Quality

Once there was a Sultan, Known for his able body of vazirs. Any problem, the vazirs were ready with solutions. Now, there was the problem of malnutrition: The whole sultanate seemed to suffer. A vazir suggested doubling the quantity of pulav. Citizens grew potbellied And the Sultan was happy! Yet malnutrition persisted. The Sultan and the vazirs Thought so hard and so long That, like proverbial Laputans, They forgot the problem. So did the citizens and the media. No problem! Then, there arose the question Of quality of education. A vazir had a bright suggestion! Detain the learners for one more year hereafter And that would settle the problem. Yes, that settled the problem—of unemployment. But soon a citizen asked in a feeble voice: “What about quality?” One vazir, a returned fellow, quipped: “Quality died with the Gessler brothers! Don’t you know?” Everyone laughed—as if they understood! — Ram, R. V.