Talking about Mir
is as beautiful as Mir

And your saying all that
in the candour of ardour,
heart and heart
repeating about heart
saying, insisting that your heart
Janab, is the heart
which has returned from the streets of Mir.

…

Alok Dhanwa, born in 1948,  writes poetry in Hindi. Influenced by the Naxal movement, his poetry often explores themes of oppression and resistance. His work has been translated into English, Russian, and Bangla. He is currently the head of Sangeet Natak Akademi, Bihar.

Translation by Saudamini Deo, a writer and photographer from India.