
Look deeply, at the quiet waters,
I am polluted
In it you will find, the forgotten in betweens
Of our city’s secrets
Look deeply, at the paved surfaces
I am haunted
Blocked at points
Broken, cracked,
Disjointed and disconnected
And at times concealed underground
The weight of the trampling
Burying me deeper and deeper
I am haunted
Severed and trapped
Desperate to find my way out
To reach my destination
Look deeply, at the quiet waters,
I am weary
Of the conspiracy,
There is hopelessness of talks,
Political verbal duel and vested interests
I am weary
Of the complicity and the collusion
I am tired
Of the manipulation
Why argue about who is to blame?
What matters is that we know
What are we going to do with what we know?
Look deeply, at the quiet waters,
I am enraged
A storm is brewing
Out of compulsion
To be heard and seen
Look deeply, at the force of the water
I don’t feel sorry
For your tunnel vision,
I don’t feel sorry
For you are oblivious
Look deeply, at the force of the water
I feel compelled
To ask you for moment of introspection
I feel compelled,
To ask you for some soul-searching examination
I feel compelled
For some positive action
Have you seen me?
Every stretch of my pathway, is unique,
Filled with nuances – some historic, some romantic
Some engineered, some natural,
I can make my presence felt, even in absence
I will remind,
For remembrance is not just things of past
I will remind,
For remembrance is not mere nostalgia
Remembrance is also a reminder of our mortality.
I will question
Can you find a new imagination?
Can you stop the spatial polarisation?
Can you address issues of justice?
Can you be empathetic and understanding?
I am catharsis
I am a revelation
I am a Rajakaluve.
– Pinky Chandran, October 2022