The Same Indian Heart Poem by Aniruddha Pathak

If Indian I'm, I scarce have had a choice,
Yet having been one, sure adds to my joys,
Had Providence asked, I might have opted
For a more affluent land, less crowded,
Less governed, garrulous less, less gloated,
Freer and open more and less bloated;

But sure can I say proud I'm one to be,
Though scarce credit can take for what went ere,
Nor feel great on what often happens now;
And on balance, it has been pretty fair,
One feels home in his home, and not somehow—
A shaky ship's still ship one's when mid-sea.

No, I intend to settle not abroad,
For, I feel most relaxed here in my home,
I may dislike many a thing nigh odd,
There's notso like being under this dome,
This is where I was born, here I belong,
Here I intend to die singing my song.

There's something deep rooted in this my land,
There might lands be of shine, glitzy and grand,
Where heady thoughts might rush to feel inclined,
As venturesome hearts have; but led by heart,
Let me repay my debt— whatso in part,
Let me but in here hasten to unwind.

My prayer and belief, colour and creed,
Bye-products are, be the same Indian breed,
So be my Indian kinship no less still,
Religion and rearing notwithstanding,
And deep sense of brotherhood do I feel,
In melody mine let me my song sing.

Much quarrelling and cantankerous lot,
One might say, but that is the Indian pot,
Calamity no less, it might oft take
To unite us; we still bubble behind,
O one common Indian ocean to make,
Amidst myriad heads and caps there's one mind!
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Thoughts on 15th August, Independence Day
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Musings | 07.08.14 |