I Beg To Differ

By Priyanka Basumatary

 I can’t lie,

The Indian in me believes-

Truth alone triumphs.

But, countless times-

I have been proven otherwise.

Each year, famers commit suicide,

In vain do they wait for subsidies and waivers,

A sign of tell-tale lie.

The Indian in me believes-

Unity in diversity is crucial for India’s survival.

However, In India people get mob lynched-

The reason being the religion you preach.

I believe that I am a subtle Indian.

I may not scream, ‘Bharat Mata ki jai’-

Out loud.

But, every time a Hima Das wins a gold medal-

My heart does jump a couple of times,

I may have done somersaults too-

Just in my imagination.

Many a time fellow Indians remind me-

I am different than the mainstream.

I speak the Bodo language-

And, they don’t understand.

I wear the Dokhona-

And, they don’t wear.

I look a little different than the rest.

And, my features appear foreign.

Well, I beg to differ.

I am truly an Indian-

As I am unique and tolerant