BUBBLE 32 – WHAT CAN I, AN ORDINARY 20-YEAR-OLD, DO?

Bismillah Hir Rahman Ir Raheem

Peace and blessings be upon you all

What can I, an ordinary 20 year old, do?

Sure, I have a body that feels, limbs that move, nose that smells, heart that feels, mind that thinks

But does that mean I’m strong? Does that mean I’m human? I’m perfect?

What can I, an ordinary 20 year old, do?

While I question whether I’m human or not, and the world has forgotten to ask themselves that question

When you can’t make sure your neighbors are safe, what are you?

Neighbors which include my neighbor; occupied Jammu & Kashmir

What can I, an ordinary 20 year old, do?

While atrocities are being committed inside my neighbor’s home beyond the line of control

Innocents beaten, leaders and youth arrested, children shot with pellet guns, women raped and murdered

So much pain I try to feel, but I’ll never have my skin torn apart, heart pulled out of my chest unless I’m living in my neighbor’s house

What can I, an ordinary 20 year old, do?

When a curfew has been put in my neighbor, Kashmir’s, home for almost a month

Shops closed, mosques barred, communications blocked

Is it worse knowing your neighbor’s in pain, or is it worse that you can’t see how worse it has become?

What can I, an ordinary 20 year old, do?

While every moment, something even terrible has happened in my neighbor’s home
Are they even at home? Are their children fed? Have they all had a good night’s sleep?

How can I know? What could I possibly do?

What can I, an ordinary 20 year old, do?

My Prime Minister shouts out in the mike and has been fighting everyday trying to save them

He’s reached out to the UN and many leaders to help him save my neighbor

But people are people. Everyone always has their hidden benefits they wish to gain

What does a few million lives matter?

What can I, an ordinary 20 year old, do?

When our Muslim leaders, apart from a few, are reluctant to raise their voices in support of their people

When UAE gives the Indian PM Narendra Modi their Highest Civilian Award for forgoing a massacre of their people

Is it just me, or is the dictionary scratching its head as well, wondering what the definition of peace is?

What can I, an ordinary 20 year old, do?

Sure I can sign petitions, donate money to causes, share a few posts on social media, speak a bit about the plight of my neighbor

But what good will that do?

My leaders shout through mikes everyday!

They plead for aid everyday!

They show the true image of Indian democracy, PM Modi & BJP everday!

I only have the power of a grape as compared to their power but what avail is it to them?

My neighbor is still being beaten, leaders and youth are still being arrested, women are still being raped and murdered

What could I do that they couldn’t do?

What can I, an ordinary 20 year old, do?

I’ll raise my voice, I’ll speak up with the voices of my people

Will those who need to hear me listen?

Is there another way to make this all over?

What can I, an ordinary 20 year old, do?

I can’t stop war when it knocks on my doorstep, and as I open there stands a postman with boxes stuffed with radiation.

I’m not a shield that can save my people and my neighbor

I’ll die the moment I cross the line of control, attempting to rescue my neighbor

Is it worse to sit here idle, or to die without it benefiting my neighbor?

What can I, an ordinary 20 year old, do?I am powerless, I am helpless

But my faith tells me to stop evil by force

If not, then by voice,

If not, then believe it is wrong, but that is the WEAKEST ACT OF FAITH!

I raise my voice but it is loud enough? Can it be louder?

Do i have strength I don’t know of, because I’m ignoring it?

Am I deliberately avoiding my responsibility? Or am I destined to watch the world tear itself apart?

What can I, an ordinary 20 year old, do?

While humanitarian crisises reign in Palestine, Yemen, Burma, China and many more

What can I do to save them?

What can I, an ordinary 20 year old, do?

I’m studying to become a doctor

But if I’m in the field, I will only try to shrink the number of wounded and killed, not stop it from happening in the first place

What can I, an ordinary 20 year old, do?

Other than watch

And hear an inaudible goodbye

And pray my Rabb forgives us

And yet, have undying hope in Him

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

This work of mine is written to spread awareness of the atrocities occuring in Indian Occupied Kashmir. In case you don’t know what’s going on there, I have given you the relevant information in my poem for you to understand.I don’t expect compliments for my writing. I expect you to be aware of a reality that is being distorted by India. People are being tortured and their lives taken. Pick your side.

I also wrote it to show my helplessness in such a situation as we tend to feel in similar situations all over the world. May we protect humanity from its doom.

May Allah protect humanity from its doom.

Ameen

Here’s a song expressing their plight: