Here is a Hindustani poem by Tanvir from the Nithari village, where pandies’ conducted workshops to help traumatised and deprived youngsters. It has been translated to English by Lourdes M Supriya.
How we wish you were here...
This party would have brought more cheer.
A sight so dear --
Could you imagine, friends,
His sense of peace and no fear?
How we wish you were here...
This party, this eve, would have more cheer...
The breeze would seem perfumed with myrrh.
Our best moments were with you right here.
No broken heart, no wounds are as severe --
How we wish you were here...
This party, this eve, would have more cheer...
Even the moon and the stars would appear
Among the thousand dreams gathered here
To hear a single speech by you.
Oh! A scene so sincere--
One more happy day with you here...
How we wish you were here...
This party, this eve, would have more cheer...
It’s only been a few days...
How much can we weep?
The pain is immense Sanjay Sir--
Come back, we cannot walk alone on a road this steep.
Missing your laughter, your voice, and all your ways,
How do we carry on without you? How can we be joyous?
How we wish you were here...
This party, this eve, would have more cheer...
Lourdes M Surpiya is a filmmaker, editor, and theatre practitioner who has been associated with pandies’ theatre since 2015.
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