In Roopali’s poem, the rat transcends its earthly form, becoming Ganesha’s radiant chariot, streaking through a mythological sky, exclusively for Different Truths.

Dear Rat, 
You sit adoringly at the feet of 
the Great Elephant God, Ganesha. 
Who rides on your back? 
You must be strong and mighty to 
carry the weight of an elephant.
It means the Lord God has got your back.

The elegant, colour-dripping peacock with 
its flapping wings fly into the sky touching trees,
while the soft snowy swan sails down the silvery river.
The wise white owl and the majestic roaring tiger are
all carriers of gods and goddesses. 

The universe welcomes them as they 
flit from one planet to another 
from one asteroid to another.
And you, tiny rat,  
Dark-skinned, sharp-toothed, a repulsive destructive
Creature, running and hiding and peeping out of holes.
Yet you are the chosen one, a blessed creature of God.

You are the vahana of the remover of all obstacles, 
the much worshipped, 
power-packed, elephant-headed Vinayaka. 

Fuelled by you digging deep holes into 
the entrails of Mother Earth the miner 
entered the darkness to rescue trapped tunnel rodents. 
They call him a rat miner because he is like you.
Hiding in the dark rainforest, he digs for black gold, 
simply squeezing his thin body through 
iron tubes wherein lie coal.
You, oh rat, Are the potential and the possible 
in the midst of the impossible. 
Of rising and of becoming. 
Of heroic endeavours and 
of extraordinary deeds.

As the sun set and twilight 
covered the sky red,
the miners burrowed rat-like. 
into the debris-choked tunnel 
bringing light and life and another sunrise. 

Picture design by Anumita Roy

Dr. Roopali Sircar Gaur

Dr. Roopali Sircar Gaur is a poet, travel writer, and social justice activist. A former professor of English Literature at Delhi University, and a creative writing professor at IGNOU, she is a widely published academic and creative writer. Her book Twice Colonised: Women in African Literature, is a seminal text on women’s socio-political empowerment. In 2020-21, she co-edited two poetry anthologies – In All the Spaces: Diverse Voices in Global Women’s Poetry, and Earth Fire Water Wind.