Unwilling to Read My Friend’s Book “Caste Pride”

Very well-known it is

That we discriminate

Be it in the name of caste

Or religion, or gender, or race

Or nationality, or language

Or ethnicity, or looks.

What will I get knowing

How widespread it is

Or how it is justified

Or how it is covered up

Or how many were victimized;

One victim is one too many.

I am not surprised at all

I have known far too well

And for far too long

How little love we have

In our hearts.

You cannot legislate

That people love

Nor is love

Something that can be taught.

What will awaken the love

Is a mystery unsolved till now.

—

With due apologies to my friend Manoj Mitta