“I pondered whether I should wear orange, white or green and then I remembered it didn’t matter what she wore when she had been stripped naked.
I thought about wearing my new eyeliner and wondered if she has stopped crying.
I’d love to wear my red lipstick but I thought about whether her bruises have healed.
I don’t have enough hair to think about a hairstyle.
But I have enough shame to not ‘celebrate’ independence day when my sisters (and brothers) have been ruthlessly attacked by those they elected to serve them.”
The poem with the pen name, Adele was posted in one of the social media platforms. Here the poetess gives her insight into the status of Independent India under the elected representatives.
Reaching 77th Independence Day, the country is once again beautified with tricolour all over. The celebration of Independence at schools, colleges and all other educational centres have sadly been limited to hoisting National Flag, being ears to long speeches by the guests of the day and finally going home early with a laddoo!
India is Independent from the colonial clutches. But a section of society feels the brutality and the undemocratic shadows have still continued to imprint the mark on society. A section of thinkers, this Independence have called on to opt for black clothing as a symbol o agony, post a terrible incident at Manipur.
Indiana feared the British bullets back on their fight for country’s Independence. Today, Indian’s still fear bullets in public arena in the name of religion, race and culture, they point out. Women back then, feared the assault by British men even in matters of covering their chest, today our own country men are making women parade naked on road.
According to the thinkers, amongst all such agonies, how can a meaningful Independence day be celebrated continues to remain a question, in an independent India.