Two Terrorists

(On their untimely deaths. One died too late and one, too early) 

Bal,

You were right about the god
He took care of his subjects
Rewarded those to Him closer
Punished any whom to Him objects
Must be sins driving them to deaths
Who dared appeal for divine justice
Fateful nights of communal clashes
Died those lesser Hindus, Muslims 
You, much loved, lived on, lives on
Immortalized by Lata and Bachchan
Honored with Tricolor, your body
Even in death, rules over the nation

——

Kasab,

Now that you are gone
We can breathe again
Lose in the dance of joy
Seek ourselves in your death
The unfinished business 
Of ending terrorism 
Find itself done 
Now that you are gone

– Saswat Pattanayak, Peoples’ Poet