The Poem of the Month (February, 2011): EKUSHEY FEBRUARY (21st February)

The Central Shaheed Minar (Language Martyrs' Memorial, built in memory of the ones who gave their lives to defend Bangla -- or Bengali -- language from the onslaught of the West Pakistani rulers in East Pakistan on February 21, 1952) in Dhaka

Doodle (Toronto: February 26, 2011) © Jerome D'Costa

Ekushey February (21st February)

The Ekushey February would never be there,

If the rulers of Pakistan were real rulers.

The Ekushey February would never come to pass,

If there were no notion of domination and usurpation.

The Ekushey February would never be there,

If there were virtues of brotherhood, equality and sharing.

The Ekushey February would never be there,

If there were no hypocrisy between profession and practice of Islam.

The Ekushey February is there,

To assert the rights of the deprived people.

The Ekushey February is there,

To give equality to all.

The Ekushey February is there,

To think and act freely according to one’s conscience.

The Ekushey February is there,

To give freedom to one’s word.

(Updated on February 6, 2018)