Paradox

 

To avenge his best friend
he rebelled against the jealous Sultan
Yet, he was killed by the same friend
seeking to regain the Sultan’s trust
Who is the villain here?
The loyal Hang Jebat?
The ambitious Hang Tuah?
Or, the manipulative Sultan?

She was wedded off at the tender age of fourteen
died 19 years later after bearing 14 children for the Emperor
In his harem, he had 2,000 women at his beck and call
Yet, he commissioned an ivory white mausoleum in her memory
Slaves, 22,000 of them toiled for 22 years
many losing their lives in the process
The Taj Mahal
Symbol of love?
Symbol of lust?
Or, symbol of power?

One wanted a separate country, no compromises
The other agreed to split the nation to appease the demands
A million died in the partition
The leader of the new nation passed on ravaged by tuberculosis
So did the loin clothed man, at the hands of an activist
Four wars have been fought since
Who is the martyr here?
The demanding Muhammad Ali Jinnah?
The charismatic Mahatma Gandhi?
Or the confused Nathuram Godse?

Some saw him as a freedom fighter
Others branded him as a terrorist
He led by example against imperialism and domination
Freedom for his people and religion
Some concluded his persecution was justified
Many more called it oppression
Who is the terrorist here?
Nelson Mandela?
Osama bin Laden?
Velupillai Prabhakaran?
Che Guevara?

Paradoxes?
Or mere idiosyncrasies of man?

- S.T. Arasu