National colours | Aditi Uniyal

Colour me in and colour me out,
my body is your canvas and you are
free to splash either saffron or green,
for those are the only colours you
can use as the base for my skin,
and then you can mention my caste on
it in calligraphy, too, but be sure to use
a thick black pencil for that purpose,
it should be prominent enough for
others to see; how else do you think
they are supposed to rip me apart
without stating what was written on
me, to validate their violence? Next,
you can draw the outline of the state
I come from, so people can know how I should
be treated, it’s a very important parameter,
you see. You also need to write the
opinions I’m supposed to voice on my face
with a pen that has ink strong enough
to penetrate my skin and flesh and
enter my bloodstream as a foreign body,
but don’t worry, I hardly doubt it will harm me.
Once that is done, tear my hair out of
my scalp and replant the saplings
that have leaves upon which are written
the strict instructions I need to follow-
about the gender I’m allowed to love,
the colour of skin that deserves my respect,
the clothes I am supposed to wear-
Now that you have coloured me with religion,
adorned me with my caste,
drawn my state on the left side of my spine,
etched the opinions I was supposed to form,
gifted me with knowledge on “Whom to love”, “How melanin defines you” and “What to wear”,
I’m certain you won’t forget the finishing touch;
a simple yet perfectly written,
“Bharat Mata ki Jai” on my lips.

Indian Literature Review | Read the works of a young author Aditi Uniyal on Indian Review. Aditi a high school student writes with verve and passion.