Written on the Occasion of Meena’s 15th Martyrdom Anniversary, Feb.4, 2002 Dedicated to RAWA with love Neesha Mirchandani MEENA Lives Within Us

MEENA: She is the beacon of hope within us
She shines the lantern into the darkness
She is the part of us that knows that tomorrow will be better,
if we continue the struggle and spread the light.
She is the part of us that never gives up
She is in every RAWA action, every RAWA web page, every media interview.
Every blanket distribution in every refugee camp.
In every school and every orphanage from Islamabad to Kandahar.
If the light of hope is in your heart, Meena is still alive.

MEENA: She is the voice of courage within us
She is not afraid of the power of the powerful
She is the part of us that speaks up with courage
She is the part of us that dispels a sea of despair
And speaks without fear to the powerful ones.
She is at RAWA’s demonstrations in Islamabad.
She is in the stadium in Kabul while you’re filming Zarmeena.
She is there when you travel to strange lands to tell your story.
If your voice of courage still can be heard, Meena is still in this world.

MEENA: She is the source of power within us
She is not ashamed to be a strong woman
She is the part of us that believes that women deserve equality
She is the part of us that refuses anything less
And claims her human rights without apologies.
Every time a woman stands up in America, in Asia, in Africa,
Every time RAWA protects a woman’s rights
Every time a new girl enters a RAWA school
Wherever there is a women’s movement, Meena is marching right beside them.

MEENA: She is the beauty within us
They murdered her beautiful body
But they couldn’t silence Meena’s voice
They couldn’t take Meena’s courage
They couldn’t kill Meena’s hope
They couldn’t steal Meena’s dream
Meena is in every RAWA member, in every RAWA song
She will never die as long as we believe in her vision
Meena lives eternally within us forevermore.