Corruption

The sprawling CWG’s stadium unfolded

A large spectrum of corruption running into megabucks

The CWG stadium—

The doom of festivity, the doom of fidelity

 

2G spectrum stood towering even higher

That echoed clangour of corruption even louder.

 

Heaps of corruption—

Corruption after corruption.

United people to roar against corruption

All seem to support the campaigns that

some Gandhians initiated.

I too added my voice against.

 

I was given the responsibility to enlist some corruptions

And thus I began:

 

At the corner of a village I saw

Flames leaping from a hearth in front of

A dim-lit hut, tilted towards a side

A crumbling roof atop, ready to fall anytime

Some ladies from neighbouring area came

Singing to the hut, to the fire and

Lit their own cow-dung cakes from the hearth

And they saved many a matchstick.

 

Many people in the country, in the slums of the cities

Wake up early and relieve themselves in the open

With their mouth hanging down, eyes to the earth

Once free they cover their dirt under the soil mysteriously

They create an unhygienic environment and then cry

The government is not doing anything for their health

 

People rush to the public buses and trains

As soon as they reach to the stops

To loot the seats and bunk tickets

The ticket-checkers wish the larger number of people

Bunk tickets the better. They earn wealth in the run.

 

Police run after the law breakers—

Some bikes, cars, and vehicles

Have no PUC, no helmets, no license

The police threaten to make challan and thereby

Fix a deal at a less price than the fine.

The bribe has saved many a law breaker.

 

Players of more age are declared underage

By the cricket team, by college teachers

And they bring a cup for their correct age

The test for age was fixed for a price.

 

Parents help their wards in copying at exams

To ensure high marks. If yet not met, they

Manage a caste certificate to help them pass

Through high cut-offs in the college selection processes

The parents are happy their children are studying

Philosophy, history, science, engineering, medicine

Who will one day become great philosophers

Historians, scientists, engineers and doctors.

 

Police have to pay to seek posting at their chosen

Places where they can earn name, fame, and money

They implement laws to ensure security to the people

 

Soon I found my list was full but the counting yet incomplete

I was tired and began to yawn. Suddenly I planned

I can create fake names and cases of corruption

Who is coming to look whether I did my job

Honestly!

I was lamenting why I took the headache to make the listing

To be tabled the next day. If I was the only fool left

To think for the country.

I took away the glasses from my nose, and folded the list

And crawled into the cosy duvets.

Why should I disturb my sleep

All goes to hell, I said to myself

And switched off the night bulb.

Khurshid Alam

[the composer of the poem is Editor, Contemporary Literary Review: India]