In Today’s India, My Mother Tells Me to Not Say My ‘Mann Ki Baat’

In the wake of all the attacks on freedom of speech in today’s India, it is natural for a mother to feel anxious about her child’s well being - especially if the child tends to speak her mind.

In this poetry video, the poet shares a conversation with her mother, in which her mother asks her to stop saying her “mann ki baat.” The mother explains she is anxious because of how the people who have expressed distinct opinions and resisted clamp down on freedom of expression have been antagonised, alienated and attacked on so many occasions.

Everytime her mother hears about incidents like the attack on Umar Khalid’s life or the murder of Gauri Lankesh, she shudders with fear. She asks her daughter to stay quiet.

Finally, the poet concludes that her mother fears for her life because there is only one “mann” in the country whose “baat” is considered acceptable by all.