She was NIRBHAYA

- By Tanvi Nathwani, Standard 8, MumbaiThe whole world was shocked by the Delhi rape case. The impact of this brutal incident was like a deep cut of a sword. After this incident, most girls and women feel that being a female is a curse. Find a volcano of feelings in the form of a poem ...and see how far reaching the impact was on a 13 year old girl. A young flower in the world’s garden a kaleidoscope of dreams a medley of hopes Squelched by devils in human form She was Nirbhaya. The Final Dragon exposed clad in chains face of a mirror, hiding her wounds She was Nirbhaya. The experience of pain the encounter to vulnerability the happenstance of untold excruciation She was Nirbhaya. How could they do this horrendous act? Could they not live without the conscience intact? Just let it bleed, let it bleed bleed her dry, let her cry She was Nirbhaya. Brave in face of devastation brave in face of agonising surgeries brave in face of death She was Nirbhaya. A signal to the world let not human turn to beasts society to impotency government to idle spectators law to unimplemented story books She was Nirbhaya. Her world was cracked, and ripped apart, A sudden anguish seized her heart; O Father, where is your constancy? she is now bound to this cursed tree She was Nirbhaya. And high above, on top of this tree she will look down and she will see Who was loyal; and who betrayed, the road to sadness; the road to regret if it was true; if it was felt because She was Nirbhaya. It is a misfortune, such demons exist But may my predicament be a fist To any future barbarian who dares Please make the society safe, it’s about who cares She was the ultimate Nirbhaya. A blot on our values a blemish on our morals a smear on the face of humanity a burning flame of memory now She was Nirbhaya. So let’s break the mirror let the rebellious shards fly let the tears erode the steel, the metal, the salty water When its over after the last and desperate roar freedom will ring woman empowerment will begin There will be no need to look back then She was Nirbhaya, and so are we. Letter from Tanvi Nathwani to her creative writing teacher Ms. Purvi Doshi.Hello Purvi maam!How u doing? Im fine..I have some news to share with you: The success of my poem!You must be aware of the recent Delhi gang-rape incident.. It was all flashed on the TV and reported in the newspapers every day. When I got to know all about it, I was agitated.. hurt and almost scared of being a girl myself. I needed a way to vent out my emotions, and so I wrote a poem. The poem is entitled She was Nirbhaya. Nirbhaya is what the media named her, meaning fearless/brave. It is not only a volcano of my feelings when I first got to know about this cruel incident, but also a message to the society (women in the society) towards the end..It is written from the bottom of my heart, and so I thought I should share it with you. As usual, I give you the credit for the success of this poem.. It is published in the Rotary News Magazine and the Rotary GML magazine, and it is also most probably going to appear in the Campion Schools magazine (it was sent there and they really liked it and said they might publish it in their magazine)So, thank you maam, for elevating the poetry-writing skills in me which I never knew existed. Even though I no longer see you, you are remembered and forever will be... If you need any help or anything, Im always there and if I need any help, Im hoping youre there for me too ... Haha...... Thanks for all your support, and do keep in touch!From,Tanvi Nathwani, Standard 8, Mumbai

- By Tanvi Nathwani, Standard 8, Mumbai

The whole world was shocked by the Delhi rape case. The impact of this brutal incident was like a deep cut of a sword. After this incident, most girls and women feel that being a female is a curse. Find a volcano of feelings in the form of a poem ...and see how far reaching the impact was on a 13 year old girl.

A young flower in the world’s garden
a kaleidoscope of dreams
a medley of hopes
Squelched by devils in human form
She was Nirbhaya.

The Final Dragon exposed
clad in chains
face of a mirror, hiding her wounds
She was Nirbhaya.

The experience of pain
the encounter to vulnerability
the happenstance of untold excruciation
She was Nirbhaya.

How could they do this horrendous act?
Could they not live without the conscience intact?
Just let it bleed, let it bleed
bleed her dry, let her cry
She was Nirbhaya.

Brave in face of devastation
brave in face of agonising surgeries
brave in face of death
She was Nirbhaya.

A signal to the world
let not human turn to beasts
society to impotency
government to idle spectators
law to unimplemented story books
She was Nirbhaya.

Her world was cracked, and ripped apart,
A sudden anguish seized her heart;
O' Father, where is your constancy?
she is now bound to this cursed tree
She was Nirbhaya.

And high above, on top of this tree
she will look down and she will see
Who was loyal; and who betrayed,
the road to sadness; the road to regret
if it was true; if it was felt
because She was Nirbhaya.

It is a misfortune, such demons exist
But may my predicament be a fist
To any future barbarian who dares
Please make the society safe, it’s about who cares
She was the ultimate Nirbhaya.

A blot on our values
a blemish on our morals
a smear on the face of humanity
a burning flame of memory now
She was Nirbhaya.

So let’s break the mirror
let the rebellious shards fly
let the tears erode
the steel, the metal, the salty water
When it's over after the last and desperate roar
freedom will ring
woman empowerment will begin
There will be no need to look back then
She was Nirbhaya, and so are we.

Letter from Tanvi Nathwani to her creative writing teacher Ms. Purvi Doshi.