Kendall D’Souza – 
He was a gentle and nervous boy
He didn’t even have a toy
His family was very poor
But still faith grew in them more and more
They didn’t believe in violence or fights
They just didn’t think it was right
He went to London to study law
But when he came back the dreadful thing he saw
Was that his mother was no more
The young man went to South Africa with his child and wife
Trying to get a new job and start a new life
Racism went on with Indians, but he had no fears
He ended up in South Africa for 20 years
Because he spoke in public and didn’t obey the wrong laws
He was put behind bars, that was the cause
Because of him the laws became right
So when he came out he didn’t need to fight
He went to India, wanting to change the wrong
People there had heard about him for long
‘Let him lead us’! they said
But the lawyer could have just sat in his own money bed
He went to the people who were judged very much
They were the people that you couldn’t touch
But this man said we need to work as one
To make this injustice towards us DONE!
This 50-year old man could have sat with his money
Because his word was very, very, sunny
But he couldn’t see the British rule
While his own people were used and fooled
Peaceful protest, no violence, pray
He told everyone day after day
But some were not listening and started to fight
The British revenge reached such a big height
This leader led thousands and thousands to protest
Now all these people were such a big pest
Not everyone could be put into jail!
Now the British thought that their plans might fail
Some Indians didn’t follow and made the British more cross
For the Indians, this was a great loss
The old man made the poor, rich and all religions unite
Instead of letting them be stubborn and fight
This hard-working man, who had a tough life made India free
He looked for positives, he tried to see
The way they could defend their own homeland
Without giving a cheek or raising their hand
Without fighting with one another
He made them sisters and brothers
Unite, stand tall
He was called ‘Father of us all’
He is not our boss. He is our leader.
You’re a great soul that’s remembered all over the world, even now.
Mahatma Gandhi, why don’t you take a bow?
Kendall D’Souza, born and raised in Auckland, is 12 years old and Year 8 girl student at St Mary’s College in Ponsonby. Reading about Mahatma Gandhi, she was inspired by the great leader and decided to pen the above poem on his 146th birthday celebrated on October 2, 2015. Although received earlier, we decided to highlight the little bard in our Diwali Special.
