From: bcsabha.kal...@gmail.com To: From: cedricprak...@gmail.com To: cedricprak...@gmail.com
“We, the People of India” -Fr. Cedric Prakash sj “We, the People of India” we again proudly say On this our country’s sixty-sixth Republic day We extol the values of our great Constitution Glad that we have slowly matured as a nation We say Justice, Liberty, Equality and Fraternity Are the four pillars of the largest Democracy There is indeed so much to boast in theory; In practice dare we look at the painful reality? The truth is that there is anything but Democracy The totally one-man show is sheer autocracy The few powerful rich loot and plunder at will At their beck and call is a paid media most shrill A shady nuclear deal is bought, signed and sealed What will later happen to Indians is not revealed The poor do lament and in pain they whine While the guys up there say “all is fine” The bogey of conversion is part of the game After all minority-bashing is also their name As lip –service continues to ideals most high We wonder whether one needs to laugh or to cry? “Cry loudly” we say today with depth and in solidarity Our Constitution to preserve and protect for posterity! (* Fr. Cedric Prakash SJ is the Director of PRASHANT, the Ahmedabad-based Jesuit Centre for Human Rights, Justice and Peace) Address: PRASHANT, Hill Nagar, Near Saffron Hotel, Drive-in Road, Ahmedabad – 380052Phone: (079) 27455913, 66522333 Fax: (079) 27489018 Email: sjprash...@gmail.com www.humanrightsindia.in