Rise, O Daughter Of Kali!

Our Afghan sisters lost their freedom and loves into terrible hands. But even in India, are we really free in our familial and marital bonds, abusive schools and insensitive workplaces?

Broken and crushed to pieces,
why do you languish in the dark pits dung by shameful masculinity.
Fearful and stricken, why do you tiptoe, oh woman,
in hopeless dimensions of hopeless men.
Do not you know the strength of your own being,
the being behind the mighty creation.

Why do the ego-ridden, nervous men drive you into the dungeon of silence,
why do you lend yourself to their powerless shouts of exalted power,
do you not know the strength of your voice,
the voice that moved Shivaji,
and the voice that crashed down the Dharma of the Kuru Court.

Why, why, tell me, oh women,
you stand party to injustices inflected  upon your sisters,
why do you, the daughter of the goddesses,
accept the old and rickety dying order of patriarchy.
Know you not the strength of unity, oh slayer of the demon Raktabheej.

A thousand Rakthabheejs roam on your own mother’s land,
snatching away your freedom,
killing your spirit,
undermining you at every step,
insulting you at every bent.

Rise, rise, Kali’s daughter,
the time is not to sleep,
the time is not to adjust,
not to compromise,
it is the time to dance a fiery dance
it is the time to reclaim your land, your space, your voice.

And who else will do it,
if not you, sister,

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you, of whom Vivekananda said possessed
the “hero’s will and the Mother’s heart”,
in the figure of whom Aurobindo and Bankim
saw Mahisamardini rising again.

If you do not rise to help your sister,
if you do not rise to help yourself,
if you do not rise to help your Mother,
who else shall?

Rise, Kali’s daughter,
rise and fight
until freedom is won
and our land lays conquered.

Author’s note: A few days ago India celebrated its 75th Independence day with full gusto. But on the same day our Afghan sisters lost their freedom and loves into terrible hands. Even in India, are we really free in our familial and marital bonds, abusive schools and insensitive workplaces? No, women in India are not free, even after 75 years of Independence. But what horrifies and saddens me the most is that we women refuse to stand by each other. By seeking refuge behind patriachy and its terrible beliefs, we think we are securing our safety but no, patriachy is a quick sand that strives to swallow each women to death. So, sisters rise up united and one , for which force on Earth can limit the freedom of the shining army of Goddesses, the daughters of the ones who rallied together and slayed the demon Raktabheej.

Image source: a still from the film Mirch Masala

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