The Candle March
The Candle March


She was walking
Into a lonely silent night
The sky was dark
And the streets were quiet
Not even a single dog was barking
No noise of bikes and cars honking
Just like a monster waits for gloom
To sing anthems of evilness
Something scary crept into that loneliness
Noises were heard, a car appeared
Speed of the car was slowed
Windowpanes were steadily lowered
Four boys. Eight eyes staring at her
Whistles were hearkened
Words they spoke were not decent enough
A guy had cigarettes in his hand
Another was too drunk to stand
The other two stared at her for a while
Perhaps the monsters had found that perfect night
They pulled her in the car
One was holding her from her waist
The other had his hands on her chest
Too loud were those whistles of wickedness
Even her loudest of screams faded into that darkness
One more girl died that day
Victory for those four
Hundreds of candle marches went in vain
Thousands of hopes were lost
One more candle march was done
One more peace rally
To hide the irresponsibility of the society
Behind curtains of regrets and melancholy
Many people came
Candles in their hands
Candles` light shone bright
Contrary to our society
Brimmin
g with darkness and fright
That mother who told her daughter
That education was useless for girls
She need not earn and travel around
What only mattered was that her roti’s should be round
Also stood there
With a candle in her hand
That uncle who raped her own niece
In the safety of her own home
Was also standing there to mourn
That temple priest who denied
Entry of girls who were menstruating
For he thought
God would not listen to prayers of girls
Who had red stains on their skirts
He too was present there
Holding a poster saying, “Women should be treated fair.”
That mother-in-law who burnt an innocent alive
Giving another “dowry death” the name of “stove burst”
Was also there
Shouting slogans of equality
Realizing little about her own cruelty
People marching with candles
Did not really mean to end these age-old scandals
Their minds were still inscribed
With centuries-old futile customs
They prayed to various Goddesses
It was considered holy
But never thought to give
Even the basic right to live
To women of their own society
Even those rapists were there
To protest for that girl`s right
Hiding their brutal crime
Behind the candle`s light