Devendra Vasave's Adivasi Poems

Translated By Prof. B.P. Jadhav, Arts,
Science & Commerce College, Navapur, Maharashtra

In Mahabharat,
the art of archery
has perished,
by taking off,
the thumb of
Ekalavya!
Those thumbs are
used today
to snatch off
the rights of
poor tribals!
Will the twenty first century
known for its so-called humanity
bring an end to the pains of
Ekalavya?

Our forefathers bore it all their lives,
And we got it by the right
of inheritance…
Our life below the poverty line
Our poverty
Wrung by the exploiters
at its worst
And yet it is ours and ours
How can we give it up
as it has been the gift
of our forefathers
So it is dear to us
It inspires us to live.
This poverty refers us
To be slaves of
exploiters forever.

In the lap of the green forests
At the foot of the Satpuda ranges
surrounded by nature,
mingled with the soil
Is our culture,
The soil tells our history
and takes us to the past
to the culture that is
ours since ages
But…
Once ours,
tribal culture
today remains
Only to challenge
the scholars.