WHO

IS

RESPONSIBLE

?

It’s all happening out there

To somebody you don’t know

They’re being killed or raped

Or maimed with a violent blow

They are faceless strangers

You read of in the papers as news

You shake your head and turn the page

To dwell on such thing’s no use

You’d rather dwell on stock prices

And Kenny G playing the blues

Or look at the advertisements

And wonder which AC to choose

Till the day your daughter comes home

Hiding her face in shame

Or your son collapses in your arms

By a hockey stick turned lame

Your sister had her necklace snatched

And you wife has lost all her gold

Your indifference has lead to this

And criminals have turned ever bold

You turned away from your civic duty

Insulated in your lofty flat

There was no one out there to stop the rot

Or oppose the crime lord’s diktat

You thought you’ve done enough

By earning for your own needs

Stayed at home and watched TV

And played with your prayer beads

You believe in your democratic rights

Read the manifestos they wrote

Yet when the voting day arrived

You refused to cast your vote

You rue criminals joining politics

It’s such a crying shame

Now look honestly within you

Did you vote against that name?

You always hid your true income

And refused to pay your dues

Yet complain of deterioration

For your neglect, there’s always excuse

You go to all sorts of lengths

Your children abroad to send

Then sit back and pontificate

That this land will never mend

I beg of you please do tell

Who’ll set things right in this decay?

The best of talent deserted this land

And all those who could, just ran away