Agonies of Being Exiled (2009)
Devi Subedi
Pennsylvania, USA
In the beautiful village, country of the thunder Dragon,
far in the eastern world, I was born.
I was only in my fourth year of childhood,
barely uttering the word of motherhood.
The tyrannical government of Bhutan is monarchical,
it declared Nepali-race people as anti-national.
First seizing the citizens of grand parents,
then starting to torture the parents.
The king let the slogan “One country, one race” rest
the sergeants started to act at their best.
Kidnapping, rapping and killing many young ladies,
thrown in the river many saplings and babies.
Our parents’ bank accounts were seized,
made penniless and treated as wild beast.
Ultimately we were levied to leave the country,
where our seven generations had their cemetery.
Distressed countrymen sobbing and crying,
left the birthplace in dying.
Set the camp in Assam, northern India,
many died of starvation and malaria.
The Indian CRP loaded people in the truck’
did not allow to stay over, it’s our bad luck.
Stated Nepal is for Nepali race people,
did not respect human rights, situation was terrible.
Dozens fled and set refugee camp in Nepal
UNHCR appeared as god to feed their soul.
Many lost their infants due to malnutrition,
epidemic and poor sanitation.
Life as a refugee is disgraceful
many treated us as free labor, life wasn’t peaceful.
For seventeen years humanism was limited to a boundary,
I cannot express agonies of all and sundry.
All our peaceful attempts to be back to our homelands,
gone in vain for India did not join our hands.
For every movement we did for our country’s democracy,
Indian government was the hindrance, the greatest diplomacy.
Chasing us out, the government of Bhutan is not sound,
still torturing and trying to exile one hundred thousand.
So, being distressed to go beyond the boundary,
we chose the way abroad far in the western country.
UNHCR brought third country resettlement as a solution,
which brought lots of internal clashes and suspicion.
Many of our leaders are against the option,
but people take the proposal as animation.
The Netherlands,USA, Canada, Australia, Denmark, New Zealand
are the host countries for sheltering refuge from Bhutan.
People chose migration as their only option,
to be away from about twenty five years corruption.
More than twenty thousand* are now in United States,
scattered in almost all cities in their new destination.
Dreaming to have future generation great,
but for many reasons lot has to regret.
The worst situation in the bad economic condition,
all American themselves are in the greatest tension.
No job opportunities no income for medic aid,
no enough money to pay rent no place to engage.
Writer: Twenty thousand* – as of 2009.