Mirza Beg writes: One of the greatest gifts of writing is that I have come to know kindred souls in far off lands, whom I may never meet, but who have touched me deeply.

Ashok Gupta and I have exchanged notes and poems. His Poems share the inexpressible helplessness of anguish deeply felt. 

The following two poems are dedicated to the victims of Gujarat genocide. He can be contacted at ashok1082@yahoo.co.uk

In the memory of 2000 men women and children killed in the state led genocide of Gujarat in 2002 and 200,000 who lost their homes and dignity.

Shame

I should be ashamed
of raising issues that divide
-they say.

But how can I forget
those they killed
mutilated and those they left
still hiding their nakedness .

I will shout from the rooftops
make memorials of poems
I will draw from the eyes
of the killers
not blood, but tears.

- Ashok Gupta,
October 2007,
Vadodara Gujarat