This is a translation of the Marathi song by Lokshahir Sambhaji Bhagat by Vernon Gonsalves..—.My Bhim comes and meets me dear bai…He tells me something, he tells me somethingMy Bhim comes and meets me dear bai…He tells me something, he tells me something.On the bund of the fields he standsFor the hand of the toiler he standsFor those long nights of hunger he standsThrough the tears of the silent calf baiBhim keeps watching bai, Bhim keeps watching bai.At the door of each school he standsIn the ink of a nib's scrawl he standsIn every line of each book he standsIn the wicks of each lamp he standsIn the light of each wick he stands dear…Holding finger of the child in handHe takes her to school, he takes her to schoolHe says fight for knowledge dear baiHe takes her to school, he takes her to schoolHe says gain knowledge to fight dear baiHe takes her to school, he takes her to school.Outside the filled tank he standsWatching gushing channels he standsSuppressing his thirst he standsSaying it's Nature's gift he standsFire burning in his eyes he standsHis whole being burns and erupts dearSobs spilling on ground, sobs spilling on groundWater barred by BrahmindomWhy not bury it down, why not bury it down.Outside the office he standsOutside the factory he standsSearching for work he standsBraving sun and the rain he standsIn burning hunger he standsSearching scraps and crumbs he stands…Who has stolen your job dear baiHe keeps asking me on, he keeps asking me onOwner-lords ride on your chestsWhy not bury them down, why not bury them down.Land is called Mother dear baiWe search for Mother by the riversideBut no foothold of land is in sightThey say that Ram was exiled baiRam was exiled for fourteen years baiOur exile goes on for life bai dearOur exile goes on for life baiBut does anyone even care a paiBhim thunders aloud and says baiBegging won't get a single miteThe tiller will inherit the soilBegging won't get a single mite.Bhim is locked within statues oh baiBhim is dimmed in bhajans oh baiHis foes have confined him dearThis Bhim of mine cries aloud again againTearful top, fettered solesRippling tears pour down oh baiEvery organ going wild oh baiBhim is being marketed dear baiHe's now become an ad dear baiAll the butchers have gathered dear bai dear…Sharpened knives are pulled out baiJets of blood all around oh baiDark clouds gathering round dear baiBhim Raja dear do not cry, Baba dear do not cry Raja.Bhim has been portioned out dear baiSome sell him for votes dear baiSome sell him for themselves dear baiSome sell him for a post dear baiSome sell him for a chair dear baiBhim Raja ohh… Bhim BabaBhim come out of the statues BabaBhim come out of the bhajans BabaBhim leave the market and come BabaCome with new weapons BabaCome with new ideas BabaStrike a blow for liberation BabaBhim is coming, Bhim is comingBhim is coming, is coming baiWaiting for him bai….You can immerse yourself in a live performance of the song here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJKjhG-xy6Y.Vernon Gonsalves is a trade unionist, activist and academic.
