Abyss of literacy – Alina Mohanty

National Writer’s Encore Delhi 2024

Knowledge, once sacred, now carries a price tag.
Talent is being slammed by venal’s whack.
That degree you hold can be easily sold
In the market of trades and sophisticated vendors.

Hardwork,passion and intelligence have lost its essence.
Money is proudly buying precious excellence.
Schools are no longer the temple for scholars.
It has been upgraded into the mall of rendezvous .
A child’s future depends on his father’s wage.
Who cares about the brain when money can push it to vain.

The ignominy a tender soul face,
when his fees get delayed.
He can’t attend his classes or examination
Because his fees are more important than his vocation.
The humiliation he faces build a different room.
Sometimes it leads to bullying or utter gloom.
His sweat,tears and blood wouldn’t give him applause.
If the opponent belongs to the haut monde slots.

Favorism is another favourite habit .
Sometimes it leads the innocent to showcase as culprit.
Degree has turned just an easy purchase.
Are we realising that we are selling knowledge?
Giving the knife in the hands of the thief
And expecting to get rescued in the time of need.
How are we forgetting about the future of the nation?
The eligible is being trivialised in the exchange of corruption.

Is it the blackhole of education?
Or trade marketing for corruption?