Long ago the 'Ramnamis'- lower caste 'Dalits' (read Untouchables)- were denied entry in to 'Ram' temples, because they were considered to be inauspicious; protesting they brought the deity home, well literally...They tattoo Ram all over their bod


Ram-Nam Tattoo (The Untouchables)

It took a month of painful piercing
To tattoo 'Ram', all over his body-
Forehead to toe-

'It does not hurt!'
Says Ganga Ram,
Dalit, Satnami, Ramnami-
He has many names-
(All spelling 'Untouchablility'...)
'The kicking hurts!
The abuses do!
The discrimination does!
No freedom to enter the Temples hurts!'
He laments,

'But they say, God is everywhere
They say, he is in you,
He is in every breath of yours,
Om! The Lord's name is uttered in each inhalation of yours!
But, I cannot even pronounce his name!
He is in every soul they say,
But, the soul cannot be seen...
My body is the temple of my soul, they say,
But, I can't even enter the Temple!

So, I take 'Ram' home with me:
I carve his name all over me-
On my face
On my forehead,
Arms legs and abdomen,
Over my tongue!
Even over my eyelids!

Now God is always with me!
My silent protest
against centuries of discrimination....
My forefathers had carved his name,
So do I, all over my body....
Now He walks with me
He eats with me,
He even goes to sleep with me!
Ram is always with me!

'And they cannot even kick me any more!
'Cause who would kick God's name, openly?'
This, he whispers conspiratorially,
with that certain gleam in his eyes...

Ganga Ram, Dalit, Ramnami, Satnami;
He has many names
All beginning or ending with 'Ram'
His silent protest against centuries of discrimination...



Author: Zoya Zaidi
Aligarh (UP), India
Copyright©: Zoya Zaidi

This 6th December marks the fiftieth death anniversary of Ambedkar, the Father of Indian constitution, a Dalit himself he fought all his life against the ancient heinous practice of untouchability against the lower cast Hindus...Sadly enough the practice is still rampant- Recently a whole family of Dalits was brutally murdered by upper cast Hindus in the village of Khairlanji in eastern Mahaeashtra...



Poetry by Zoya Zaidi
Read 1186 times
Written on 2006-12-10 at 13:50

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Bob
This was very good!!! A perfect example of good political poetry. Your poem just flows and the content is at the same time hammered into the mind. Discrimination is still a way of the world.
2006-12-12


David W Durney
very moving and striking. i'm aware of the social situation of India but this is a truly first person perspective on what that really means.
2006-12-11


Teala
This is a powerful write. I have read and watched shows on the "untouchables"..how even in death they are deemed this, and never accepted. It is horrible to think of being born into that caste..thank you for this in-your-face look at the attrocities around us--through you, they are given a name and a face. BRAVO, dear friend!
2006-12-11


Rob Graber
Sad, but inspiring too. Thanks!
2006-12-10


lastromantichero The PoetBay support member heart!
a powerful description Zoya on this world well done rgds mike
2006-12-10


Kathy Lockhart
Zoya thank you for educating me and I am sure others who live in a world that has no idea of the suffering that goes on in so many peoples' lives due to persecution because of cultural practices. My heart cries for those who starve for God so much while those of us who have the freedom to worship and enter our houses of worship are lazy and indifferent. Again you have opened my eyes and heart to the world beyond my view and knowledge. Thank you.
2006-12-10


Saga
This is truly very powerful here Zoya, It really reminds the plight of the African American here and the fight that my race and all minorities here face on a daily basis to be equal as God intended us to be!!!!
2006-12-10

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Passion and Compassion by Zoya Zaidi
by Zoya Zaidi