Loktantra

This was my first and one of the most acclaimed poems , which was written way back in 2000.

Several friends asked me to give it to them, i'm making it available online for their ease.

12 baj chukay thay,

akhbaar kay kaaryalaya mein,

editor sahab pareshaan thay,

thoday hairaan thay,

aakhir is sheher ko huaa kya?

Na koi Quatla,na dakaiti,

na chinaiti,na tod-phod,

na ched-chaad,na balatkaar,

na deh -vyaapaar.

na dharna,na pradarshan,

na hi kisi parti ki raili,

kaisay badli shehri shaili?

achaanak phone ghanghanaaya,

editor saahab ne lapak kar receiver uthaaya,

aawaaz aai-

Call girl ke saath,

rang-reliyan manaate mantri ji giraftaar,

par kiye saare aarope asweekaar,

bolay-

"Bhale yeh ladki jawaan hai,

par meri betee samaan hai,

ise secretart banaanay kay liye bulaaya thaa,

kyonki yeh mahila utthaan ka saal hai,

aur jaane kyun,

pahle hi utthaan par,

itnaa bawaal hai!"

samarthakon ne kahaa-

"ye virodhiyon ki chaal hai,

pakdi gai ladki,

virodhi neta ka hi maal hai!"

Donon guton mein haatha-paiee,

jan-sampatti mein aag lagaai,

baazaar lootaa, goli chalaai,

kuch darshak dher,

deh thandi,aatmaa swatantra,

wah re Loktantra!

shaam tak,

editor sahab thak chukay thay,

chehre par santushti,akhbaar mein masaala,

loktantra ki pyaali mein,

apraadhon ki haala,

vichaaron ka "manthan" kar gol,

whishky ki botal khol,

wo dheeray say paday bol-

Kabhi Dhoop Kabhi Chaaya Hai,

Sab Loktantra Ki Maaya Hai!

C0pyright-Ritesh Tripathi