By Badri Raina
They burn the wicked one
Who does not exist.
Those that deserve extinction
Are not on their list.
The thief who takes the biggest cut
Is new global hero.
Those that squeal for a loaf of bread
Are dangerous to the marrow.
Effigies are obliging antagonists,
Harmless, insensate things–
Lighting up to deluded cheer,
They protect the real kings.
ZNetwork is funded solely through the generosity of its readers.
Donate
Badri Raina is a well-known commentator on politics, culture and society. His columns on the Znet have a global following. Raina taught English literature at the University of Delhi for over four decades and is the author of the much acclaimed Dickens and the Dialectic of Growth. He has several collections of poems and translations. His writings have appeared in nearly all major English dailies and journals in India.
All the latest from Z, directly to your inbox.
Institute for Social and Cultural Communications, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit.
Our EIN# is #22-2959506. Your donation is tax-deductible to the extent allowable by law.
We do not accept funding from advertising or corporate sponsors. We rely on donors like you to do our work.
All the latest from Z, directly to your inbox.
Z Needs Your Help!
ZNetwork reached millions, published 800 originals, and amplified movements worldwide in 2024 – all without ads, paywalls, or corporate funding. Read our annual report here.
Now, we need your support to keep radical, independent media growing in 2025 and beyond. Every donation helps us build vision and strategy for liberation.
Join the Z Community – receive event invites, announcements, a Weekly Digest, and opportunities to engage.
