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Month: April 2020

Refuge of the World

-Jahanpanah, 1341Smoke drifts in from campswhere starving men stewanimal hides and rotten meat. The sultan is angry; the traveler is put under guard—he fasts for nine days, reciting, Allah is sufficient for us,and most excellent is the Protector.Freed, he finds an excuse to…

How Many, How Long?

How many summers have comesince Harappa and Mohenjo-daro faded or fell? We’ve all heard the story:a rivers runs dry or changes course, a new pestilence rides into town,crops wither in baking fields.Each time it happens must seem like the first time—hungry families camp outside city…

It’s Time We Drew Some Lines

When Trump met Modi in February,we bought three billion bucks of his militarytechnology and flying machines—now he wants our hydroxychloroquine.If Modi had been a better tactician,he’d have said, Yes, under one condition:keep your deadly helicopters,send food and masks and ventilators!

Don’t Complain, Just Breathe!

‘Man posts ‘‘no ventilators in Ludhiana” on Facebook, booked for sedition’-Indian ExpressSure, we could put a ventilatorat every intersection—but who needs ventilatorswhen we have so few infections?Either way, we can’t haveany disaffection(if you don’t agree, we might charge you with sedition).

Suddenly, Rage

In life, there are times like this when suddenly we can no longer domany of the things we once could—maybe you’re missing a strong drink and friends, and you’re sick of Netflixand your bad internet connection,or maybe your father keeps falling because he…

Stranded

Our worries are nothing comparedto those stranded miles from home,to those who are already hungry,to those who are sick and alone.Last night, you dreamt we both left you,I dreamt my father was gone—in the flat across the back alley,a girl…

Small Confession

I just finished the story by Perumal Muruganwhere a chair comes between a loving couple;it’s not controversial—there’s no intercaste marriage or infidelity, nothing to offend anyone’s sensibilities or to provoke the police, a court, or a right wing mob to ban or burn…

This Virus Is a Beginning, Not the End

Friends, more than one plague    is loose in the land—yes, there’s the new virus,    but please understandthere are older plagues, too—    and all plagues are connected—ignorance, caste,    exploitation and hatred.When we all grasp together    the great power we hold,we’ll make tyrants tremble,    we’ll heal this world.