Rajesh Chithira – Constitution

Saw anti-nationalism on the first pages themselves,
didn’t look further,
tore them into four,
the fire gives enough heat as it’s quite cold.

Raised the Jai Hind slogan twice.

It was the son who came from school
who had a look at the remaining pages
and said that the name of the book is
Constitution.


Translated by Jose Varghese
Series edited by Emilia Mirazchiyska.


Original text:

ഭരണഘടന

കണ്ടു

കടുത്ത ദേശവിരുദ്ധത

ആദ്യ പേജുകളിൽ തന്നെയുണ്ടവ

സമത്വവും സോഷ്യലിസവും

പിന്നെന്തൊക്കെയോ

നോക്കാനൊന്നും പോയില്ല കൂടുതലായി

നമ്മുടെ സംസ്കാരത്തിന് ചേരില്ലെന്നേ

ഒട്ടും ദേശീയതയില്ലാത്ത ഐറ്റം.

നാലായി വലിച്ചു കീറി

തീയിലേക്കിട്ടു.

നല്ല ചൂട് കിട്ടുന്നുണ്ട്

തണുപ്പുകാലത്തിനു ചേരുന്ന കടലാസ്

കുളിര് മാറിയപ്പോ

രണ്ട് തവണ വിളിച്ചു

ജയ്‌ ഹിന്ദ്‌.

അവശേഷിച്ച താളു കണ്ട്

സ്കൂളിന്ന് വന്ന ചെക്കന്‍

പറഞ്ഞു

ഭരണഘടനാന്നാരുന്നത്രേ

പുസ്തകത്തിന്റെ പേര്

ആവോ, ആര്‍ക്കറിയാം.

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Rajesh Chithira
Rajesh Chithira (born in 1973) is a Malayalam writer from Pathanamthitta, Kerala. His poems and stories have been well received by readers all over the world and he has received many awards: Galleria Gallent Best Expat writer (Poetry -2018), Pravasi Book Trust Poetry Award (2018), Indian Ruminations Poetry Award (2011), Bharath Murali Kavitha Puraskaram (2012), Kanappuram Magazine Poetry Award (2013), Thalashery Keli award (2013), souhridam.com Award (2011), Pam Pusthakapura UAE (2014). He has published the following: “Unmathathakalude Crash Landingukal; Tequilla – droplets of sea lunacy” – a bilingual collection of poems with illustrations; “Ulippech; Rajavinte Varavum Kalpamrugavum”; the story collection, “Jigasaw Puzzle”; and the children's story: “Aadi and Athma”. Rajesh’s poems have been published in various print and online publications and his poems and stories have formed part of of the following anthologies: “Kerala Kavitha” (Ayyappa Paniker Foundation), “Puthu Kavithakal” (Chintha Books), “Prasakthi Poetry Special”, “Ilayanakkangal” (stories), “Dalamrmarangal” (stories), “Eyyezhuthu” (blog anthology). Many of his works have been translated into English and into other Indian languages.