Joshua Bodhinetra

Labani Jangi

Illustration

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Once upon a time there were three neighbours – Katherine Kaur, Bodhi Murmu and Mohammed Tulsiraam. Kathy was a farmer; Bodhi worked at a jute mill; and Mohammed was a cowherd. None of them knew what to do with that heavy tome, the Indian Constitution that many learned people in the city were making a brouhaha about. Kathy said it was useless, Bodhi thought perhaps it was divine, and Mohammed even asked, &quot;Will it feed our children, eh?&quot;The fact that a bearded king had been elected, the three neighbours couldn&#39;t care less, &quot;Akhir itna waqt kiske paas hai?&quot; And then the rains failed, the debts mounted, and Katherine found the bottle of pesticide whispering her name. Next the jute mill went bankrupt. The police teargassed the protesting workers and Bodhi Murmu was slapped with terrorism-charges for leading them. At last came Mohammed Tulsiraam&#39;s turn. One fine sanatani (sanctimonious) evening his cows came home, followed by sword-wielding two-legged calves. &quot;Gau-maataa ki jai! Gau-maataa ki jai!&quot;Amidst the demonic chanting, somewhere a few pages rustled, a blue sun rose, a faltering whisper was heard: &quot;We, the people of India, having solemnly resolved...

The poet would like to thank Smita Khator for some invigorating conversations that led to the writing of this poem.

A tale of a book and three neighbours

ایک کتاب کا قصہ اور تین پڑوسی

ఒక పుస్తకం, ముగ్గురు ఇరుగుపొరుగుల కథ

ஒரு புத்தகம் மற்றும் மூன்று அண்டைவீட்டார் கதை

ਕਿੱਸਾ-ਏ-ਕਿਤਾਬ ਤੇ ਤਿੰਨ ਹਮਸਾਏ

ଗୋଟିଏ ପୁସ୍ତକ ଓ ତିନି ପଡ଼ୋଶୀଙ୍କ କାହାଣୀ

एक पुस्‍तक आणि तीन शेजारी

ഒരു പുസ്തകത്തിന്റെ കഥ; മൂന്ന് അയൽക്കാരുടേയും

ಒಂದು ಪುಸ್ತಕ ಮತ್ತು ಮೂರು ನೆರೆಹೊರೆಯವರ ಕತೆ

एक किताब का क़िस्सा और तीन पड़ोसी

એક પુસ્તક અને ત્રણ પડોશીઓ

एक ठन किताब अऊ तीन झिन परोसी के कथा

एक ठो किताब आउर तीन ठो पड़ोसी के खिस्सा

তিনি চুবুৰীয়া আৰু এখন আজৱ কিতাপৰ আখ্যান

তিন পড়শি ও আজব এক কিতাবের দাস্তান

Sonarpur

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A tale of a book and three neighbours

The Indian Constitution is celebrated in a set of nine haikus, honouring the values that make us who we are

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