The poem we share today was written by a 14-year-old studying in a municipal school in Govandi, Mumbai, reflecting on the idea of Fraternity that the Constitution of India promises to all its citizens. What does fraternity mean? What does it look like - in the home, at school, in the neighbourhood or in the country? When do we feel it – is it when we experience a sense of belonging? Does that come from where we are born or where we live? When does it happen – when we come together? And what if we don’t? What of those times? Does the fact that the Constitution promises this to all citizens mean that we all feel bound together, in fraternity? The poem interrogates the idea of belonging, drawing from everyday lived experiences, leaving us to wonder whether we can indeed make the world anew.

About the Guest
Nisha Abdulla is a Bangalore based theatre-maker practicing as a playwright, director, dramaturg, and educator. Her anti-oppressive arts practice places care, curiosity and community at the core of the creation process. Nisha is particularly invested in exploring the interplay of identity-belonging-power-gaze in the contemporary socio-political context. She is the Artistic Director of Qabila, where her work centers new writing and the dissenting imagination. She is also a founder member of OffStream, an artist collective that makes and enables creative projects around anti-caste advocacy. Nisha also teaches at schools and universities; most recently she was guest faculty at Azim Premji University (Bangalore) and NALSAR University of Law (Hyderabad).

For more on her work, visit:
https://linktr.ee/nishaabdulla

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or visit our website
hum-hindustani.in

CREDITS
The Hum Hindustani Poetry Podcast is a production of The Magic Key Centre for the Arts and Childhood.

Conceived, Written, and Hosted by
Samina Mishra

Poems read by
Aanvi, Arudra, Danyal, Haniya, Ishanvi, Labina, Lakshmi, Kashvi, Kyra, Rohan, Ronish, Samaa, Sarah, Sediqa, Ulfa

Children reading the poems mentored by
Anannya Tripathyi

Studio recordings
Amartya Ghosh, Quarter Note Studios

Music
Shireen Ghosh

Vocals
Ishaan Chintamani

Artwork
Alia Sinha

Additional Research
Rhea Kuthoore

Co-Writer
S Gautham

Hindi Translation
Tazeen Ali

Produced by
Vaaka Media

Acknowledgements
Anannya Tripathyi
Gaurav Chintamani
Priya Mathews
Shikha Sen
Simurgh Centre
TESF India
All the children who participated in the Hum Hindustani workshops and wrote the poems

Support for this podcast comes from Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies.
The Hum Hindustani research project is part of TESF India.