The 20th Century

Gave us a lot of pride and glory

About spectacular achievements in science and thoughts.

And adventure to outer space

But side by side

With horrible memories of

Death and destruction

And suffering of millions

In global and regional wars

By furies of Nature

Ethnic brutalities

And emergence of sponsored terrorists

And with pains and anxieties

About many more millions

Who are still deprived of food and shelter

To whom access to health care and education

Are yet too far

Hope the new centurions will

Make the good earth a much better place to live

Where in hunger

None Shall ever have to cry

And where for lack of medical Aid

None Shall ever have to die

DILIP  CHOUDHURY

31st December 1999

                                        You once wrote this at the turn of  the century and millennium

                                         Hoping the new century would bring in a new dawn

                                         Away from hunger , ethnic brutalities and terrorism

                                    Your mission had taken you close to such victims of natural and man made disasters

                                       Whom you served steadfastly

                                        And in whose pain your heart cried

                                       Hope one day the world will see sense and adopt your vision of peace and            

                                       advancement