Desire

Translation of Kannada Dalit poet Sarajoo Katkar’s ‘Aase’ from ‘Belli Salman’

Though name inscribed on sky

Let the feet be on earth

Though pot filled with gold and silver

To quench thirst need pot of water

Though thousands of people around

Let at least two who could be ours

Though floors over floors constructed

Let peace and happiness be at home

Though proud Narcissus

Let have respect for others

Let the death come slowly

So, that the enemy can envy

Portion

Translation of Kannada Dalit poet Sarajoo Katkar’s ‘Paalu’ from ‘Belli Salman’

When the world was divided

To our portion came

Only stones

Though stones

We accepted happily

As our rightly things

Three stones to make stove

One we made pillow

One stone left

Was penned below the tree

With a red mark made on

They saw God in that

Came in mass

Around the stone stood temple

People to see our own stone

Pushed us out of temple

‘Be careful, if seen again

Will take off your eye bolls!’ warned they