Celebrating Shame Poem by Bashyam Narayanan

Emotional appeal of the Prime Minister
From all stages wherever he was talking from
High moral preaching for simplicity
And for sensitivity for common good

So many others in his party
In the Parliament, press conferences and
Televised debates
Talking the same and appealing
To the people of the country
About hundred and twenty five crores of them
To bear with the inconveniences caused to them
By the war waged against unaccounted dirty cash
And help the nation realize the benefit of
Clean currencies

Nation believed the throat-choking words
Minded not standing hours in the queues
Not just to exchange old currencies
But to deposit their hard earned and
Well accounted clean money
With a devotion so that the country gets rid of
Black and economical-growth-retarding ill gotten wealth
Country is still fighting
People are still struggling, not suffering, as they willfully
Accepted the challenge and the pains associated with it

As this is on
There was held a marriage
In the middle of one of the metros
Where daughter of a mining menace
And a convict on bail
Weds luxuriously
Expenses crossing all imaginations
To the tune of five hundred crores of Indian rupee
At the time when an ordinary citizen
Waits in front of currency vending machine
For hours to get his own rupees two thousand five hundred

Height of embarrassment for the Prime Minister is
That this man was once in the party that rules the country
And many of the leaders of the party
Attended the wedding shamelessly
Enjoying the luxurious hospitality extended
At the marriage premises

Fame, fame and fame was accruing to the Government
Because of the bold step initiated
Against black money menace

Shame, shame and only shame was adding to the
Party that is ruling and

Insult, insult and injurious insult is what they inflicted
On the efforts and sacrifices of every citizen of the country
Who braves hot sun and freezing wind
Stands on roads to collect meagre money from banks and
Very slow-acting post offices
Which found lavish use in the mother of all weddings
Just now held in a State capital

Government, people and the party to which he is loyal
Should immediately punish him in the harshest way
So that politicians and their sympathizers will not dare
Any act that directly or indirectly hurts
The interest of common cause
And dilutes the sincere efforts of the population
Towards the same

Such acts the political party should realize
Make people doubt the intent of a step taken
Where the whole country actively take part

Again let us pray
For wisdom dawning on those who are after
Popularity for resisting indulgence in acts
That prove not matching the collective effort
Of the nation for a common cause

While wishing the newly wed
With everything best for a long happy healthy
Married life
Let there be a full stop of such
Shameful wedding