The dandi march

The year was 1930. Sarojini Naidu lay lounging on her divan. She was contemplating different openings for a song - a hook that would carry the rest of the song.  As usual, the perfect verse was proving to be illusive. “Should I try this in Hindi?” she wondered... "should I try Bengali for more traction?"

Her thoughts were in a muddle.  She stretched out and picked up her phone. This “Gandhi sux” WhatsApp group was always buzzing with boring conversations and she wanted to mute it for eternity, if only she could. She couldn’t. Scrolling through the texts she understood that people were planning another march. It was almost end of February and a march was long overdue.

Scribbling and scratching on her scrap book was tiring her. She had learnt English, she had learnt Hindi, she already knew Bengali and she had read verses and verses of poetry but she couldn’t muster up a worthy line. The phone buzzed and buzzed with +1s and "thumbs up"s while she waited for a song to materialise.

It didn't!. Frustrated with herself, she picked up the phone and dialed MKG:

Bro Gandhi...,

yo, Naidu?

ABCD padhli bohot

Thandi aahein bhar li bohot

Acchi baatein kar li bohot

Ab karunga tere saath

Dandi march

Dandi Dandi Dandi Dandi Dandi march

whattey wow babe!!