INDOlink
Poetry

One In Eight - Thousand

(Only one in 8,000 abortions performed in Bombay, India is said to be on a male fetus. All of the rest are performed to prohibit the birth of unwanted females.) 

The 7,999 tears, I never wiped
The 7,999 laughs, I never heard
The 7,999 hugs, I never returned
The 7,999 lives, I couldn't save

One in eight thousand was my son,
for all the rest were my 
murdered daughters.

Young women - who never wore mendhi,
Little girls - deprived of chania-cholis,
Tiny babies - who never tasted mother's milk,
 
Killed by the men of this land   
who once revered their women.
They used to bow their heads
with respect to Mother India. 

Now, my girls, if fated to be born
you must bow in submission
to the master of your destiny,
for whom you will do countless pujas1.

Apna Ghar2, Tera Ghar, Mera Ghar3
 Beti4, from where will you get
the shakti5 to live death twice?

1 Puja - Form of deity worship; women often perform such rituals in hopes of finding the perfect husband. 2 Apna Ghar - A battered Asian women's shelter located in Chicago; the name means "our house". 3 Tera ghar, mera ghar - "Your house, my house" in Hindi. 4 Beti - Means, "daughter" 5 Shakti - Means, "strength"

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