"Today we are called the dalits -the oppressed. Once the Aryans on their horses invaded this land. Then we who are the natives became the displaced. Oh Rama, Oh Rama, You became the God and we the demons" With Regards Abi  "At his best, man is the noblest of all animals; separated from law and justice he is the worst" - Aristotle Here is a dalit song, that I found from one of my friend... sharing with all ................................................................................................ The rulers who control all knowledge, Claim the Ramayana to be India's history And called us many names -demons, low castes, untouchables. But we were the aborigines of this land. Listen to our story. Today we are called the dalits -the oppressed. Once the Aryans on their horses invaded this land. Then we who are the natives became the displaced. Oh Rama, Oh Rama, You became the God and we the demons. You portrayed our Hanuman as a monkey, Oh Rama, you representative of the Aryans. You enslaved us to form a monkey army, Those you could not subjugate You called a rakshasa -a demon. But we are the forest rakshak -the protectors. You invented the hierarchy of caste Through your laws of Manu, the first man. Oh Rama, you representative of the Aryans. And you trampled on the rights of women. You made your wife Sita undergo the ordeal of fire To prove her chastity. Such were your male laws, Oh Rama. Oh Rama, you representative of the Aryans. When Shambuka, the Untouchable Tried to gain knowledge, You beheaded him, Oh Rama. Thus did you crush those who tried to rise above their caste. Oh Rama, you representative of the Aryans. Days passed, years and centuries, But our lives remained the same. We skinned your cattle, So that you can wear shoes. We clean your gutters, So that you can stay clean. Oh Rama, you representative of the Aryans. Did you ever even ask, Oh Rama, What our caste is? Did you ever even ask What our religion is? Oh Rama, you representative of the Aryans. Independence dawned. It began with the rule of the consitution. The author of the constitution Dr. Ambedkar Framed the constitution around secular ideals. The castle of caste privileges began to crumble. No longer could the elite skim The milk of religious exploitation. Oh Rama, you representative of the Aryans. But poverty grew and to divert the poor .................................................From their real need, a new enemy was found. Muslims were targeted and "taught a lesson". To destroy Lanka, Oh Rama, you Formed us into a monkey army. And today you want us, The working majority, To form a new monkey army And attack Muslims. Oh Rama, you representative of the Aryans. -- " Protest is when I say this does not please me.Resistance is when I ensure what does not please me occurs no more. " -- B.A. Samvartha ('Sahil') Research Scholar Theater and Performance Studies School of Arts and Aesthetics Jawaharlal Nehru University New Delhi-67 Blog: www.crazymindseye.wordpress.com |
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