THE BLACK LAW

Do you want to be shot at just because you look like an insurgent?

Do you want to be intimidated into silence just because the law doesn't allow you to fight back?

Do you want to fear going out of your house after 8 pm for a walk just because “they” are there?

Do you want your daughter, your sister or your mother to be robbed of their dignity just because “they” can do whatever they like and are immune to any legal action?

Do you want your innocent son to disappear without a trace in a night?

Do you want a stray bullet to hit you when you are merrily going to the bazaar to buy fish for a special occasion?

Do you want to be picked up by “them” when you’re working in the fields and subjected to third degree torture for reasons known to “them” only?

Do you want to be the unwilling scapegoats and face the bullets when “they” are attacked by some insurgents and are unable to apprehend them? 

Do you want to live every moment of your life fearing who might knock at your door?

Do you want to sacrifice all you have and not eat a morsel of food for 15 continuous years to fight against the black law, to awaken the numb minds?

Do you want all this?

Do you want the tears of separation?

Do you want the scars that last a lifetime?

Do you want to be haunted by unknown faces that are more like predators in the guise of protectors?

Brothers and sisters of this country, do you want all this?

© Rajkumar Panthoiren

 Postcard by Abhishek Majumdar