Our Beloved Leader

a poem by Mainak Chatterjee

You are our beloved leader
You touched the sky
Became a distant star
But we remained the same
Hoping our good times
Would come very soon

For so many years
You have been constantly feeding us –
‘People of that camp
Are our real enemies’

We believed you

‘They are cheaters and corrupted
They are power hungry
They are murderers
They are intruders’

We believed you

You asked for our blood
to keep your position intact
we obliged
thinking we are fighting for a good cause
you used us as pawn in the power game
we never protested

But now to save yourself
From the onslaught of changing times
You joined the enemy camp
Compromising with your diminishing principles

Shamelessly exchanging
Pleasantries and other benefits
Holding their hands
Stained with our blood

We feel cheated and deceived
But still we will be with you
Following you blindly
Generation after generation…