You are an Indian!

My son:

Don’t be out too late

It is diabolical and dangerous

You never know what may happen

YOU ARE AN INDIAN!

My son:

Don’t speak so loud

Be aware of your surroundings

Always watch out for yourself

You are seen as

A mistake and a mishap

You don’t fit into their mould

YOU ARE AN INDIAN!

My son:

Shave your beard

Crop your hair to army regulation

Don’t tattoo yourself

Don’t wear trinkets

Or gold chains and rings

Moderate your attire for

They may perceive you as

A thug or good-for-nothing hoodlum

YOU ARE AN INDIAN!

My son:

Don’t blast the music

Loud in your vehicle

You may be thought of as

Uncivilised and uncouth

YOU ARE AN INDIAN!

My son:

Discard any swagger and swing

Of your natural birth walk

Walk with a gentle posture

Have a disarming, smiling presence

You could get beaten

Or shot to pieces anytime

Your life is cheaper

Than an outcast

YOU ARE AN INDIAN!

My son:

Don’t go out late at night

With your Indian friends

Someone might profile and identify

You as an extortionist or gangster

A body bag is not your place

YOU ARE AN INDIAN!

My son:

Take every conceivable

Safety precaution and prevention

To preserve and protect your life

Do not carry on yourself

Anything that can be

Construed as a weapon

Harmless as it may seem

You are seen as a weapon

YOU ARE AN INDIAN!

My son:

You have to work

Harder than the rest

Smarter than the best

For you are inevitably

And inexcusably labelled as

An intoxicated, useless drunk

YOU ARE AN INDIAN!

My son:

Be proper with your language

No swear words or cursing

That condemnation or judgment

Is not passed on you.

YOU ARE AN INDIAN!

My son:

Don’t approach a lone female

Avoid them always

They may be intimidated by you

They may accuse you without

Substance or evidence

For no rhyme or reason

Other than the fact that:

YOU ARE AN INDIAN!

My son:

Avoid speaking your mind

Do not reveal your feelings

Conceal and camouflage

Your pain, injury and wound

Freedom is perilous

Wear the shackle of silence

Chain the stirring of conscience

Wear the mask of indifference

They will curse you

With spittle and spite

They will lash you and break you

Relinquish your right to respond

YOU ARE AN INDIAN!

My son:

Recognise and acknowledge

That you have no possession

In name you have a nationality

In spirit you are ‘pendatang’

YOU ARE AN INDIAN!

My son;

Check waze every time you go out

Avoid the police road blocks

Always carry your documentation

The highest probability

That you would be

Apprehended or arrested is

A very real possibility

YOU ARE AN INDIAN!

My son:

It is a tragedy to be who you are

A travesty to be what you are

To be treated with contempt

As nothing and a nobody

The trauma, trial and tribulations

To be labelled and face death

More than anyone else

The stench and stigma of guilt

Is on you even if you be

Pure, true and innocent

You are mocked and sneered at, for

YOU ARE AN INDIAN!

My son:

If you have to leave us

For some distant foreign land

You may depart with our blessings

It is far better you are alive

Somewhere and somehow

The loss is a small price to pay

YOU ARE AN INDIAN!

My son:

Don’t dream of the promised land

Of milk and honey

Of a garden of Eden in paradise

The tale and story of your life

Is the colour of your skin

Which is offensive to some

YOU ARE AN INDIAN!

My son:

Prejudice may pulverise you

Hate may hammer you

Division may batter you

Preferential treatment

May crush you in so many ways

They may throw the unwanted

Crumbs and scraps at you

Fearless with inner courage

Build your dreams piece by piece

From a thousand fragmented

Pieces of the broken glass of life

YOU ARE AN INDIAN!

My son:

My treasure!

My pleasure!

My inestimable gift!

The indescribable delight of my

Heart, soul, spirit and mind

It is heart-breaking and gut wrenching

But the truth is, [for many] you are nothing

YOU ARE AN INDIAN!

My son:

You are

A second-class citizen

An unwanted abomination

An unneeded necessity

An excess beyond need

You are abandoned

Not that you have no value

But rather, it is our nation

Their leaders and policies

Their indoctrination and brainwashing

Whose moral and spiritual

Compass of humanity is broken

It is sad but it’s true

There is no place for you, for

YOU ARE AN INDIAN!

My son

Though the odds are against you

Do not despair in hopelessness

You may be bent

But never broken

Even if you know and feel

The dregs of defeat

In defiance and steely determination

Vow never to return

This injustice with hate

Stay the hand from the sword

Of revenge and retribution

Be valiant, righteous and noble

Fight with honour and dignity

Cast not a wound or injury

On any, even the opponent

Who sees and thinks of you as less

YOU ARE AN INDIAN!

The views expressed in Aliran's media statements and the NGO statements we have endorsed reflect Aliran's official stand. Views and opinions expressed in other pieces published here do not necessarily reflect Aliran's official position.

AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama

1. Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
2. Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
3. Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
4. Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
5. Lawan rasuah dan kronisme

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