Wednesday, January 26, 2011

बोल कि लब आज़ाद हैं तेरे

On Republic Day, this day, Ilina Sen reminds us to speak up when constitutional freedoms are violated in our country and to hold our democracy responsible for the crimes it commits against its own citizens. She exhorts to no longer stand by the wayside and watch when people are "killed, tortured, humiliated, disappeared, threatened, arbitrarily detained and arrested, falsely charged and under surveillance because of their legitimate work in upholding democratic rights and fundamental freedoms." Her letter can be found in its entirety at http://www.binayaksen.net/2011/01/ilina-sen-writes-to-all-supporters-of-dr-binayak-sen/.

बोल कि लब आज़ाद हैं तेरे
बोल ज़बां अब तक तेरी है
तेरी सुतवां ज़िस्म है तेरा
बोल कि जां अब तक तेरी है

देख कि आहंगर कि दुकां में
तुन्द हैं शोले सुर्ख है आहन
खुलने लगे कुफ़लों के दहाने
फैला हर ज़ंजीर का दामन

बोल कि थोड़ा वक्त बहुत है
जिस्म ओ ज़बां की मौत से पहले
बोल कि सच ज़िंदा है अब तक
बोल जो कुछ कहना वो कह ले