Was Ram a Nepali, Indian or Thai
Or was he from Indonesia?
Celebrated worldwide
human rights
The story trumpeted
with fanfare as Ravana
inflamed burns evils to
ashes and dust
Exquisite dances
with long- nailed grace
Or wayang kulit puppets
elaborate stories of a hero
blue coloured ruler of
democrats that to appease
his protectorate questioned
fidelity with fire in a wife
A glimpse of ancient life.
Did the borders matter then?
Which faith? Which country?
Did countries exist then —
long before the churn of Manchester mills
that burnt borders violenced by colonial hate?
Mitali Chakravarty is a writer and editor of Borderless Journal
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