Captain Pravin Raghuvanshi, NM
(We are extremely thankful to Captain Pravin Raghuvanshi Ji for sharing his literary and artworks with e-abhivyakti. An alumnus of IIM Ahmedabad, Capt. Pravin has served the country at national as well international level in various fronts. Presently, working as Senior Advisor, C-DAC in Artificial Intelligence and HPC Group; and involved in various national-level projects.
Please read an English Version of my Hindi Poem “विश्वमारी या महामारी” published previously as ☆ विश्वमारी या महामारी ☆ . I extend my heartiest thanks to the learned author Captain Pravin Raghuvanshi J for this beautiful translation. Captain Pravin Raghuwanshi ji is very well conversant with Hindi, Sanskrit, English and Urdu languages.)
☆ English Version of Poem of Hemant Bawankar ☆
☆ Epidemic or Pandemic – by Captain Pravin Raghuwanshi ☆
You can call me by any name
Epidemic or pandemic
Natural disaster or man-made conspiracy
But in the end, you will
only lose…
Agreed that
I’m a natural disaster,
You saw my cool-and-calm composure
And sometimes,
the catastrophic ones too,
However much I tried
to scare you
Through,
Cyclones
Earthquakes and landslides;
From the
Ozone hole to
Global warming
From the
Climate change
To countless other
representational signs…
But,
You did not mend your ways,
Let’s agree now that
It’s a man made conspiracy…
You are the one
solely responsible for catastrophe
You messed up
Not only with me
But,
With the entire humanity…
I gave you
The whole mortal world,
the entire universe
And, above all
Rare human birth…
Beautiful natural locales,
Winter, Spring, Autumn, Summer and Monsoon seasons;
Lush green forests filled with
Flora fauna and myriad reptiles
Blissful enchanting waterfalls
Golden sandy beaches
And plentiful natural bounties
and many more priceless gifts…
Whom you could have enjoyed blissfully…
But, Alas!
Again, you didn’t agree
Instead of the serene picturesque nature
You chose the ‘Global village’
But, forgot the principle of
‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ –the world is one family concept…
Based on apartheid, religion and racism,
You fractured the humanity
into several pieces…
You preferred
battles, wars and World-Wars…
You played politics of becoming superpower
Messed up with the environment
Made the reptiles and animals your diet,
Created destructive biological weapons,
Replaced peace with violence
Spread hatred instead of love
You prioritized the power-politics of:
Domination and demolition
Gas chambers and concentration camps
Hiroshima-Nagasaki and Bhopal Gas Tragedy,
Which bear silent testimony
of your atrocities
You forgot
How many foeticide did you commit
How many innocent children and humans
were subjected to
starvation, epidemics, diseases
and victims of hate violence…
every second, poignantly…
Hope good sense prevails now, and
You stop the evil chase
of power supremacy
And, dedicate your life for the
upliftment of humanity
Provide two square meals
to the deprived ones,
Make hospitals to extend love and care
to the sick and geriatrics…
You can call me by any name
Epidemic or pandemic
Natural disaster or man-made conspiracy
But the loser in the end,
will be you and only you…
Today when I’m showing you the mirror
You’re mortally scared
Hiding in your homes
Get up, awaken now
Fight me bravely, Take me head on
For, it’s question of survival of your own species
To whom you are solely responsible
You still have a chance
Follow the laws of nature
Save the environment
Rise above apartheid,
religion and casteism
Love the humanity and
brotherhood of man…
If not for yourself
Then, at least,
for your generations,
of which you are
representative like me…
And, critically for
your future generations
Which is your responsibility…
This beautiful loving
nature is a gift
To you
To your future generations
To the humanity per se,
But mind you,
Time is running out…
© Captain Pravin Raghuvanshi, NM
