Devesh

Poems and Text in Hindi

Labani Jangi

Paintings

Joshua Bodhinetra

English Translation

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It was the eve of Janmashtami. Krishna had heard that the people of Aryavarta celebrate the occasion of his birth with much pomp and spectacle. Children dressed in holy yellow, colourful processions in the streets, kolams in courtyards, Krishna-lilas in temples, breaking of dahi-handis, joyous dance-performances, all festivities lasting till midnight. This day, he wanted to be a part of it all.He descended to earth in disguise and walked around familiar places, enjoying the festive sights and sounds. When, suddenly, nearing the city of Gorakh he heard someone moaning in agony. Reaching the source of that horrible sound he saw a man, a little corpse in his arms, trudging across a hospital compound. Krishna’s heart broke. “Oh dear! Who are you in such pain?” he asked, “and who is this child in your arms?&quot; With a thousand-yard-stare the man replied, &quot;You arrived too late, my Lord! My son just died.&quot;Overcome by guilt, Krishna decided to stay with the bereaved father and accompanied him to the burning ghat. A grislier sight awaited him there – hundreds and thousands of dead bodies of children in little heaps of white lined up the ghat. The inconsolable wails of mothers, the seething pain of fathers thumping their chests. He wasn’t prepared for it.Where were the fancy yellow dresses? What macabre festival was this? Which Kansa condemned these young ones to such an ungodly fate? Whose curse was this? Whose kingdom? Whose orphaned people?

GlossaryAryavarta: A term that has been used differently in the Indian context at different points in history and has expanded to the entire subcontinent. It represents the land of Vedic culture, of Ramayana and Mahabharata, as well as of Buddha and Mahavirakolams: A Tamil term for straight or curved line threshold designs made from finely ground rice flour pastedahi-handis: Earthen pots filled with Krishna’s favourite yogurt. On the day of Krishna Janmashtami these pots are hung from a  height and young boys and girls form human pyramids and break them as a way of celebrationKansa: Lord Krishna’s uncle and the ruler of Mathura, who killed many infants, including the children of his own sister, to protect himselfGorakh: A 13th century leader and founder of a monastic sect known as ‘Nathas’. Poems attributed to him have come to be known as ‘Gorakh Bani’Rapti: A river in the eastern region of Uttar Pradesh on the banks of which Gorakhpur is situatedKabir: A mystic poet-saint from the 15th century We thank Smita Khator for her significant contribution to this team effort.

Of Gods, an orphaned public and lost children

ദൈവവും അനാഥരാക്കപ്പെട്ട ജനതയും കാണാതായ കുഞ്ഞുങ്ങളും

ಮಕ್ಕಳ ಸಾವು, ಅನಾಥ ಜನರು ಮತ್ತು ದೇವರುಗಳ ಮೌನ

ଈଶ୍ୱର, ଅନାଥ ଜନତା ଏବଂ ହଜିଯାଇଥିବା ପିଲାମାନେ

ਵਿਲ਼ਕਦੀ ਅਵਾਮ, ਮਰਦੇ ਬੱਚੇ ਅਤੇ ਖ਼ਾਮੋਸ਼ ਦੇਵਤਾ

கடவுளாலும் அனாதையாக்கப்பட்ட குழந்தைகள்

देव, अनाथ प्रजा आणि मुलांचे बळी

بچوں کی موت، یتیم ہو چکے عوام، اور دیوتاؤں کی خاموشی

কোলাৰ কেঁচুৱা হেৰুৱাই শোকাগ্নিত দগ্ধ জনতা, ক’ত সেই অনাথৰ নাথ

হে নাথ, বিরাজ হও অনাথ প্রজা আর নিথর শিশুর দেশে

बच्चों की मौतें, यतीम हो चुकी अवाम, और देवताओं की चुप्पी

Gorakhpur

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Of Gods, an orphaned public and lost children

A Gorakhpur poet speaks out in anguish as he watches children in large numbers succumb to a deadly fever across UP’s Gorakhpur, Mathura and Firozabad districts amidst a public health system collapse

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