-Dr. Cherrie Lalnunziri Chhangte
Lecturer, Dept. of English, Mizoram University

My past is presented before you

Spread out at the gathering

Of intellectuals – wise, brave, clever,

But humans, nevertheless.

Theories, assumptions, presumptions,

All entangled in the mesh

Of scholarly discussion,

Alongside naïve interpretations of age-old customs.

You say I am primitive,

He says I am noble;

You say I am exploited,

He says I asked for it.

You- He – I – They,

Them – Us , the Self and Other.

Who am I? Who do you want me to be?

Should I gratify you, or the unseen 'they'?

What of me, then?

You say I have lost my sense of Self.

I pinch myself – surprisingly, I feel real,

A tangible being born of ephemeral beliefs.

How different are we, really?

You and I, sustained by hearts

That beat in rhythm,

Different notes of the selfsame song.

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