Plaidoirie For a 'Prince' of Jaffna - Part One

“We learn from history that we learn nothing from history.” George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) Nobel Prize Part One Blue blood gushes when heroes die From gory wounds on battlefields Not in castle intrigues when for a lie Crowns use commoners as shields. A royal house does not construct itself After centuries have broken tradition Or on formal rules on how to name itself Nor on who should follow in succession. A true prince re-possesses the land first Takes for his witnesses native-born citizens Bids them follow his will out of dire thirst Not as the self-crowned leader of denizens. To be born a Kshastriya is not a privilege, The birthright is even an act of sacrilege If he who dons the crown scorns the people; A spurned poem in the culled florilege. In the blown sliver of land at Great Bharat’s feet No one knows what Tamil line came to greet Found refuge and took throne to announce a reign Nor helas to make much of a glorious feat. Kings are not born to hoist the castial banner, Rather had they earlier scaled the social ladder Through heroic deeds by protecting the masses; Chieftains peer-elected to top the social order. (...continued in Part Two)