Namdeo Dhasal: A Dalit Protest Poet

Approaching the Organised Harem of the Octopus We are approaching the organised harem of the octopus I am the seal bearing the image of the bull dated March ’65 My properties are Mohenjodaro I am the one who drew the head on the lion pillar My ornamental daily weather Radiates from the feet From hand-to-hand I release my catacombs Go scatter curds milk butter in the courtyard Organised harems of the octopus are approaching us Frightening grotesque people eating Starvation underlined in decimals In the womb of 1970 Menstruating broad The capable hand in bed holds a partisan inferno Bhang in the intestines Those who are wearing gum-boots may raise their hands Organised harems of the octopus are approaching us After she conceives the female eats up the male 1234567890 are all numbers on the trees We have to absorb the slowness of a day in our own momentum Place a weathered face in the flesh market Pluck it out of the flesh market There is a four and a zero before us The zero can generate four scattering away in four dimensions If a zero is placed after four it becomes forty If a zero is placed under four it gets a strong foundation Four–zero accompany us when we say ‘Inquilaab Zindabaad!’ We plant ‘the Banner of Blood’ Those who were gloomy while frisking four and zero Remained forever the slaves of slaves After she conceives the female eats up the male Go scatter curds milk butter in the courtyard Organised harems of the octopus are approaching us. This poem by Namdeo Dhasal attracted me because of its title. I tried to decipher it, could not, went and read up on him. A Dalit poet, he took potshots at the Sanskrit establishment to great effect. That's seen here too. I like the surreal imagery here.

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