I've never seen a word of greater clout,
Nor one, more passionate to creed a child,
Sedition is an offspring born in doubt—
No motherhood me think is more reviled.
As fruit of lust— born she was of a Greek
Descent called ‘stasis' reeking of stalemate,
Strange, but the word reeks of ‘revolt' if meek,
So, confusion confounds ‘tween mom and mate!
Or may be she has a Latin descent,
‘Seditio'— turning to self, to one's heart,
In tension to move farther, far apart,
A twain of moms never in agreement!
For long a fond child of mom-land, England,
Abandoned there, but fostered in this land.
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In India the law against sedition has a colonial legacy. The word itself has doubtful and conflicting etymology. A democracy should have no place for sedition, as preservation and status quo are against the grain of the rule of people. In democracy, change should always be welcome. This poem highlights the conflicting parentage of the word. The last two lines allude to the fact that Britain, where the law of sedition was first born, has repealed it altogether after long vacillation. So have many countries. India is still in two minds, thanks to our two-mouthed politicians.
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Happenings | 03.03.11 |
Colonial legacy! ! ! Thanks for sharing this poem with us.
Yes, Colonial legacy, but it is sad that democratic governments find it useful to carry on with it. Thank you Edward Louis.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
It's a debate, after all government has to maintain the law and order situation. But it is a truth that law of sedition has always been misused by the rulers. I don't know what other religions say about it but in Islam it's obligatory against a misfit ruler if there is a hope of success in changing the government. When people in millions rise who can stop them. You have touched a very sensitive topic and I congratulate you for it.
Books of wisdom have a lot of things for us. Unfortunately we interpret them the way suits us. Or else, how can a colonial law can continue for such a long time. Thank you Kkhtar Jawad for your feedback.