What were you thinking
when the end of your life
was counting down
to the last beat of your heart?
Did you think about it?
Ever
Did you long for the stolen hours?
The words
that you whispered
with longing
Did you remember them?
Because I do.
Did you wish that temptation
had not possessed you
and kept you chained against your will
Or was there never enough
to feed the emptiness
that lived inside you
Did you have any regrets
I wonder?
I do
I regret
that I never had the chance
to forgive you
before you left
Urmila Pawar was born in a small village of Ratnagiri as the youngest child of a Dalit family, Urmila Pawar learned early in life the meaning of her subordination as a woman and as a Dalit. The lesson she learned about the needs of self-confidence, and the courage to overcome these forms of discrimination has stood her in good stead in her attempts to break barriers and reach the stars. Among her ten published books are three short story collections. Some selected stories have been translated into English as
Mother Wit by Professor Veena Deo of Hamline University, USA, and published by the internationally renowned feminist press, Zubaan Books. She has won many prestigious prizes for her sensitive exploration of the lives of Dalit women in India. Her Autobiography
Aydaan, in particular, continues to touch the heart of all lovers of Marathi literature. Additionally, a commitment to bringing about change in the lives of women has made her a member of many organisations.
