Women raise slogans during a protest in 2021 against farm laws in Ghazipur (Delhi-UP border) Women raise slogans during a protest in 2021 against farm laws in Ghazipur (Delhi-UP border) Pathere (Brick Moulders)

They leave in the morningowl game, and come back in the nightwith shovels on their shoulders, and they walk slowlythey dig the mud, and mix the water inwhen I look at my home, I remember them, the brick moulders

washing the moulds, putting the bricks inturning the dried bricks overleveling with the plank, peppering them with sandwhen I look at my home, I remember the brick moulders

starting the new columns, laying the bricks inworking the mud, they become mud,But what do they earn?they come home tired and defeatedwhen I look at my home, I remember the brick moulders

—Translated from Punjabi by Jasdeep Singh.

(Jasdeep Singh is a translator, film writer, and technology worker based in Mohali, Punjab. He has written dialogues and scenarios for Panjabi cinema and theatre.)

Jagdeep Jawaharke, Punjab

(Jagdeep Singh Jawaharke is a published poet from Punjab who takes pride in his real identity: Ittan di bhatti tey kam karan wala.)

Residents cling utensils during a slum demolition protest in Delhi in 2020 Photo: Getty Images Bharat Mandal’s Mother

The old lady said:‘One of my sons is gone,Let them take the other one,I will not give up my land‘These hands that you see’She said, raising hertrembling handWith veins standing out‘With these two handsI have worked hard for the landNow I will use them to protect it’

Oh Aunty, you don’t havea brick kiln filled with weaponsOh Aunty, you don’t havearmed policeOh Aunty, you don’t havethousands of cadreswho dress like copsbut unlike cops have slippers on their feetThen, where do youget this strength from?

We don’t know all thatThe only thing we know

Is that Goddess Durga sometimes appears before usas Mother Farmer

—Translated by Snigdhendu Bhattacharya

Joy Goswami, West Bengal

(Joy Goswami is one of the most famous Bengali poets in the last four decades. Starting with the book Christmas to Sheet-er Sonnet Guchchho in 1977owl game, he almost instantaneously made a mark in the Bengali literary scene with his very original language and expression. Though essentially known as a poet, he has also penned novels.)

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