A Dalit convert speaks………..
When I was hungry, you fed me,
When I was naked, you clothed me,
When I was broken, you held me,
When I was neglected, when I was beaten, when I was injured, when I was tired, when I was ashamed, when I didn’t believe in myself,
Truly brother, when you held my hand then, you held God’s hand !
Brother, let me ask you,
Why was I hungry in the first place?
Was it because there was famine in my land?
Why was I naked?
Was it because I did not deserve the dignity of clothes?
Brother, why did no one touch me?
Can a million bathings make me worthy of being touched
By those who deride you now?
When I was weak and helpless
No revolution was fought on my behalf Brother
Now that I feel stronger, wars are being waged to help me become weak again
I do not understand………
Sister, can YOU help me understand?
When was I ever so important?
Why is it important that I be weak?
Does it make someone else stronger?
What kind of strength is that?
The strength of another’s weakness……….
Tell me Sister, why do you get beaten on my behalf?
Why don’t you leave me alone?
Let me rot in filth, let my women become slaves of some master they do not choose,
Let my children choke with the shame of being borne from one such as me
Let my masters beat me, kick me, stone me, strip me
Brother, if you take me away,
What will my poor master do?
Who will clean his dirt and his garbage?
Who will gather the dust from his shoe?
Who will hide when he arrives?
Who will cry every night like my ancestors did?
Brother you are no saint
But you are no sinner either
You don’t deserve to be beaten for me
Please understand Brother
For if you feed me, my master knows I grow strong
If you clothe me, I will learn to stand up before my master
I will be free……………
Do you not understand, Brother and Sister?
If I am free,
To my master, I AM USELESS !
