The poem we share today was written by a 14-year-old studying in a municipal school in Govandi, Mumbai, reflecting on the idea of Fraternity that the Constitution of India promises to all its citizens. What does fraternity mean? What does it look like - in the home, at school, in the neighbourhood or in the country? When do we feel it – is it when we experience a sense of belonging? Does that come from where we are born or where we live? When does it happen – when we come together? And what if we don’t? What of those times? Does the fact that the Constitution promises this to all citizens mean that we all feel bound together, in fraternity? The poem interrogates the idea of belonging, drawing from everyday lived experiences, leaving us to wonder whether we can indeed make the world anew.
About the GuestNisha Abdulla is a Bangalore based theatre-maker practicing as a playwright, director, dramaturg, and educator. Her anti-oppressive arts practice places care, curiosity and community at the core of the creation process. Nisha is particularly invested in exploring the interplay of identity-belonging-power-gaze in the contemporary socio-political context. She is the Artistic Director of Qabila, where her work centers new writing and the dissenting imagination. She is also a founder member of OffStream, an artist collective that makes and enables creative projects around anti-caste advocacy. Nisha also teaches at schools and universities; most recently she was guest faculty at Azim Premji University (Bangalore) and NALSAR University of Law (Hyderabad).
For more on her work, visit:
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hum-hindustani.inCREDITS
The Hum Hindustani Poetry Podcast is a production of The Magic Key Centre for the Arts and Childhood.
Conceived, Written, and Hosted bySamina Mishra
Poems read byAanvi, Arudra, Danyal, Haniya, Ishanvi, Labina, Lakshmi, Kashvi, Kyra, Rohan, Ronish, Samaa, Sarah, Sediqa, Ulfa
Children reading the poems mentored by Anannya Tripathyi
Studio recordingsAmartya Ghosh, Quarter Note Studios
Music Shireen Ghosh
Vocals Ishaan Chintamani
ArtworkAlia Sinha
Additional Research Rhea Kuthoore
Co-WriterS Gautham
Hindi TranslationTazeen Ali
Produced by Vaaka Media
AcknowledgementsAnannya Tripathyi
Gaurav Chintamani
Priya Mathews
Shikha Sen
Simurgh Centre
TESF India
All the children who participated in the Hum Hindustani workshops and wrote the poems
Support for this podcast comes from Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies.
The Hum Hindustani research project is part of TESF India.