Readings from the Fringes

2
How Many More Days, Democracy?
Sameer Tanti

BACKGROUND

Sameer Tanti is a renowned Assamese poet. He was born in 1955 as the son of tea garden
labourers. There has been no peace in Assam for more than half a century. Sameer Tanti was
born and lived in the midst of these troubles. Violence, bloodshed, guerrilla attacks, loss of
land and livelihood – in short, there is no peace in Assam.
There are two things at the heart of Assam’s troubles:
1. Infiltration by people from Bangladesh
The infiltration into Assam by outsiders such as Bengali migrants has led to ethnic tension
between the indigenous population and the Bengali migrants. As a result, there is periodic
eruption of violence and bloodshed.
2. Bodoland issue
Bodos are the single largest tribal community in Assam. These ethnic groups have controlled
large parts of Assam in the past. They have demanded a separate state called Bodoland. Being
a separatist movement, government deals with it stringently. There has been a lot of violence
and loss lives in the name of this issue as well.

It is in this context that the poem is to be read and appreciated.

INTRODUCTION

‘How Many More Days, Democracy?’ is written in the context of the prolonged trouble-torn
history and cultural legacy of Assam. Communal tensions and separatist agitations have
plagued Assam for several decades. In the poem, there is lamentation for the blood spilt, the
mass deportations, and the oppression of minorities. The expectations raised by independence
and democracy remain unfulfilled. So, the poet asks: Is India really free? What has happened
to our democracy?

What is democracy?

Democracy is a government of the people, by the people, and for the people.

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But as far as the people of Assam are concerned, democracy is a government against the people.

Summary

The poet addresses democracy, Oh, democracy!

He asks how many more days he can go on like this. With its head down, knees bent, and eyes
closed, there is no end to the on-going acts of violence, destruction, and shame. The poet can
hear the loud noise and confusion arising out of the violence and bloodshed.
When these shameful things happen, the nation (democracy) is silent, and blind. The
poet loves democracy from his heart. He wants to speak out, but he is afraid that something
bad will happen to it. He is afraid that if he asks, it will offend.
There is so much darkness in its home. But outside, there is a lot of light from violence.
The poet wants to wish long life to democracy. Before democracy becomes barren and turns
bloody, the poet wants to speak out for him. He asks in a sad tone whether he might erase
himself from the heart of democracy.

Short Answers

I. Answer the following questions in a sentence or two:

1. "I hear your bedlam, democracy." Explain.

The poet says that he can hear the loud noise and confusion arising out of the daily violence
and bloodshed.
2. How does democracy appear to the poet?
Instead of standing proud, with its head high, democracy appears with its head down, knees
bent, and eyes closed. The poet is sad about the pitiable condition of democracy.
3. Why does he call democracy 'barren'?
The poet calls democracy barren because it has failed to fulfil its promises. Instead of
expectations, there is only violence and bloodshed.

4. "Democracy, I wish you a long life." Identify the figure of speech in this line.
Democracy is personified. Personification is the figure of speech.

Paragraph Questions

II. Answer the following questions in a paragraph:

1. How does the poet describe the present condition of Democracy?
The present condition of democracy is very pathetic. Its days are filled with violence,
bloodshed and guerrilla warfare. Sameer Tanti asks how many more days democracy can
survive like this. With its head down, knees bent, and eyes closed, there is no end to the on-
going acts of destruction and shame. The poet can hear the loud noise and confusion arising
out of the violence and bloodshed. When these shameful things happen, democracy is silent,

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and blind. There is so much darkness in its home. But outside, there is a lot of light from
violence.

2. Explain the significance of the title "How Many More Days, Democracy?"
The title "How Many More Days, Democracy?" is very significant. When India became
independent and democratic, there was a lot of expectation and hope in people. They dreamed
of a better tomorrow. But the nation is torn by violence and bloodshed. In the home of
democracy, there is a lot of darkness. But outside, there is a lot of light from violence. The poet
wants to wish long life to democracy. But he is not sure how many more days democracy will
survive like this. He is afraid that it will become barren and turn bloody soon.

