Our Own Pandemic Poem by Varghese Kuncheria

Joji Varghese Kuncheria
Our Own Pandemic

Colour Discrimination is one thing,
Discrimination within the same colour
Is something unheard of elsewhere.
The caste system rampant amongst the majority,
Is my country's curse since humanity.

We feel ashamed of racial inequality,
Yet caste-based inequality is justified
In the name of religion, shamefully.
As a dangerous taboo, it obstinately continues
To marry outside caste boundaries.

Men and women are brutally killed,
These so-called honour killings,
Justified by their own family members.
Honour killings are the worst crime
Of our decayed civilized society.

Another weapon of caste oppression
Is rape; the horrifying statistics show
Four Dalit women are raped each day.
In the largest democratic nation on earth,
We have failed miserably to integrate
Tribals and Dalits into the mainstream.

A manifold increase in attacks on Dalits,
During this unfortunate lockdown period:
Caste violence orchestrated by the elite
Upper caste, is discrimination at its crest,
That kills more Dalits than corona virus does

__________

Author's note:
Dalits, also known as 'Untouchables, ' are members of the lowest social group in the Hindu
caste system. Gandhi called them the 'Harijan, ' meaning 'children of God, ' to emphasize
their humanity. The National Dalit Movement for Justice reported a 72% increase in the
attacks against Dalits in April and May 2020 (that is during the lockdown period) compared
with the same two months in 2019.