What kind of papers? Will this portrait do?
My aunt had drawn it on a whim, freehand,
many years ago. I was twenty two.
The eyes are the same. You must understand –
I wasn’t written into the family tree
since that would mean rubbing me out again
upon marriage. We’re flexi-identity.
Daughters. Wives. A multitude of women
each one of us. Okay, what about this?
My father’s letter, mailed from Najafgarh,
the postmark is clear, the name and address.
Will this be proof enough to consider?
Well, that’s it. I can’t show you anything else
except old letters, treasures, some torn bills.
We are indeed flexi-identity (too many of them hidden and disregarded).
ReplyDeleteLove your work, and ache (again) for yet another political ploy which turns too many into 'other'.
Thankfully, some people are beginning to see through these political ploys. And I'm happy to note that many of them are women! Thank you.
DeleteHari OM
ReplyDeleteThe scrabble for identity seems never ending. Again your words rend the heart. YAM xx
True that about the never ending scrabble. Thanks.
DeleteHow sad. Such a small paper trail.
ReplyDeleteIt is. Some people leave none at all.
DeleteTough to imagine in this day and age. Then again, all is upside down these days. Good poem
ReplyDeleteThe poor have no possessions and therefore no papers. The older demographic in India have no birth certificates I understand...hard to imagine, but sadly true of poorer nations.
DeleteWomen always! Wonder why it’s always an existential threat for us. As if a scrap of paper is all that we have to prove ourselves. Liked your perspective.
ReplyDeleteWomen are going to be the overwhelming majority this new act on citizenship will affect/victimise. Women in rural India will have nothing to show. Forget villagers, many urban educated women of our demographic won't have any papers.
Delete