Oh, My Independence!.

                    Oh, My Independence!.

A Commonwealth I am.

When my ‘Colonial Cousins’ left me free,

The bells tolled at midnight,

Sounding the volume of my independence.

I am Six decades plus old, now.

But I have my peace only on parole.

My kids here seem to walk low,

With a bag load of books binding

Their tender arms from behind.

The education of my children, stays enslaved,

To texts,tests and exams,touted by politics.

Their life is shackled in witch-hunting

For jobs,with degrees of various hues,

Earned or received through merit and might.

The marriage of my wards is yet another story,

Whipped up by passions of the communal glory.

The rich-poor divide is an exploding chasm,

Battering and banging my sinews and spasm .

I am rocked, when my ruling men statistically say,

That my people do survive, on a paltry sum a day.

My land is far more secular than others', I know;

The hate seeds sprout here, with a booming blow.

The exit of colonialism has eased my birth throes;

The excess of Corruption has worsened my woes .

Twice a year,my sons and daughters hoist my flag;  

Their salute and anthem, augment my pride's tag.

Great would I grow, if all my children are free to share,

Views and values,across the counters of the world Fair.  

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                                                                               P.Chandrasekaran.