Let Us All Unite And Ensure That No Longer Such Mishaps Repeat Poem by Bashyam Narayanan

Savita Halappanavar could have been saved
Had the dead fetus been surgically removed in time
This surgical procedure cannot be termed abortion
As the fetus ceased to be fetus as it is dead
When Savita requested for its removal
We are advanced and ever advancing
But why can't we come out of the shell of
Religious dogmas
And show the world that
We are human beings first and then only
We identify ourselves
With the nation we are born in
With the religion we are practicing
With the language we speak
With the community we hail from
We failed to identify as a human being
In the process
We lost a woman for no fault of hers
This version is making rounds as of now, but
Whom to blame, as a life is lost

The doctors probably allowed Savita to suffer
As still they claim there was fetal heart beat
Might have ventured a risk
Thinking that Savita would stand that for some more time
Before going for the surgical intervention
But death won the race
This version too makes it round

The land where this tragedy occurred is
Too well known for its pre and post natal care
And hence some find it difficult to believe
That such an incident gets reported
As negligence and gynecologists of that land never go together

Some talk about protest against anti-abortion lobbyists
Some talk about religious adherence
Some talk about racial discrimination
Some talk about so many other things

Let us forget all that
Let this unforeseen death be not become a divide between us
Let us console the widower
Let us pray for peace of the departed soul
Let us extend apologies to bereaved families
If the death has really occurred because of human error
Either technical or otherwise
Let us all unite and ensure
That no longer such mishaps repeat