Emperor Ashoka II—Not Quite

Badri Raina Delhi

Yes, that was a slaughter worth
remembering,
the one at Kalinga.
Less memorable, though,
his remorseful to-do
the days after.
Taking the killings to heart,
he so betrayed the stately art
of settling scores.
His unmanly remorse
so turned the course of his own
and the nation's life
into leveling thoughtful ways,
causing strife to the hierarchy
of Sanatan days,
until, centuries of spite later,
we ended the reign
of that Buddhist Hindu baiter,
banishing his stock and seed
from our transcendant greed.

Do not thus think
that this sadhbhavna I enact
follows that precedent act.
Godhra and thereafter were not Kalinga;
they were a necessary thing
to making a fated Hindutva imprimature
on a godless Constitution
that all true children of the faith
must abhor.
Thus well you may ask why
this sadhbhavna I employ.

First, it is all at state expense,
so I am no dunce.
And no Anna may question this expense.
Second, it is to say to the bearded
ones, "I now forgive the calumny
you have so heaped on me
for ten years or more;
come now on board inorder that
fresh slaughter is spared,
and I enter a new door.
As to remorse,
you can cry as hoarse as you like.
My remorse is that my small deed
may prove unequal to ideological need.
Not Ashoka but Caligula and Nero,
however non-indigenous both,
remain my hero."