A translation of Gawaahi by Gauhar Raza, by Rituparna Sengupta
Testify
That you have lived through
the barren Fall
Testify
That the flow of time
was treacherous then,
Strong was the tide
and hard to swim against
Testify
That you have lived through times
when the sovereign believed
themselves divine
Testify
That you were present when
the sentries of this realm
in the dead of night
had launched attack
and ordered each townsman
to stand in line
Testify
Dark was the night when the land was plundered—
The formation complete, each pocket was emptied
And the very bread was snatched from hungry lips
Testify
That you have seen inflamed passions
raging through homes and towns unchecked
Testify
That they came charged with hatred
Testify
This very hate burnt down the homes of
those who came out on the highway,
seeking their rights
Testify
That you have seen the terrorised
whose homes were torched
Testify
That the ashes of
shops, universities , and homes
clung to your feet, in tears
Testify:
The Shah’s* court is brimming with hatred,
In the prisoner’s dock, the court
stands handcuffed
These judges are rightly accused of
selling their books, their pens,
selling their judgement
Testify
That it was all sold cheap
Testify
That Justice today
stands in the people’s tribunal
Testify,
Have faith—
That even in this sterile season
Each word of yours
will be recorded,
Each word of yours
will meet with justice,
Each word of yours
will mend a torn collar ,
Each word of yours will
adorn Spring’s finery,
Each word of yours
will illumine the way
for generations to come
Testify, for you owe this debt
Testify, for this is your duty
* Shah: king/monarch
GAUHAR RAZA is a noted poet, activist, scientist, and documentary filmmaker based in New Delhi. He has published numerous research papers, reports, books, and popular articles in the area of public understanding of science, as well as two collections of poems entitled Jazbon ki Lau Tez Karo and Khamoshi. He is founder editor of the Journal of Scientific Temper and is on the editorial board of many reputed international research journals. Raza is also known for his documentary films First War of Independence-1857, In Dark Times, Inqilab, and A Beautiful Spaceship. He can be heard reciting the original poem, ‘Gawaahi,’ here.
RITUPARNA SENGUPTA translates poetry and literary fiction, besides writing essays on literature and cinema for academic and popular publications. She is currently working on her doctoral dissertation in Culture Studies at IIT Delhi. Her published writing can be read here.
KRITI CHAKRABORTY, the illustrator, is a self-taught artist. He has worked as an illustrator for various little magazines and publications such as Ulto Durbin, Halum, Bagher Baccha, Kagajer Thonga, Kabikalpa, Aainanagar and others. Kriti’s paintings and illustrations can be found here.
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