narrate the tale of melon city in your own words(120-150)
Answers
Explanation:
Once upon a time, there lived a king who was placid. He, once he desired to construct an arch, which would eddy the people. The kings desired was soon implemented and a beautiful arch was constructed.
When the king rode down the thoroughfare, his crown has fallen down from his head getting hit by the arch, which was constructed too low. The king considered it as a disgrace to him and wanted to hang the culprit.
He immediately ordered the soldiers to hang the chief of the builders. The chief then said that it was the mistake of the builders. Then the king shifted the punishment to the builders. The builders then cried that the size of the bricks was more hence the architect must be hanged. Thus the punishment was finally shifted to the architect. The architect reminded the king that, the king himself has made some amendments in the design that he had shown. Now it finally turned towards the king.
He thought for a while and ordered the soldiers to bring the wisest man in the country. As ordered by the king they brought an old man, who can barely see and hear. He suggested that the arch should be hanged since it was the reason for such disgrace, which was immediately put into practice. Then one of the ministers objected it saying that how can they hang an arch so shamefully. Then the king took back his decision and wanted to deal it his own way.
The said that the nation wants someone to be hanged immediately, so every man was measured by and by and only one man was tall enough to get struck in the arch and it was the king. So finally he was hanged.
The people of the country then wanted a new king. According to their tradition, they asked the first person pass the city gate. Unfortunately, the person was a mad man. When the soldiers asked him about, who the next king should be? He replied ‘melon’, as he liked them the most. So a melon was finally crowned and was put on the royal throne.
This poem by Vikram Seth is a humorous satire on people in power. The poet has humorously presented the idea that it does not matter to people who their ruler, king, or head of state is as long as he allows them to live in peace, liberty and the principles of laissez faire.
Once upon a time there was city named The Melon City. There lived a placid and just king. He proclaimed an arch to be constructed across the thoroughfare for the edification of people. The arch was built too low. The king’s crown was knocked down when he passed from below it. The king became angry and wanted to punish the chief builder by hanging them. The gallows were set up.
As the builder was brought for hanging, he fell on his knees pleading for mercy. He said it was the workmen’s fault that the arch had been built low. The king pardoned the builder and ordered the workmen to be hanged. When the workmen were to be hanged, they pleaded to the king it was not their fault. They had been supplied the wrong size bricks. So, the masons were called who passed the buck onto architect.
Thus everyone passed the blame to someone else. In this manner, architect was called to be hanged. With folded hands he reminded the king that the king himself had made amendments in the plan he had shown him.
Now the king became very confused. He said he needed some counsel on this very tricky matter as to who must be hanged. So he ordered the wisest man of his kingdom to be brought to him. In that kingdom wisest was he who was the oldest in age. So a man who was on death bed was brought. He advised the king that it was the arch that was the culprit and it must be hanged. So a huge gallows were set up for the hanging of the arch. Now, a councilor said the arch could not be hanged as it had become pure by touching the head of the king.
By this time the crowd had become impatient and restless for a hanging. Fearing their subversion the king ordered immediate hanging of anyone to pacify the crowd. So all who were present, were tried to fit in the high set noose. Only the king fitted perfectly. And according to his order he was hanged.
Now this city had a bizarre custom of electing the new king. Any one passing through the street the next day would elect the king. So when the guards, next morning asked the passer-by who must the king be of the city, he replied, “Melon”. This passer-by was an idiot whose staple answer to all the questions put to him was “Melon”.
So a melon was crowned as the king. Thenceforth the city came to be known as ‘Melon City’. This is the story the city people tell to those who ask them the reason behind the name of their city.