A Divided Nation Poem by Venkateswaran Krishnan Sreenivasan

Unity in diversity is a time worn slogan
Chanted by our rulers of yore and utopian
A splintered house is our nation, sings the pagan
The dark reality stares with eyes avian

Backward and forward, the former gets the cake
Of concessions, reservation and the like
For life, the latter gets the crumb
The forward now backward are lifeless and dumb

For the fortunate few blessed by their birth
Everything comes free and they wallow in mirth
All their lives in sloth to remain where they were
More largesse flows, free is not enough as it were

To divide the haves, was invented a ploy
Creamy and non creamy mixing milk with soy
The mixture tasted bitter and was a flop
And left the thinnest layer on top

Majority and minority, the foulest game in number
To appease the caste ridden former seemed a blunder
To mollify the latter united even in slumber
Was easier for votes and win a bumper

The latest bias is based on sex
The weaker ones clamour to be MPs and strong
The reforms are through albeit they vex
Most of the males and their orthodox throng

APL and BPL why keep the duo at loggerheads,
To try utmost to lift the poor instead
Is a more enduring wholesome prospect
To keep peace in our midst in every respect

Caste based census has thrown us into a mess
After four score years why this duress
On our diverse culture and press
To split into bits our fragile populace





United we stand, divided we fall
Is a lesson we learnt and erased from our past
Our enemies around oft remind us all
Let us unite for strength lest our freedom be lost

No thoughts of envy the author doth harbour
Against any of his well placed sister or brother
The elected rulers ought to channel their power
To unite the people and not dismember