Stolen Childhood: A poem by Aabha Vatsa

One born to a king

One born to a pauper.

One born to be rocked in the cradle

One born to be left unattended.

One born to play with branded toys

‘one born to play with broken pebbles.

One born to drink fortified milk

One born as suffering from malnutrition.

One born to be driven in imported cars

One born to run on spindly legs.

One born to study in heritage schools

One born to beg at red lights.

One born to eat five-course meals

One born to make do with leftover food.

One born to wear designer clothes

One born to wear tattered rags.

One born to attend coaching for lawn tennis

One born to join father to augment income.

One born to live in mansions

One born to live under leaking tarpaulins

Both children of the same God

Stop!

Pause!

Reflect!

Can we do something to bridge this abominable gap?

Can we do something to restore stolen childhood?

Yes, we can

Indeed we can.

Let us harvest the goodness in our hearts

Let us gather our strengths,

Let us make our resolve dynamic

Let us endeavour to bring justice


To the lost children of our world

Let us walk together

To restore stolen childhood


To give our children a better world.




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