It’s not a lyric written for a Bollywood superstar to lip sync, nor is it a script for a million dollar movie, although noted poet Javed Akhtar has done plenty of both. His latest offering is straight from the heart – a love poem, a tribute to Mumbai’s children, the nameless, the homeless who live on the footpaths or survive in the slums, who have to work to get a day’s meal, to merely be able to exist. As he writes, these children come to the streets, selling multicolored balloons, plastic trinkets and newspapers – but the truth is they themselves have come to be sold.
The startling fact is that in India only 50 percent of the children in the age group of 6 to 14 years get to go to school. Too many of them are caregivers to younger brothers and sisters, wage earners for the family, carrying loads and selling treats and balloons they themselves cannot enjoy.
Javed Akhtar and Shabana Azmi were in New York to raise awareness for CRY America, by launching a booklet, ‘Let’s Dream a Little Dream Together.’ CRY America launched a campaign to raise awareness for children’s rights, and both adults and children sent in their poems, essays and videos on child labor, illiteracy, female infanticide and poverty. These can be seen at www.america.cry.org/myvisionforchildren
Javed Akhtar also wrote the poignant lyrics for the CRY telethon song which was composed by Aadesh Shrivastava, and performed by a band of noted singers including Abhijeet, Sonu Nigam, Hariharan, Shaan, Alka Yagnik, Babul Supriyo, Sneha Ghoshal, Vijayta Pandit, Saapna Mukherjee, Udit Narayan and Shraddha Pandit. It also featured Aadesh Shrivastava’s sons Avitesh and Anivesh, Alka Yagnik’s daughter Sayesha, Abhijeet’s son Jai and Shaan’s son Soham.
Indeed, if there is awareness, that’s half the battle won. Shefali Sunderlal, President, CRY America, says: “No matter how difficult or long the journey, if each one of us believes in doing what’s right, then all children will have their right to live, learn, grow, play.”
Mumbai Tere Bachche
By Javed Akhtar
Mumbai
Teri footpath par
Anginat kaam karte ye bachche
Raat aor din paseena bahaate huay
Daudte Bhaagte
Thehrete haanpte
Phir bhi hanste huay
Muskuraate huay
Mumbai Teri footpath par
Rangeen Ghubbaare ya plastic ki Ghadi
Filmi akhbaar ya Race ki chopdi
Kanghiyaan kaali aor laal chhoti badi
Bachche kehne ko saamaan ye laaye hain
Sach to ye hai ki khud bikne ko aaye hain
Mumbai Teri footpath par
Bachche gaadi ke sheeshon ko dhote huay
Bachche saamaan logon ka dhote huay
Bachche pathreele raston mein palte huay
Bachche apne hi Pairon pe chalte huay
Haath jin mein ki Kaaghaz Qalam hone thay
Un mein kuchh Zakhm hain aor kuchh bhi naheen
Itni si Umr mein
Kitne dukh hain sametay huay in ke dil
Mumbai tere bachchey hain ye
Pyaar se in se mil
Mumbai
Teri footpath par
Anginat kaam karte
Ye bachche.
Mumbai, Your children
Mumbai, on your streets
Countless children toil away
Sweating it out
Day and Night
Running and panting around
But still smiling and laughing
Mumbai, on your streets
Vending colorful balloons or plastic trinkets
Movie Magazines or Racing books
Large and small combs, red and black
For the record the kids are selling their wares
In fact they come selling themselves
Mumbai, on your streets
Kids wiping windshields and windows
Children growing up amidst disheveled sidewalks
Kids walking by themselves
Kids whose hands should have pen and paper
Have nothing else but sores
At such a tender age their hearts have engulfed so much grief
Mumbai, these are your kids
Embrace them with love
Mumbai, on your streets
Countless children toil away
2 Comments
God has gifted you. It is a blessing – share it. God bless you.
Nice Writing