This is a poem inspired by the Connecticut shooting, and the Delhi gangrape, and the fact that I was doing nothing except Maths. Which is pretty freaking infuriating.
Don't teach us physics,
Don't teach us chemistry.
Teach us love, teach us humanity.
Don't teach me algebra, I'm never going to use it.
Teach girls to value their virginity, because one day they're going to lose it.
Teach the people, they can NOT take it forcefully.
Teach the men, teach the boys.
Teach girls to do and wear what they want -
It's not an obligation, it's a choice.
26/11, 9/11, and Connecticut is just as wrong.
There's only so much I can fit into this song.
And it won't even matter - poets and preachers, artists and teachers -
"You're not an engineer? Inferior creature!"
People of worth aren't paid any heed -
until they're judged, with their "need for attention".
Like, seriously? We're 2 days from the world's end -
You think anyone will be sent to Heaven?
And whose heaven is it anyway? Christ's? Allah's? Ganesha's?
It doesn't even matter - it's the world's biggest issue today.
Don't teach us about things in textbooks.
Teach us to open our minds.
Teach us to be the change we want to see in society.
Don't teach us about expectations, about violence, about cruelty, about the gods above.
Teach us humanity, teach us love.
Don't teach us physics,
Don't teach us chemistry.
Teach us love, teach us humanity.
Don't teach me algebra, I'm never going to use it.
Teach girls to value their virginity, because one day they're going to lose it.
Teach the people, they can NOT take it forcefully.
Teach the men, teach the boys.
Teach girls to do and wear what they want -
It's not an obligation, it's a choice.
26/11, 9/11, and Connecticut is just as wrong.
There's only so much I can fit into this song.
And it won't even matter - poets and preachers, artists and teachers -
"You're not an engineer? Inferior creature!"
People of worth aren't paid any heed -
until they're judged, with their "need for attention".
Like, seriously? We're 2 days from the world's end -
You think anyone will be sent to Heaven?
And whose heaven is it anyway? Christ's? Allah's? Ganesha's?
It doesn't even matter - it's the world's biggest issue today.
Don't teach us about things in textbooks.
Teach us to open our minds.
Teach us to be the change we want to see in society.
Don't teach us about expectations, about violence, about cruelty, about the gods above.
Teach us humanity, teach us love.
Clear as crystal. No formal education can teach sensitivity and love. And also, such things are learnt informally.
ReplyDeleteThe problem is the average person's insensitivity.
Definitely. Half the reason I wrote this was because I realized how conditioned we are to it - I read about Delhi, I read about Connecticut, and I was expected to do maths homework. So I just scribbled down this poem in my notebook.
DeleteAnd you're right, there is no formal education for it. But Fergusson is pretty prestigious, has more events than other institutions, I'm sure we can try to start some community outreach program or something. What do you say?
Yes. We will have to move beyond talking. Action is expected. I'm sure we can adopt, in the long run, some unconventional means of expression, although the sort of rallies that happened today are a good start. Public memory is short. We must do something to lengthen the memory of FC students.
DeleteGreat poem and expression Manasi!
ReplyDelete"Teach us humanity, teach us love" really summarizes your feeling.
Thank you!
DeleteVery nice and thoughtful...Great!
ReplyDeleteHi Manasi you have penned down beautifully what is on many of our minds, we fight needlessly over religion, tradition, borders, we commit acts of violence based on differences in gender, social status, caste etc.
ReplyDeleteWe are the biggest hypocrites, perhaps no better and yet we sit and judge others... We have forgotten what it is to be human, we have forgotten we all bleed red and needlessly spread hate and violence instead of love n peace...
Parents, educational institutions, society at large need to proactively teach each other and lead by example on spreading love and not hate, by being open minded having healthy outreach programs that teaches ppl to respect each other.
Keep doing what ur doing Manasi and the very best to you in all that you do.. .CHeers :)
Thanks!
DeleteThis is one of THE BEST thing I've read in a while.
ReplyDeleteSuperb, Manasi. :)