My Infinite World

POETRY FORMAT, 26 Aug 2019

Dr Ravi P Bhatia – TRANSCEND Media Service

I am a small person
Small in age, Small in mind
What do I understand
Of this large complex land

Where the rich live in plenty
Plenty for eating, plenty for throwing
Plenty for wasting
With the rag pickers competing
With the cows and dogs eating
The wasted crumbs that are rotting.

The poor exult when they find something
for their hungry kids
They lament when the something becomes nothing
And the kids remain hungry and wishing
That they did not have the hungry feeling.

They look at the mighty and the rich
Living in big bungalows and wonder
Is it our Karma that we are poor
Have little to eat, with no one to care
Get torn clothes to wear?

But I will overcome my Karma,
I will become a good human being
I will make this world a better place
And remove poverty and injustice
Despite poverty staring at my face.

How will I overcome my Karma?
First I will not give up hope
And fight for my right to live
the life of a human being
Not a rat, a dog or a donkey.

I did not know there is another race
The race of poor forlorn strugglers
Facing scorn, facing disdain, having no grace
If life is such a place
I will quit this race.

How? By struggling, by studying
By understanding, by meditating
On the ills of this life
By not trembling
At the sight of a wicked unjust man
Who knows not good governing.

Oh my Krishna, give me strength
Give me determination
Give me the education
To understand
The beauty of this land
That has the fragrance
Of love, beauty and Harmony
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Dr Ravi P Bhatia is a member of the TRANSCEND Network for Peace Development Environment, an educationist, Gandhian scholar and peace researcher. Retired professor, Delhi University. His new book, A Garland of Ideas—Gandhian, Religious, Educational, Environmental was published recently in Delhi. ravipbhatia@gmail.com

This article originally appeared on Transcend Media Service (TMS) on 26 Aug 2019.

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