Voicing my Adivasi-ness
- मेरी आदिवासियत की आवाज़ - April 10, 2020
- Voicing my Adivasi-ness - September 3, 2019
how could I theorize your concepts?
when you never realize my context?
of
imposition
subjugation
marginalization
through
the
forests evicted
land lost
and
rivers dammed
i reject your concepts because
they have always imprisoned me
as
outdated
uneducated
unsophisticated
and to not forget
ASSIMILATED
but do you know what I am?
i am antecedent
i have existed before
and I will continue without you
i have seen
communities come together
and fight for survival
i am Adivasi
and my Adivasi-ness
will not be
weakened by your portrayal
you make money
and take the limelight
while asking why I don’t
articulate for my community
you may write papers
and publish articles
but my narratives
will remain
undiscovered
undisclosed
unrealized
for they have been carried down
from my forebearers
to me
what you write
may one day perish
but what i inherited
will
stay
revive
survive