Our Gods have Evolved by Khatija Khan
today, we are all puppets
with our threads tied in the fingers of technology who is the superior
diety ruling the moves of this country.
but when my niece refuses to walk
to holy places in scrounging heat
and asks me why we keep bartering
our faith in a mosque or a church
when google shows 34,45,978
results for the word 'god'
i reply, how will the imam and the priest
earn a living then?
the brainy businessmen of
this country have grown to learn
that faith is the thing with fears
yet we fail to notice
the bright saffron tilaks
on the forehead of the economy
and the heavy amulets worn by
the demand supply curve
to keep going effectively and efficiently.
our gdp keeps falling on its knees
day by day and it should learn
progress from idols.
uncarved, they are mere stones.
when carved, they become god.
and i think newton's third law,
every action has an equal and opposite reaction applies here
because first god made us
and now we make god.
the act of worshipping has become
completely political.
our desires have caught us into webs
of misery and disguise.
look at a simple life resembling
grief because how can you
survive without being a consumer
within the monopolistic competition
of neon gods who have surpassed
every barricade of divinity?
so next time when you pass by a dargah,
don't wait to put money into
the charity box because god
does not visit local shrines to
get money for buying grocery.
instead, give it to the poor boy
who sleeps on the footpath,
because to him,
it will be god visiting him
to feed his empty belly.