Tughlug

You were exceptional 
among the ancient Indian emperors
with vast learning,
yet your silhouette stands
under the signboard, 	
engraved with ‘Intelligent Fool’, 
in the recess of history. 

It was tenable 
to transfer the capital
to the thorax of your empire. 
But why’d you drag 
the people of Delhi to Devagiri?

Your innovations turned 
curses and corpses
in improper implementation.  

As a ruler’s thoughts
fall into the maelstrom in brain, 
his subjects
sink into the fathomless suffering.

Nous deprivation determines
the decline of each reform.  

It’s fate
you’re reborn on the earth 
again and again.




Muhammad Bin Tughlug(1324-1351), was an ancient ruler of Delhi. 
Though he was a learned man, his reforms, including transfer of 
capital from Delhi to Devagiri, failed due to improper implementation.

First published in Hawaii Review (University of Hawaii)

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