Using Art to Reimagine Justice

Where logic hits its limit, it is art and creative expression that opens our mind to new ways of seeing and our heart to courageous ways of doing.

Join in with your art, poems, stories and ideas on the topic as Writer and Translator, Justice Prabha Sridevan; Author and Social Presencing Theatre practitioner, Manish Srivastava; and Poet and Advocate Bharat Chugh, share their own creative journeys and where art can lead to action.

This conversation is a part of Agami’s intention to find new and alternative ways in which we can understand and make justice solutions in India.

Date: March 24, Thursday
Time: 6 pm

[chanduaggarwal]

The best part of the session was that peom by bharat chug Sir

Of a criminal this judge writes
After thinking for days and night

A young boy was produced before me
His abject poverty was all to see

In rich India of the poor people, being poor was his crime
The state naturally decided that he should serve his jail time

He was accused of selling tea, without a licence in train
He was migrant from drought ridden village, one could see his sheer pain

His father had hung himself on a tree, from mounting debts on seeds to set him free

With a torn shirt as if modesty was just for the rich
Law or justice, I couldn't pick first which

Why do you seek justice this is a court of law
I couldn't say that to him and just be so mean

I chose to exonerate him, but didn't say anything
How could I ask him not to earn his bread, when the state couldn't bring

Could I think of a more honourable way, this boy could have earned a living

Selling honesty with fair dealing, if I went by the strict letter of law and didn't fine
I wouldn't be able to sleep with my already waxed conscience of mine

For the legal authority was there but moral authority ahead none
My nation law had failed and poverty had won

By *adv bharat chug*

[andrearodericks]

Truly a beautiful and inspiring conversation. Thank you