Analysis of Solidarity in Struggle: The Pariahs' Protest at North Eastern Hill University
Mawphniang Napoleon 1993 (Ri Bhoi)
"‘Tis true, we still remember the days of yore,
When we did protest with rightful cause,
And were looked down upon, treated as outcasts,
As pariahs by those in power and control.
The main door to the VC building was closed
Only during those three months of our protest,
Not in any working days of the history of
North Eastern Hill University, Shillong.
A symbol of the injustice we opposed.
We were threatened, harassed, and oppressed,
Our families left to starving and in want,
As the administration did tell us, "No work, no pay,"
For we were deemed as non-regular employees,
Though many of us had served for many a year,
More so than many of the officers in charge.
The administration did play us with their tricks,
Trying to pressure us to give up the fight,
To bow down to our Sir and Madam,
But we did not yield, for our cause was just right.
We still remember how we were not allowed
To use the nearest lavatory, so near,
For we were in protest, and thus, not proud.
The administration did use their non-regular employees
To shun, harass, and photograph us from inside,
Making a spectacle of our suffering and pleas.
The police were brought in to scare and intimidate,
Threatening us with complaints and First Information Reports,
But we did not falter, for our cause was just right.
In meetings, we were not allowed to negotiate,
But forced to listen to the chairman's Orwellian speak,
The thunderous voice of one professor, and some officers challenging us to go to court,
But we knew the administration was in the wrong.
And we still tried to find the way to solve the way to clean the Aegean stable collectively,
They tried to hide their faults and historical wrongs,
Under the carpet of Machiavellian deceit,
But we saw through their lies and remained strong.
They tried to silence us, but failed miserably,
For we knew our strength had not been broken or weakened,
And that this was not yet our destination.
We are blind and deaf to our rights no more,
For our strength has been tested, but not broken,
And we will fight until victory is ours.
No matter the hardships and injustices,
We will keep fighting for our charter of demands,
Submitted on the 29th of April, 2022.
Submitted in the hands of
the Assistant Registrar of
the Admin Section
and Public Relations Officer
of North Eastern Hill University at that time.
As long as we live, we will not surrender
Until our rights and dignity are secured.
And though the administration did try to divide and conquer,
We still remember the support and solidarity
Of our fellow workers and comrades.
They stood by us, sharing in our struggles and pain,
Giving us the strength to keep going and to gain
Victory for our cause, for which we did fight.
And though the journey was long and hard,
We shall not forget the memories thereof,
For they shall forever be ingrained in our hearts.
As we look back upon those days of protest,
We remember the solidarity and support,
Of our fellow workers and comrades.
And though the administration did try to silence us,
Their efforts were in vain, for our cause was just.
We fought for our rights and dignity,
And though the journey was long and hard,
Victory will be ours in the end, and our memories shall forever be guarded.
Though we were treated as pariahs, outcasts,
We shall not forget the injustice we opposed,
For it shall forever be a reminder
Scheme | axbxcdefcdxxghx xixijhjgxgkxi kflfmxxfmxn anxxxx eenox oxomPqqi RexdlPxxmRxbco |
---|---|
Poetic Form | |
Metre | 11110100111 11111101 0011011011 101011010001 0111011011 10101111101 1010101101001 110101001 01010010101 101001001 101001110001 1000101111111 110111100010 110111111001 111101010001 00010111111 10110111101 1111101010 111111101111 11010110101 1101010011 110010111 000101111100010 11010101101 10010011010001 001010110010 10011010101001 1111101101111 010101011010 1111010101001 01001110100110010011111 111000101001 011111011101110010100100 111111001001 1001010010001 1111110011 111101111000 11110111110110 01111110010 11101110111 110111101110 011101100110 11001000100 1111011010101 0101011110 0100011 0010101 0110 010010100 111010100111 11111111010 011010100101 010001011101010 1101000100100 110101001 1111100101001 101011110011 100110111111 010101101 1110101001 1110101010101 1111011111 101000100001 110101001 0100010111101 110001110111 1111010100 010101101 10011100010101001010110 1101010101 111010010101 11101010010 |
Closest metre | Iambic hexameter |
Characters | 3,360 |
Words | 667 |
Sentences | 22 |
Stanzas | 7 |
Stanza Lengths | 15, 13, 11, 6, 5, 8, 14 |
Lines Amount | 72 |
Letters per line (avg) | 37 |
Words per line (avg) | 8 |
Letters per stanza (avg) | 380 |
Words per stanza (avg) | 85 |
About this poem
The poem reflects on a protest that took place at a university, presumably North Eastern Hill University in Shillong. The speaker and the protesters are positioned as outcasts and pariahs by those in power and control, who close the main door to the VC building during the protest and use various tactics to pressure them into giving up the fight. The protesters are described as non-regular employees who have served for many years, but are treated unjustly by the administration. They are threatened, harassed, and oppressed, and their families are left to starve and in want. The administration also uses their non-regular employees to shun, harass, and photograph the protesters from inside. In meetings, the protesters are not allowed to negotiate and are forced to listen to the chairman's Orwellian speak. The speaker and the protesters remain determined to fight for their rights and dignity and remember the support and solidarity of their fellow workers and comrades throughout the protest more »
Written on August 30, 2023
Submitted by Mawphniang.Napoleon on January 27, 2023
Modified on March 05, 2023
- 3:20 min read
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"Solidarity in Struggle: The Pariahs' Protest at North Eastern Hill University" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 26 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/149413/solidarity-in-struggle%3A-the-pariahs%27-protest-at-north-eastern-hill-university>.
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