(Dedicated to Babu Gogineni who is struggling tirelessly to awaken us about the tragedy of Sambhavi).

O Wonder of Wonders!

Traces of the past inked on a little girl’s tongue

Did you say?

Remembrances of past life

From the chattering mouth of a bonny little girl

Did you say?

To Tibet you will gain entrance

But who needs transport

When you can go to the Himalayas in a trance?

While you are there, speak to the Buddha. Or find out more

Maybe in your past life you were the God Balabhadra or the Goddess Taraka Devi. And remember to

Go on a stroll with the philosopher Nagarjuna.

Contribute to this bonfire of Human Rights

 Savour the aroma of blossoming ignorance

Delight in the sinister darkness. Bury thousands of years of progress

With a handful of dust. Go ahead!

Go ahead, but be careful

Mr. Babu Gogineni might scold you.

Spread neatly the parchments of your university certificates

Prostrate on the mat of your higher education

Pay your respects to a little child who never

Went to school. Genuflect before those who have

Learnt how to deceive. Book your place in heaven

Go there even before you die.

When even deception can be sold

When belief comes to grief

The times are inauspicious – but there will always be

Those who will lighten our heavy backs with the redeeming message of

Cultural progress. Meanwhile

Wielding our scimitars of ignorance, let us bleed ourselves.

--Dr. Prasada Murthy
Dr. Prasada Murthy is a well-known Telugu poet and broadcaster. This poem was originally written in Telugu at the height of the campaign to save Sambhavi.