This poem is a tribute to Col MN Rai of the Indian Army, and
thousands of others soldiers who die around the world, hopefully believing a
worthy cause. Col Rai’s daughter bid him farewell with the battle cry of his
regiment. It made me wonder, will she grow up wanting revenge, or peace?
What did you
die for, soldier?
Was it for
your daughter
Who bid you
farewell
With the battle
cry of your regiment?
Was it for your
fellow soldiers
Who
responded to your daughter’s cry
And stood
with her in solidarity?
Was it for
the country
That
decorated you with a medal
For guarding
its borders?
Was it for
me
A citizen
you never knew,
Who wonders
where her loyalties lie?
Am I disloyal
to you soldier,
If I have
friends across the border
And whose
children are dear to me as my own?
Am I disrespecting
you soldier,
For sharing
a dream with these friends
For a
borderless world?
I applaud
your commitment soldier
But forgive
me, I do not understand
What you
were committed to.
Was it for a
concept called India
Or against
an idea called Pakistan?
I am proud
of the land I come from
I am
grateful to the Earth and her resources here
For making
us who we are.
I am a
product of the people of this land,
Cradled in its
culture and nurtured in its values.
I am proud
to claim my Indianness.
But forgive
me, soldier
If my
Indianness does not reject other identities.
I am sorry,
soldier
But my loyalties
do not lie
With two
governments keeping a war alive
For reasons
I cannot comprehend.
Did you die
for the India in me, soldier
Or for the idea
of India that is at war
Against a
concept called Pakistan?
Countries
are but notions
We created
to embody ideas we reject in us
Are we a
race that glorifies killing each other
Over mere
ideas we do not accept?
I have a
conundrum in me and no answers
But I pray
that you rest in peace, soldier.
I hope, in
your death,
You have
given life to an idea of peace
In your
daughter who cries for you.
I hope she
learns to overcome
The idea of
borders that killed you.
