Light the Inner Lamp

Deepavali, the light at the end of the tunnel

National leaders’ perverted vision like an inverted funnel.

Citizens glued to mythology operas in front of their televisions

Memory jaded, forgotten the sanatana dharma, what it envisions.

Prayer on their lips, a bribe to their gods

Lacking in humanity, values gone to the dogs.

No land for the poor and that of the minority

Even against women what we see is brutality.

The powerful rulers we see meddling with the institution at times

Taking the nation in a backward march to medieval times.

It is not enough to light the lamps on the outside

In the darkness of our mind let us light the lamp inside.

Thamasoma jyothir gamaya goes the prayer

Mere lip service not enough reminds the soothsayer.