Manushya Puthiran
Somebody kills
Somebody spills blood
I too weep for the people who bleed
I too curse the people who make another bleed.
“Are you a Muslim?
Come out and reply.”
Somebody yells outside my house
They bang the doors and windows
I was on my prayer mat
I did not have my dinner yet
My children are frightened
I come out with my hands up
I have to endorse every day
That I do not have any weapons
I come out with an upraised white flag
I wash and dry that flag every day and keep ready
I come out releasing a dove of peace
I breed a flock of white doves at home
For the very purpose
Being born as a Muslim is complicated
You have to be always prepared and on the verge
“Did you detonate those bombs?” They ask
I say “No.”
“Did you provide refuge to them?”
I say “No.”
“Did you donate them money.? ”
I say “No.”
“Have you seen them?”
I say “No.”
“Do you support these massacres?”
I say “No.”
“Does your religion encourage it?”
I say “No.”
“Do the assassins worship the same God you worship?” They ask
I say “I do not know.”
“Do the murderers follow the same religion you follow?”
I say “I do not know.”
“Why do the killers sport beards just like you do?”
I say “I do not know.”
“Can you yell out that you condemn those murderers?”
“I had condemned these murders long before these murders occurred.
I pray five times every day
But I denounce these terrorists ten times every day”, I tell them.
“Even after you denounce, they are killing.
So it means that you did not condemn them enough.”
They tell me.
“Then can I condemn them 100 times a day instead of 10 times? ”
I ask them.
“What is the guarantee that you will not turn out to be an Islamic terrorist tomorrow?”
They ask me.
“I am very much afraid of seeing blood.
Also, I do not have any other desire in life except being alive.” I tell them.
“Why don’t you agree to take responsibility for these massacres? “
They ask me.
“I have a lot of family commitments.”
“I am responsible for my children.”
“I am responsible for my work.”
“I am accountable for my ailments.”
“I am responsible for this miserable destiny of mine.”
“Also, I am forced to take responsibility for this nation.”
“Amidst all these, how can I take responsibility for these murders?”
I speak to them melancholically.
“After all these assassinations you and your God, Do you still want to be Muslims?”
They ask me.
“Let both of us discuss and come to a conclusion as soon as possible.”
I promise them.
Then they removed my clothes and examined me.
After verifying that I am a Muslim,
They led me into a ground, unclothed and naked…
There were masses of other people
They ordered us to shout against Terrorism
I told them I had already done so.
“Shout again,” They told me.
I shouted.
“You don’t shout properly.” They punched my head.
I screamed louder than before.
“Yell loud so the terrorists can hear.” They ordered.
I am innately a gentle-voiced person
But I shouted until my throat bled
We all got together and cried as one!
That spectacle was nerve-wracking
That sight was wretched!
Bringing peace to this world is
Our responsibility,
And our responsibility alone!
We were shouting all through the dawn!!!
Originally Written in Tamil by Manushya Puthiran
Translated to English by Shameela Yoosuf Ali
