Greetings to World Doctors, Nurses, and Front Line Workers During This COVID-19 Crisis

Artwork: Adrian D'Costa

Hope and Darkness

By Adrian D’Costa

COVID-19 is the epiphany of shadowy darkness,
It tests our will power and tries to stray us from our usual pace.
Are we afraid of the spread of this virus?
Of course, we are. But we don’t despair or make much fuss.

Some of us are quarantined and many of us are self-isolated,
We do not lose hope, although, for the cure, there is no vaccine or med.
Thanks to our doctors, nurses, and front line workers as they are toiling hard,
The very thought of losing this horrid battle is just unthinkable and absurd.

We, the Humanity, defy to bow down,
And we will find a way as always history has shown.
Our armoured bodies are at Normandy, Vimy Ridge, and Passchendaele,
As allied troops, we cannot let Human Element falter or fail.
Vulnerable, poor and sick are looking for hope everywhere,
As citizens of the world, with them, love and affection we do share.

Darkness was there before many a time,
It can’t make us blind or make us mime.
Till we find a cure we will fight against COVID-19,
Our next-gen will know, for survival, what does it really mean.

The Quotation of the Week (June 2 - 8, 2019)

A quotation of Father Antonio Spadaro, S.J.,
on 'the cross,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa

Design: Adrian D'Costa (2019)

Historic 7th March 1971 Speech of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman of Bangladesh

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman giving his historic speech 
in Ramna Racecourse (later called Suhrawarthy Uddyan) of Dhaka on March 7, 1971

The original b/w photo digitally painted by Adrian D'Costa (Sept. 6, 2018)

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Founding Father of Bangladesh, delivered an impassioned speech on March 7, 1971, among widespread tension between the Pakistan army in power and the common people of East Pakistan (later called Bangladesh), at the then Ramna Race Course (later renamed Suhrawarthy Uddyan) in Dhaka to a huge crowd of about two million people. 

In this speech, he called on the freedom-loving people of East Pakistan to keep their struggle on until realization of their full rights and privileges, and, if necessary, independence from the Pakistani ruling elite, dominated by the military. 

Please read below about this speech and listen to Bangabandhu's inspiring voice:

• 7 March Speech of Bangabandhu 
• The Historical 7th March Speech of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman [Full English transcript of the Bengali-language speech]
• [Video] 7 March Speech of Bangabandhu (his original speech -- given in Bengali)
• UNESCO recognises Bangabandhu's historic 7th March Speech (Oct. 31, 2017)

Related Item: 

• "The Sheikh Mujib Declaration of Independence of Bangladesh: U.S. Government Records and Media Documentation" (March 26, 1971)

(Updated on Sept. 20, 2018)

The Quotation of the Week (February 25 - March 3, 2018)

A quotation on 'religious authoritarian culture breeds more child abuse and maltreatment,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa

Artwork by Adrian D'Costa (Feb. 24, 2018)

The Quotation of the Week (February 18 - 24, 2018)

A quotation of Pope Francis on 'a priest carrying Christ's cross,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa

Design by Adrian D'Costa (Feb. 18, 2018)

Quotation of the Week (October 22 - 28, 2017)

A quotation of Pope Francis on 'bishops as pastors,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa

Image Design by Adrian D'Costa (Oct. 20, 2017)

The Quotation of the Week (October 15 - 21, 2017)

A quotation of St. Jerome on 'marriage,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa

Image design by Adrian D'Costa