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WHAT THE SLAVES
CAN AND CAN’T DO
(i) Slaves have muscles and slaves have brains. They use no brain, because they don’t have to. They are caught and taught by the lords. Their lords are their ‘brain’ too.
Brain is like a knife that cuts the carp, The more you use the more it would be sharp.
Stupid slaves are blessings for the lords. They help them to ‘sharpen’ their brains. If the slaves are sharp, their masters sit idle They can’t walk and tumble in the drains.
The slaves cannot help When the empire fail They know how to fight And to follow the trail..
Slaves’ muscles cannot save a land Not even the Lord’s money can Brain plays pivotal role, yes But only when there is ‘morality’ in men.
The above one is a poem. Let us name it “ON THE QUESTION OF IGNORING MORALITY”. What follows below is a story. After this we shall end up with a ballad.
(ii) Ranganathan or Ranga had eight sons and an-eight hundred square kilometer kingdom. Ranga employed his sons to look after the Ranga-dom. Ram was in charge of army, Lakan agriculture, Barat law, Sita industry and so on so forth. Ranga’s kingdom flourished, flourished and flourished.
One day Ranga decided to see how was the situation in his Ranga-dom. The servant brought his fifty-horsed cart. This time the horses were tied side by side with shorter ropes. Ranga remembered, last time he escaped a fatal accident. That day they tied the horses with long ropes and as soon as he whipped all the fifty horses started running in fifty directions. Ranga was intelligent to lean from the mistake.
Ranga moved through the road and saw some men at work. He asked, ‘Who are those black people ?’ His secretary replied : They are black slaves. - Where from have they come ? = Well, they did not come. We transshipped them from their home land. Ranga looked at the sweat on their forehead and said – ‘poor fellow’. Then he admired the movement of their strong arms and said – ‘excellent’. On the other side of the road he saw another group and asked – Where from did you transship those brown people ? = Well sir, they came on their own accord. Ranga smiled and said – Opportunist, isn’t it ? Tell Ram to keep watch on them.
Ranga visited the army and could not find Ram. Lakan was not in the field. Barat was out of the town and there was no trace of Sita anywhere. Ranga shouted : Where are my sons gone ? In his humble voice the secretary replied : Sir, they are enjoying themselves. They are in the drink house, dance house, brothels and casinos. Ranga became pleased and said : Have you witnessed what money can do ? My sons are enjoying their lives. And still everything is working fine. Why ? The secretary could not reply. Ranga said : Because I purchased slaves with money. Now my sons also have learnt to purchase slaves. They have learnt the power of money. And I have been able to teach them the ideal thing. Secretary said : You are right Sir. Even the slaves have known the power of money. I am afraid, what they would do if some outsider promises them more money. - Do you think the slaves would ignore my job and do theirs ? = Me seem like that. - That’s unfortunate. Well, my son would look after them. = You are right sir. Your able sons also know the power of money. So I am afraid, - What makes you afraid ? = I am afraid, what might happen if an outsider promises bigger amount to your sons. - You are right secretary. I am worried. What can I do for them ? = You can teach them morality. That would make them to realize, what one should do and what not. - Teaching morality to slaves ? Impossible. Teaching morality to my sons ? Seems not bad. Well secretary, go and purchase some slaves for my sons. Don’t think for money. = There is a problem sir. Slaves cannot teach morality. And men with morality are not sold for money. That is their moral. - Is it so ? Then leave the idea. Why should I worry for what might happen after my death ? I would be happiest man if I can enjoy till I live. Who cares for this world, for this country or for you after I am gone ? Ten years after this incident Ranga-dom went under water. The keepers opened the city-gate when the enemy approached. Both the gate keepers and the enemy were aware of the power of money. The soldiers disagreed to fight. They were busy in collecting gold coins thrown on them by the enemy. Ranga employed intelligent, experienced and learned slaves to teach his sons. It was no wonder that in his kingdom his sons were the most intelligent persons. And they had no dearth of money. But neither their money nor intelligence could save them. In the crucial time they could not take the decision. When there were differences of opinion one started beating the other. No one ever taught them morality, they did not have the idea that such acts were immoral. Fortunately the enemies could not kill them. They were dead long before the enemy arrived. The brothers always carried licensed fire-arms. After the looting was over, the intruder opened the floodgate and soon the beautiful city turned to a sea of water.
(iii) Maria and her little daughter was fishing in a little boat. Her daughter said : Mother, they say there was a flourishing kingdom in this place. It is correct ? Maria : Oh yes. The kingdom was destroyed long ago. Listen the story. Daughter : You better sing. Maria : All right. (ballad) “Look, look dear, Ranga’s money goes there”.
Money floats on water, Money dives under water Money is in the maze This money is blind, money doesn’t find Any damn thing to purchase.
Ranga was happy with the present, He was content with the present, Ranga failed to think of future, “Look, look dear, Ranga’s money goes there”.
His sons were strong and rich They were fond of bitch But they did not care for their son They cared for money They hankered for honey Parents were not their concern.
Money can buy all. Morality ? “Never”. “Look, look dear, Ranga’s money goes there”.
Money can make tower, Immorality makes it scour Money can blind a fool,
Money makes you to bend That you can never mend Morality is the best tool. ‘Intelligence, morality, money’, which one is fair ? “Look, look dear, Ranga’s money goes there”.
Ranga failed to think of future, “Look, look dear, Ranga’s money goes there”. Money can buy all. Morality ? “Never”. “Look, look dear, Ranga’s money goes there”. ‘Intelligence, morality, money’, which one is fair ? “Look, look dear, Ranga’s money goes there”. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bijon B. Sarma, Co-author, JOURNEY TO THE EAST (www.trafford.com/robots/01-0155.html , www.amazon.com ).
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