Ego Poem by Akham Nilabirdhwaja Singh

If a rich man,
certainly he is a corrupt government official
or a contractor
or a black marketeer initiates a new costly practice
in the marriage or shradha
or other ceremonies performed by him
although vague religiously
yet to promote his ego
before others
it is imitated
by the other rich people.
After that poor people follow the practice selling or mortgaging their lands fearing
society will laugh at them if not so.
Intellectuals and writers
write against such vague religious practices
in the local newspapers and social media.
Yet in reality
all of them follow the new practice
fearing if not so
their prestige before others
will be lost.
More and more
such new meaningless costly practices are added
to the religious ceremonies
by the rich people.