Gandhi’s Compass

(Note: How relevant to the dot this poem remains after 17 years? It was first published in Times of India on 19 April 2004. It referred to the then Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and to the 11 vows of Gandhi; The moral compass was pointing to the 2004 General Elections - the ’India Shining’ campaign was leading the country nowhere. For the 11 vows of Gandhi please see link: https://www.gandhi-manibhavan.org/educational-resources/the-eleven-vows-of-gandhiji.html)

Do come to my old house
On the pavement outside, sits an
old hawker
Please ask him for a moral compass
It costs only 11 rupees.
It is a very good compass
It shows you the direction you are heading
You can see it even in the dark
You see, it has radium on its needle.
You will like it.

- Suhas Borker

(Suhas Borker is Editor, Citizens First TV (CFTV) and Convener, Working Group on Alternative Strategies based in New Delhi. He can be contacted at suhasborker[at]gmail.com)