Moumita Alam

Poem and Text

Antara Raman

Illustration

Pratishtha Pandya

Editor

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“Ammi,
when will school reopen?” asks Muniyaa. Sahara continues with the last round of
thinning out jute plants. These are busy days in her 10-decimal land. She has
no time for Muniyaa’s questions.

“Why
aren&#39;t schools reopening…!” The little girl is harping on the same question.
This time Sahara pauses, turns to her and desperately trying to control the
frustration in her voice, says: “dekhish naa ki groom [don&#39;t you see the
scorching heat]? It hasn&#39;t rained for eight months.”

“Then
why don&#39;t they install AC?” Muniyaa is relentless with her questions. 

“Sarkar [government] doesn&#39;t have money.” Sahara’s patience is thinning.

“How
come the borolok English schools [English medium schools for the rich] have so many ACs then?” 

Sahara
sinks into hard work and silence until the evening. She had to leave her work
unfinished and hurry home with Muniyaa today. It is voting day. Sahara rushes
towards the primary school booth to cast hers with her eight-year-old girl
tagging along.  

“Why
do we need to vote, Ammi?” Muniyaa is unstoppable today. Sahara is relieved
that the topic has changed for now, but she is too tired to engage her
daughter.

“I
heard it on the TV the other day. A big leader was saying that they don&#39;t need
Muslim votes! We are Muslim, Ammi. So why do we vote?”
Sahara stops in her track only to stare at the little one. Muniyaa knows what
that cold and empty stare means. She shuts up.

‘Why do we vote?’

’ہم ووٹ کیوں دیتے ہیں امّی؟‘

'మనం వోటెందుకు వెయ్యాలమ్మా?'

‘ஏன் நாம் வாக்களிக்கிறோம்?’

'ਫਿਰ ਅਸੀਂ ਵੋਟ ਕਿਉਂ ਪਾ ਰਹੇ ਹਾਂ?'

‘ଭୋଟ କାହିଁକି ଦେବା?’

‘आपण मत का द्यायचं?’

'എന്തിനാണ് നമ്മൾ വോട്ട് ചെയ്യുന്നത്?'

'ನಾವೇಕೆ ಮತ ಚಲಾಯಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದೇವೆ?'

'हम वोट क्यों देते हैं अम्मी?'

'આપણે મત આપવાની શી જરૂર છે?'

‘दाई, हमन वोट काबर देबो?’

'माई, हमनी भोट काहे करिले?'

‘আমি ভোট কিয় দিওঁ?’

‘আমাদের ভোট দেওয়া কেন আম্মু?’

Dharmmapur

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‘Why do we vote?’

A poet's take on the Lok Sabha elections in our democracy that shows us how they can be about everything but the rights of ordinary people

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