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The Gender-Neutral Game, Drug Storm in Bollywood, A Dog’s Life, & Fake Belief Brought to Justice

Laced with wit and humour, Shail looks at the recent news to cast these in verse, be it the world of cricket which is becoming progressively gender-neutral, drugs in Bollywood, violation of animal rights with the poisoning of dogs and the crimes of the controversial godman, Dera Sacha Sauda Chief, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Insaan. An exclusive for Different Truths.

The Gender-Neutral Game

Popular, worldwide,
the gentleman’s game
has, over the years
become a lady’s game too.
And, to do justice
to an all-gender game,
the bowler, the fielder, and the wicket keeper
will now have a ‘batter’ too
instead of the gender specific ‘batsman’.
The ICC displays its side of sportsmanship
(or should I say sports-womanship!)
And makes cricket
a more inclusive sport
showing its modern, flexible back hand support.
Star Australian batter uses the term
as commentator
despite being informed years earlier
that ‘batter’ was for fish
not cricket jargon.
It’s in use now.
I beg your pardon!

Drug Storm in Bollywood

‘Maangey pooree karo.’
‘Drugs and prostitution
decriminalise karo’
says once upon a time
actress, ex-Salman Khan girlfriend.
These two will never go.
So, let it be, she says.
I tried pot too.
No regrets in view.
She ‘potted’ with very young Divya Bharti
Somy survived, that teenager died.
Doesn’t speak much of a ‘high’ life
when one comes under the knife
too much too soon
trying hard to be in style and tune.
Guilty or not,
advices, suggestions, good wishes
coming in the dozen.
I guess, Aryan didn’t know
he had such innumerable supporting cousins.
Did he or did he not
is not the question right now.
Peddlers, politicians, businessmen,
administration -
all in the ring, holy cow!

A Dog’s Life

All that they ask is for love
and food, maybe.
Okay, your love is precious.
Surely, you have some bread
to spare.
You’re human for God’s sake.
Don’t you care?!
Now, don’t you tell me
that nonsensical ‘survival
of the fittest’ philosophy
deriding yourself of societal responsibility.
No human bashing this.
Our canine friends are being poisoned
in numbers that cannot be deciphered.
Lynched, beaten, stoned;
anything else of your dramatic power
is there to show?
21 stray dogs poisoned in Ratnagiri,
more in other cities.
The stray are not birds of prey.
You are one, oh human!
Get your act together
before the canine gender
show their true colours.
Remember, anyone can have
a human existence
but a dog’s life,
is a dog’s life.
Never forget that!


Fake Belief Brought to Justice

Dera Sacha Sauda Chief,
Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Insaan
proved to be quite a ‘beyimaan’
cheating the public of their belief,
quite a thief
in disguise, not a surprise!
And a colourful one at that.
A pop singer.
A rapist.
A murderer.
A usurper of names
of saints, holy people
who earned it with the only
thing they possessed –
devotion, the purest of emotion.
Why give ones all to a mere mortal
when the Lord, the Devi resides
within?
In prison for rape,
Gurmeet now pronounced guilty
by CBI for murder
under the justice girder.
Finally….

References: 

1.       https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/2276150?utm_campaign=fullarticle&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=inshorts  

2.       https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/entertainment/hindi/somy-ali-reveals-she-tried-pot-with-late-actress-divya-bharti-during-andolan-shooting-extends-support-to-aryan-khan/videoshow/86865153.cms?from=mdr 

3.       https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/maharashtra-stray-dogs-ratnagiri-7557980/lite/?utm_campaign=fullarticle&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=inshorts  

4.       https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/cbi-court-holds-dera-chief-gurmeet-ram-rahim-guilty-in-ranjit-singh-murder-case-101633666996770-amp.html?utm_campaign=fullarticle&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=inshorts

Visuals by Different Truths

author avatar
Shail Raghuvanshi
Shail Raghuvanshi is a poet, freelance journalist, copyeditor, voice actor, and artist with 30 years of experience in various media. She has worked as the Cultural Correspondent for India's first integrated media company, PLUS Channel, and has written course material for Madurai Kamaraj University's Post Graduate Programme in Advertising and Public Relations. She has also been a coach of Communicative English. She has published poems, short stories, and articles in leading magazines and anthologies.

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