[dropcap]R[/dropcap]AMA has been exiled once again.
With the rage of hate and the frenzy of violence
we have exiled Rama.
Long years ago he was exiled for 14 long years.
Then his brother Bharatha placed his sandals on the royal throne
And ruled in the name of his gentle brother.
Today we have exiled him once again.
He has left behind only his name and we have made it into a weapon.
We have smeared it with the blood of our brothers
And branded it across their tongues.
Long years ago Rama went into Vanavasa.
Then he left behind grieving fathers, mothers, brothers and subjects.
But he returned after that exile
with his wife, his brother, and the triumph of righteousness.
And we named our sons after him
Jayarama, Ramachandra, Janakirama, Sitarama, Pattabhirama……
As a blessing that would protect those named after that gentle king.
As a reminder of that beloved son of Dasharatha.
As a mark of that perfect king
that would inspire us to walk the path of righteousness.
And we uttered that name with love
as the names of our sons, brothers and fathers.
We have exiled Rama once again.
We only have a name now
Twisted with hate and fear and anger.
We have a name with which to kill and taunt and jeer.
We have a name with which we claim a piece of land instead of a kingdom of righteousness.
We have a name with which we brand the tongues of our brothers
And mutilate their bodies.
We have a name which we chant with the monotonous rhythm of an insane hate.
We have a name which we have soiled in the sewage of hate that runs
through the narrow gutters of our divided world.
We have a name with which we have exiled that king
who bore that name like a crown.
We have a name that we hold like burning brand
And like the tail of Hanumantha,
He who was most beloved of Rama,
It will burn us all to ashes.
Parinitha Shetty teaches English in the Department of English, Mangalore University, Karnataka.
Image: Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana at the Hermitage of Bharadvaja.
Image Courtesy: The Metropolitan Museum
