Pravin K. Sabnis, 5 July 2021

(Indian tribal rights activist Stan Swamy died of a cardiac arrest today. The 84 year old Jesuit priest, suffered from Parkinson's disease, was consistently denied bail & moved to a private hospital in May after he tested positive for Covid. The oldest person to be accused of terrorism in India, he was arrested in October 2020, among 15 renowned activists, academics & lawyers, who were charged under a draconian anti-terror law. Swamy repeatedly denied the charges, saying he was being targeted for his work related to the caste and land struggles of tribals in Jharkhand state. At the time of arrest, his health was waning. But his bail appeal on medical grounds was rejected & National Investigative Agency (NIA) continued to oppose his release. In the eight months he spent in Mumbai's Tajola jail, his health declined)

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