The Great Wall Of Intolerance Poem by Hardeep Sabharwal

“WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA” (the world) , [i]
Socialist, Secular and Democratic, who believe in
Justice, Liberty, Equality and Fraternity,
Are now standing on a great wall of Intolerance,
And it is the only man-made thing
That can be seen from space, although
I know WE have never visited space.
But our satellites are showing us this demon wall,
And our news channels are explaining it in broad terms.
You can hear our leaders and famous personalities
Competing with one another to condemn it.
And our ears are full of its sound,
And our nose can smell it everywhere.
Even when we bathe,
The water and soap seem to be rejected by our bodies.
But when you visit my street,
Or any other Indian (or world) street,
You will witness harmony among the people,
And you may wonder where you will find
The foundations of that infamous wall.
If every street can show harmony,
Why not every city? Every state? Every country?


[i] From Preamble to Indian Constitution.