General Knowledge

Pabitra Mohan Dash

Translator - Sailen Routray

Blue Mural Embroidery from Udaipur
Photo Credit - Wikimedia Commons 

Where is Bharatabarsa located?
In the pothis and in the puranas.

When did it become independent?

It might be written in history.

What is the national animal?

The minister.

What is the national sport?

Communal riots.

In which sport could the country 

have gotten an Olympic medal?

Debate competition.

How is the constitution amended?

Based on who needs it done, and how.

Which crop sees the highest production?

Chaff without grain.

What is the country’s biggest export?

Spines.

What is the country’s biggest import?

New hungers.

What is the most favourite practice of men?

Impregnating women, repeatedly.

Please sing a line or two 

from the national song?

‘Wake up and vote,

vote and sleep’.

Thank you.

Now, please tell me, 

how many marks should this rowdy get?

 

Translator's Note: This is a poem from the collection Raktashasya by Pabitra Mohan Dash (b. 1970). His is one of the clearest and freshest voices in contemporary Odia poetry. He has several collections of poems such as 'Bajra Banshi' (1995), 'Rakta Shasya', 'Swapnamedha' (2007), Megha Sanchar (2014) to his credit. Although primarily known as a poet, he is also an acclaimed writer of fiction and criticism in Odia as well. His novel 'Hamsahani' (2016) paints a rich mosaic of contemporary social life in coastal Orissa.