Oh, Nirbhaya! Poem by Padmanabhan Ananth

Oh Nirbhaya, have we lost you in vain?
Was it you to blame to just be a woman?
That you didn't remain home past setting sun?

All you did was board a Delhi city bus
And then you'd to face six-n-half devils
That were evilly strolling for prey on streets

Why pick on you those evil marauders
To pierce you with their rotted organs
And use on you, gosh, even rusted tools!

They threw you on streets to simply shiver
You begged to passers-by for warmth-n-water
When help finally came, your life was on totter.

Reminds me of a drive on a state highway
When a thousand crushed butterflies lay
Their lifeless wings, soulless bodies one day

Your assailants eventually may go to gallows
After judges-n-ministers reject their appeals
But will it still let your soul rest in peace?

What about rapes, assaults that just don't abate
Across breadth of nation, every city-n-state
What about the women in India - their fate?

Women's Safety Fund - allocated but not used
Police force, beacon cars - only misused
Loopholes of law, lawyers - so abused!

In this vast land we claim a civilised society
Where the female form is respected as 'Devi'
But here many men turn evil at sight of lady!

They blame dress, movies, music - impish
For their petty perverted thoughts - so devilish!
We must just call all their bluff - selfish.

Sitting here I pen-n-pray your soul gets respite
I take a pledge: women I shall ever respect
And work, in any possible way, to protect.