“To Be or Not to be Born” is a powerful poem that questions the meaning of existence, birth, suffering, and social injustice. Written by the Dalit poet Hira Bansode, the poem reflects the lived experiences of marginalized communities, especially Dalit women, who have historically faced caste discrimination, poverty, gender oppression, and social exclusion. The title itself echoes Shakespeare’s famous existential question, “To be or not to be,” but transforms it into a more disturbing inquiry: whether it is better to be born at all into a society structured by inequality and humiliation. The poem presents birth not as a celebration but as the beginning of suffering. Instead of portraying life as a gift, the poet examines how social conditions determine the value of human existence. For those born into privileged classes, birth may symbolize hope and opportunity, but for those born into oppressed communities, it often becomes the beginning of lifelong exploitation. Thus, the poem challenges the romanticized idea of birth by exposing the harsh realities of caste-based discrimination. One of the central themes of the poem is the dehumanization of Dalits. The speaker reflects upon a society where people are judged not by their humanity but by the caste into which they are