3. Pick out words from the poem that suggest that democracy is in a bad state.
Almost every word in the poem suggests that democracy is in a bad state. The opening
line suggests that democracy will not last long. The expressions “head down, on bended knees,
with eyes closed”, “mutilation”, “humiliation” and “your bedlam” clearly suggest the pathetic
situation of democracy. Phrases such as “lips sewed together”, “eyes covered with blindfold”,
“harm befalls you”, “darkness inside your home”, “riot of light”, “barren”, “bloody”, “weep”,
and “erase myself from your heart” describe the poor condition of democracy. The last line
sums up the pathos described in the poem.

Essays

III. Answer the following questions in about 300 words:

1. How does the poem bring out the dire condition of democracy?
Sameer Tanti is a renowned Assamese poet. ‘How Many More Days, Democracy?’ is
a poem written in the context of the trouble-torn history and cultural legacy of Assam. It brings
out the dire condition of democracy.
Communal tensions and separatist agitations have plagued Assam for several decades.
In the poem, there is lamentation for the violence and bloodshed which is a regular feature in
Assam. Democracy is chained, mutilated, and humiliated.
The present condition of democracy is very pathetic. Sameer Tanti addresses
democracy and asks how many more days it can go on like this. With its head down, knees
bent, and eyes closed, there is no end to the on-going acts of destruction, murder and shame.
The poet can hear the loud noise and confusion arising out of the series of violence and
bloodshed.
When these shameful things happen, the poet says, the nation (democracy) is silent, and
blind. The poet says that he loves democracy from his heart. He wants to speak out, but he is
afraid that something bad will happen to it. He is afraid that if he asks, it will offend. There is
so much darkness in its home. There is no light. The only light outside is the light from
violence.
Sameer Tanti wants to wish long life to democracy. Before democracy becomes barren
and turns bloody, the poet wants to speak out for him. He asks in a pathetic tone whether he

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might clear himself from the heart of democracy. The title of the poem also suggests the terrible
condition of the democracy. The poet is not sure how many more days democracy will survive
in a situation like this. It is in real danger.

2. Attempt a critical analysis of the poem "How Many More Days, Democracy?"
Sameer Tanti is a renowned Assamese poet. ‘How Many More Days, Democracy?’ is
a poem written in the context of the trouble-torn history and cultural legacy of Assam. It brings
out the dire condition of democracy.
Communal tensions and separatist agitations have plagued Assam for several decades.
The present condition of democracy is very pathetic. When India became independent and
democratic, there was a lot of expectation and hope in people. They dreamed of a better
tomorrow. But the nation is torn by violence and bloodshed. Sameer Tanti asks how many more
days democracy can pull on like this. With its head down, knees bent, and eyes closed, there is
no end to the on-going acts of destruction, murder, and shame.
There is so much darkness in its home. The only light outside is the light from violence.
Sameer Tanti wants to wish long life to democracy. Before democracy becomes barren and
turns bloody, the poet wants to speak out for him. He asks in a pathetic tone whether he might
clear himself from its heart.
The sharp and striking images employed by the poet engage the reader and drive home
the stark reality that democracy is in danger. In the poem, “democracy” is personified. The bad
situation of “democracy” is portrayed using images such as “head down”, “bend knees” and
“lips sewed together”. Use of figure of speech such as ‘oxymoron’ in the use of opposites such
as “darkness” and “light” makes the poem more effective.
The title "How Many More Days, Democracy?" is very significant. It suggests the
terrible condition of the democracy. The poet is not sure how many more days democracy will
survive like this. It is in real danger of extinction.

♣♣♣
Prepared by
Prof. Murukan Babu C.R.
Principal, Nirmala College of Arts & Science, Chalakudy
(Formerly, Associate Prof. of English, P.M. Govt. College, Chalakudy)

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