Anhad ka Baaja

क्या पाप किया इन्सान बनें इस जन्म में इस ज़माने में जिस में इन्सानियत नहीं Insaaniyat Kya paap kiya Insaan bane Is janm me Is zamaane me Jis me Insaaniyat nahin Humanity What sins have we committed To

I know migrants when They are at home They all have names and  Are not migrants at all But farmers’ children Neighbours’ children Kids I have seen grow up Kumar’s son Vijai from Valagapattu Works at

Their dreams are not Earthshaking They don’t dream of their children In Ivy League colleges In suited booted jobs They know that  Hindi film endings Do not happen  In real life They struggle on

Be careful with your beard, laddie Don’t let it grow too long There are all these bad cops, laddie Seeking to right perceived wrongs They'll drag you by the beard, laddie Notwithstanding your screams

When liquor shops opened And physical distancing norms Had to be maintained A smart young policewoman used Not lathis But jugaad: Only those with open umbrellas May queue up, she said With equal

I imagine I am A thousand miles from home My wife calls to tell me My son is ill I start to walk home To Begusarai from Delhi No food to eat Blisters on my feet I walk for three days Praying When I