Caste Poem by Kanishka SricharanPratap

We have created
Shastra.

Khandayat, Brahmin
Kandara, Bauri
Hadi, Pana...
Teli, Tanti
Mochi, Dhoba
Barika, Karana
Dama, Gokha
Kandha, Kolha, Sabara...
All are equal
In administration.

Into it
We have inserted
Hindu, Islam
Buddhist, Christian
Sikh, Jain...

Have strongly
Screwed quota.

''Who is low
Who is high
Caste... non-caste
Religious... anti-religious,
Who smells sweet...
Who smells pungent,
Who gains what? ''
This thing
We blow
Into your ear.

And beg for vote...
Sit on chair.


Translated from Odia by
Subash Chandra Mohapatra