Where tigers prowled for flesh br Where scorpions sprouted br From an abandoned earth br Into such a thick forest of rocks, br Into such a despised desert of humanness br A man came and stamped his foot. br br There were wild grasses all around – br With bleeding hands br He began pulling them out by the roots. br The darkness grew and grew br But he knew he had something to do. br When the fingers of his fellowmen br Kept vanishing br When their tongue-tied mouths br Were going parched br He drew water from the Ganges of his heart br And quenched their thirst. br br Their mutilated palms br Now tightened their grip br On the untiring sickle and spade. br So from a deserted earth br Sprouts appeared br Grew and flowered. br They had successfully grown their bread. br He carried the vegetables br And the fruits (of their toil) br To the market br Of the outside world. br But that world br Feared in them br Contagium. br And refused any barter. br They were fed on ignorance – br They threw cold water br On these men br Struggling to rise br From the eddies br They were caught in. br But they had a spirit br Out there br To row them br To the shore. br So after the dreary night br Of torrents and thunderbolts br When some light br Appeared on the horizon br The world saw a beautiful garden br Beyond the thick and opaque fence br Which their narrowness had erected. br The outsiders now shamefully caught br A fresh fragrance in the air br And slowly walked in br Through its open gates br Into this marvelous ‘Forest of Bliss’. br There those crippled fingers br Had erected br A tower of learning br For their brethren outside. br There those bleeding hearts br Had created br An oasis of love and peace.