We will not be silenced

Words
-Lal Singh Dil

Words have already been spoken
much before us and
will be, long after us.
Cut off every tongue
If you can,
But words have already been spoken.

—Translated from Punjabi by Chaman Lal
(Guftugu, 2016)

This is a poem by Lal Singh Dil translated from Punjabi by Chaman Lal and extracted from Battling For India: A Citizen's Reader edited by Githa Hariharan and Salim Yusufji and published by Speaking Tiger Books.

Orijit Sen is a graphic artist, cartoonist, muralist and designer. He is the author of several works of graphic fiction and non-fiction including the graphic novel River of Stories. He is one of the founders of People Tree, a collaborative studio and store for artists, designers and craftspeople. Sen is also Mario Miranda Chair Visiting Professor at Goa University.