Hindutva’s Big Lie - a poem by a secular Hindu

 

Hindutva’s Big Lie

Vasudaiva Kutumbakam,* they do proclaim.
But ‘foreign faiths’ are in the way they claim.

“I’m Muslim,” one dare declare.
“Go back to Pakistan,” they blare.
Vasudaiva Kutumbakam, they do proclaim…
Muslims excluded.

“I’m Christian,” one dare declare.
“Minister not to our poor,” they swear.
Vasudaiva Kutumbakam, they do proclaim…
Christians excluded.

“I’m Kharia, I’m Toda, I’m Khasi from the hills,” one dare declare.
“No, you’re Hindu who strayed away,” they say.
Vasudaiva Kutumbakam, they do proclaim…
Adivasis excluded.

“I’m Dalit and I won’t take it anymore,” one dare declare.
“No, you are Harijan, beware
of foreign faiths you must first forswear.”
Vasudaiva Kutumbakam, they do proclaim…
Dalits excluded.

“I’m Hindu and you don’t speak for me,” one dare declare.
‘Anti-India,’ ‘Hinduphobic,’ abuses with which they scare.
Vasudaiva Kutumbakam, they do proclaim…
Secular Hindus excluded.

Vasudaiva Kutumbakam, though they may proclaim,
the whole world knows their game, what a shame.
Hindutva Kutumbakam is all that they are,
the family that demeans and destroys in our name.

— The voice of a secular Hindu

* Vasudaiva Kutumbakam is a noble Upanishadic thought meaning, “The world is one family”