With so much so of love,

But women’s day,Women celebrating it,Talking of their rights,Their freedoms,Without women,Can we think ofOur existence?

Modern poetry,Had we been not,Could we have?Say,We are modernAs for ourSuit and boots,The shirt, pants and neck tie,The mirror and cosmetics,The watch, the radio and the camera,The pen and paper,Modern facilities and conveyances,Had the newspaper, the television, the phoneBeen not,Could we have been,Had the world been not linked withRoads and bridges,Roads cut over hilly terrains,Bridges…

Of undaunted sacrifice and oath-takingAnd standing by word and moralityAs shown in the character of KarnaThe disowned child of KuntiFused with the high-pitching poesyOf Dinkar.

Into the hamlet homes,Throwing the ashes from the earthen ovenAnd washing the utensils.The poor girl-child of India, neglected an ignored,Half-fed and half-clothed,Clumsy and soiled,I can see her helping her motherIn household works,Carrying her younger brother in her lap.Her frock is faded and torn,The hair unoiled,She taking food,Just the left-overs of her brother,Late in the day.Father’s…

Playing with dust,Under the sunUnmindful ofWhat she had,What had not,Playing with dustUnder the strong sunThat poor girl,Poor Dalit girlInto the hamlet,Hamlet homeAnd the courtyardAll around the place,The open space adjacent to itThat Dalit girl,Poor Dalit girlHalf-fed,Half-fed and half-clothed,The child,Child of povertySmiling,Smiling sweetly.