The Tale of Melon City

Given: The poem 'The Tale of Melon City' by Vikram Seth narrates a comic tale of a king, his absurd decisions, and how a melon ends up ruling the kingdom.

Narration in own words:

Once upon a time there was a king who was considered 'just and placid.' He ordered that a triumphal arch be built across the public road so that it would elevate the minds of the people as they passed under it. However, when the arch was completed and the king rode under it, the arch was built so low that it knocked off his crown.

The king was furious and ordered that the chief of builders be hanged for this incompetence. The chief builder, however, blamed the workers. The workers, in turn, blamed the bricklayers. The bricklayers blamed the architect. The architect reminded the king that the king himself had made certain changes to the original plan. So the king was now in a dilemma — he could not hang himself.

A wise man (a sage) was summoned to resolve the matter. The sage, being very old and hard of hearing, could only say that the arch itself was guilty and should be hanged. The arch was accordingly sentenced to be hanged. However, a councillor pointed out that it would be an insult to hang an arch that had touched the royal head.

By this time, the crowd had grown restless and demanded that someone be hanged immediately. The king, in a panic, decided that the person whose neck fit the noose should be hanged. He himself was measured first and, unfortunately, his neck fit the noose perfectly. The king was thus hanged.

Now the kingdom needed a new king. According to the custom of that land, the next person to pass through the city gates would choose the new king. The next person to arrive happened to be an idiot who had only one thought in his mind — melons. When asked who should be the new king, he said 'A melon.' So a melon was crowned and placed on the throne as the new king.

The people of the kingdom were perfectly happy with this arrangement. They reasoned that as long as the king left them in peace and liberty, it did not matter whether the king was a man or a melon. The poem ends with the observation that the principles of *laissez faire* (non-interference) were well-established in that land.

Given: The king in the poem is described as 'just and placid.'

Concept: The terms 'just' and 'placid' suggest a ruler who is fair and calm. However, the poem uses these words ironically.

Answer:

On the surface, a state where the king is 'just and placid' would appear to be an ideal state — one where justice prevails and the ruler is calm and composed. Such a king would seem to be a benevolent ruler who takes decisions fairly and without anger.

However, in the poem, the irony is that the king's so-called 'justice' is actually foolishness and indecisiveness. His 'placid' nature makes him easily swayed by whoever speaks to him last. He keeps changing his decisions — first ordering the builder to be hanged, then the workers, then the bricklayers, then the architect — and finally ends up being hanged himself.

Thus, the impression one forms is that a state where the king is merely 'just and placid' without wisdom and firm judgment can be chaotic and dangerous. True justice requires not only calmness but also intelligence, consistency, and the courage to take well-reasoned decisions. A ruler who is easily manipulated and lacks sound judgment can bring ruin to himself and confusion to the state, even while appearing to be fair.

Given: The poem ends with the observation that the people are happy as long as they are left in peace and liberty.

Answer:

Peace and liberty are the two most fundamental requirements of a well-functioning state. In my opinion, the following measures can help maintain them:

1. Rule of Law: Every citizen, including the ruler, must be subject to the law. No one should be above the law. This ensures justice and prevents arbitrary decisions.

2. Wise and Accountable Leadership: Leaders must be wise, responsible, and accountable to the people. They should make decisions based on reason and the welfare of the citizens, not on whims or pressure.

3. Freedom of Expression: Citizens must be free to express their opinions without fear. Suppression of voices leads to unrest and rebellion.

4. Equal Rights: All citizens must be treated equally regardless of their caste, religion, gender, or social status. Discrimination breeds resentment and conflict.

5. Non-interference in Personal Life: As the poem itself suggests through the principle of *laissez faire*, the state should not unnecessarily interfere in the personal lives of citizens. People should be free to live as they choose, as long as they do not harm others.

6. Economic Security: When people's basic needs are met, they are less likely to resort to violence or unrest.

In conclusion, peace and liberty can be maintained through a combination of just governance, individual freedom, equal rights, and mutual respect between the ruler and the ruled.

Given: The poem 'The Tale of Melon City' is a comic narrative poem full of humour and irony.

Instances of Humour and Irony:

1. The 'Just and Placid' King: The very first irony is that the king is described as 'just and placid,' yet his decisions are utterly foolish and inconsistent. He keeps changing his mind about who should be hanged, which is both humorous and ironic.

2. The King Hangs Himself: The most striking irony is that the king, who ordered others to be hanged, ends up being hanged himself because his own neck fits the noose. The 'just' king becomes the victim of his own justice — this is darkly humorous and deeply ironic.

3. The Arch is Sentenced: When the sage declares that the arch should be hanged for being the guilty party, it is absurdly humorous. The idea of hanging an inanimate object like an arch is ridiculous and highlights the mindless nature of the king's court.

4. The Councillor's Objection: The councillor objects to hanging the arch on the grounds that it had touched the royal head and therefore it would be an insult to hang it. This is ironic because the arch had actually caused the king's embarrassment, yet it is now being protected out of misplaced respect for royalty.

5. A Melon Becomes King: The most humorous and ironic climax is that an idiot's random answer — 'A melon' — results in a melon being crowned king. The entire elaborate process of choosing a king ends in complete absurdity.

6. The People's Contentment: The final irony is that the people are perfectly happy with a melon as their king. They reason that as long as they are left in peace and liberty, it does not matter who or what rules them. This is a satirical comment on passive citizenry and the irrelevance of leadership when governance is minimal.

Given: The poem uses verse narrative — a story told in the form of a poem — which is an ancient and charming literary tradition.

Answer:

Narrating a story in verse form is one of the oldest literary traditions in the world. This style is called a narrative poem or, in longer forms, an epic or ballad. The verse form adds rhythm, musicality, and wit to a story, making it more memorable and enjoyable.

Similar examples in English and other languages:

1. In English: *The Rime of the Ancient Mariner* by S.T. Coleridge is a famous narrative poem that tells the story of a sailor's supernatural voyage. Similarly, *The Ballad of the Landlord* by Langston Hughes narrates a social story in verse.

2. In Hindi: The *Ramcharitmanas* by Tulsidas narrates the entire story of Lord Rama in verse (dohas and chaupais). Similarly, *Prithviraj Raso* by Chand Bardai is a narrative poem about the heroic deeds of King Prithviraj Chauhan.

3. In Sanskrit: The *Ramayana* by Valmiki and the *Mahabharata* by Ved Vyasa are the greatest examples of stories told entirely in verse form.

4. In Urdu/Persian tradition: *Laila Majnu* and *Heer Ranjha* have been narrated in verse by poets like Waris Shah.

Note to students: You are encouraged to find examples from your own regional language (such as Tamil, Bengali, Marathi, Telugu, etc.) and share them in class. Every Indian language has a rich tradition of narrative poetry, and sharing these will enrich the class discussion.