by B. R. GOWANI
PHOTO/AP/D. Dalton Bennett/Tolkun “Ethnic Uzbeks gather near the Kyrgyz-Uzbek border in southern Kyrgyzstan, on Saturday, June 12, 2010, trying to seek refuge in Uzbekistan from mobs of Kyrgyz men attacking the minority Uzbek community. Thousands of terrified ethnic Uzbeks were fleeing toward the nearby border with Uzbekistan.” Boston Globe
Politicians gave him a flag
Clerics gave him scripture
Corporations gave him duties
Waving the flag
He sometimes killed others
While at times he himself lost his life
Quoting scriptures,
Feeling righteous, he preyed on others …
Many a time he ended up being a victim of communalism
Burdened with duty,
He drove others crazy.
Ever so often he, himself, ended up insane.
Consumed by tension, stress, and anxiety
And silent wailings of unfulfilled desires within,
He died with hope of reaching “Paradise”
B. R. Gowani can be reached at brgowani@hotmail.com