In this poem, Abu searches for answers and meaning among the toiling masses, exclusively for Different Truths.

Is Krishna right or Arjuna?
Or are they both?
Is the Mahatma right or Sen?
Should I take shelter under the Mahatma’s shed?
Or should I take side with Sen’s “consequential” arguments?
Which is more convincing —
Krishna’s dictum — fight for a “just” cause?
Or Arjuna’s arguments against the killing of kinsmen?   
Can a cause be just if it kills?
The debate is on in my mind while I walk past
Rushing vehicles, labouring masses, patients old,
Poor paddlers, feisty tik-tok girls.
Sweat trickling down rugged cheeks,  
Ragged wear of street children, harassed looks
Krishna, Arjuna, Bapuji, and Sen automatically
Release my Self from spiritual, intellectual holds 
And it gets watered with the sweat of the living masses.

Photo design by Anumita Roy, Different Truths

Abu Siddik

Abu Siddik teaches at Plassey College, Nadia, West Bengal, India. He loves to write poem, short story and article on the struggle and resilience of the Indian marginalised communities, the underdogs, the outcasts. He has 12 books.

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