काळोख

read Sakharam Binder for the first time. few thoughts..

Ganjafied he stands proud
convinced of his honesty
his straight forwardness
struggling to come to terms
that childhood slur

moated by his delusion
he preys on women
fallen
easy game for him
his morality
his hypocrisy
society helps
looks away
a willing ally

wealth enters
head bowed
lord’s name on her lips
her deviousness cloaked
by the scriptures
she chants
her violence masked
by the fasts she observes
plotting her safety
craving that piece of thigh
to lay her head
and die
deluded by her piety
her virtue &
sense of right

her morality fuels
her conviction
that the hole she digs
is ordained by her god
the cover up
acceptable to society
she is pure
she has done no wrong
in her mind
she has vanquished evil

another
seeks salvation
her freedom
daring to seek pleasure
and her life
she fights back
throwing of the yoke
of one surrendered to drink
fighting another
reduced to the figure
of a quarter to eight

she compromises
aided by the bottle
takes a step back
to fight another day

she provides solace
and shelter
to the pious one
on terms her own
little knowing the danger
lurking behind
that bowed exterior

Like it has
always come to be
the deluded are provoked
by the seemingly holy

insecure ears
the most willing allies
of evil
waiting with a match
an excuse to flare
ignoring the pleas
at the door firmly locked

religion cloaks evil
religion feeds on insecurity
religion meets delusion
a potent combination
a perfect storm
just a matter of time

violence inescapable
darkness inevitable
the writer warns us
right through
the many times he says काळोख

dedicated to my very dear friend Rajnish Surve who took it upon himself and tracked down the book “Binderche Diwas” for me. An incredibly sweet gesture.