Am I free?

April 30, 2025

Rev. Chrisida Nithyakalyani Anandan
Director of International Student Support and Student Services

Am I free?
A Dalit farmer with no land
land, fertilizer and seeds are loaned
Worked day and night
With a hope that sun will rise
Unfamiliar disease in the crops
Floods with too much rain
or drought with no rain!
All when it is closer to harvest!
Life is either take more debt
Or hang onto the tree
Or consume the pesticide
Reality is farmers' suicide
With a heavy burden, we call you,
God of justice and mercy,
Set us free!

Am I free?
In this era of credit cards
People valued by credit history
Debt is part of life
Credit is fancier than debit
Forced into the tricks of getting more and more debt
Capitalization at its peak to acquire more than we need
Buy more to earn more!
Earn more to be debt-free!
We are tired that it may never be a reality!
With heavy burden, we call you,
God of justice and mercy,
Set us free!