The Tale of Melon City
Vikram Seth
The Tale of Melon City
(After Idries Shah)
Idries Shah (16 June 1924–23 November
1996), also Sayyid Idris al-Hashimi an
author in the Sufist tradition.
Maintained spiritual teachings should be
presented in forms and terms familiar in
the community where they are to take
root.
Used stories and humor to great effect.
Had a profound influence on several
intellectuals.
About the poem.
‘The Tale of Melon City’ runs like a folk
tale. The city is called Melon City because
its ruler is a melon. There is a curious tale
about it. Once a fair and easygoing king
ruled over a state. He got an arch built
across the thoroughfare. As he passed under
the low arch it struck his head and he lost
his crown.
He thought it a disgrace and ordered the
chief of builders to be hanged. The chief lay
the blame on the workmen. The workmen
were surprised. They said that the bricks
were made of wrong size. So the masons
were thought guilty. The masons shifted the
blame on the architect. The architect put the
blame at the king’s door as he amended his
original plan.
The king sought a wise man’s counsel. He
held the arch guilty and ordered it to be
hanged. A councillor objected to it as it had
touched the king’s head. The people became
restless. They wanted to see someone
hanging. Only the king’s head could fit the
noose. So he was hanged. It was now
announced that the next man who passed
The city gate would choose the king. An
idiot came. He suggested ‘A Melon’. So
melon was crowned the king. He was taken
to throne. He was called melon king.
Humour and irony: Construction of curved
structure/ king’s riding under low arch and
losing crown. The way accused appeal to
the king/ self defence of architect / holistic
blame game/ selection criteria of the wisest
man ..aged, toothless and intestine less / the
process is quite ridiculous. Whimsical king/
his fickle mindedness.
In the city of which I sing
There was a just and placid (easygoing)
King.
The King proclaimed an
arch should be
Constructed, that
triumphally (in a
victorious manner)
Would span (cover) the
major thoroughfare
(main road)
To
edify(enlighten/educate
) spectators there.
The workmen went and built the thing.
They did so since he was the King.
The King rode down the thoroughfare
To edify spectators there.
Under the arch he lost his crown.
The arch was built too low. A frown
(facial expression of displeasure)
Appeared upon his placid face.
The King said, This is a disgrace.
The chief of builders will be
hanged.'
The rope and gallows were arranged.
The chief of builders was led out.
He passed the King. He gave a shout,
‘O King, it was the workmen's fault'
'Oh!' said the King, and called a halt
To the proceedings. Being just
(And placider now) he said, 'I must
Have all the workmen hanged instead.'
The workmen looked surprised,
and said,
‘O King, you do not realise
The bricks were made of the
wrong size.'
'Summon the masons!' said the King.
The masons stood there quivering.
'It was the architect...', they said,
The architect was summoned.
'Well, architect,' said His Majesty.
'I do ordain that you shall be
Hanged.' Said the architect, 'O King,
You have forgotten one small thing.
You made certain amendments to
The plans when I showed them to YOU'
The King heard this. The King
saw red.
In fact he nearly lost his head;
But being a just and placid King
He said, This is a tricky thing.
I need some counsel. Bring to
me
The wisest man in this country.'
The wisest man was found and
brought,
Nay, carried, to the Royal Court.
He could not walk and could not
see,
So old (and therefore wise) was
he -
But in a quavering voice he said,
'The culprit must be punished.
Truly. the arch it was that banged
(hit)
The crown off, and it must be
hanged'.
To the scaffold the arch was led
When suddenly a Councillor said 'How can we hang so shamefully
What touched your head, Your
Majesty?'
'True,' mused the King. By now
the crowd,
Restless, was muttering aloud.
The King perceived their mood
and trembled
And said to all who were
assembled 'Let us postpone consideration
Of finer points like guilt. The
nation
Wants a hanging. Hanged must
be
Someone, and that immediately.'
The noose (rope/loop)was set up
somewhat high.
Each man was measured by and by.
But only one man was so tall
He fitted. One man. That was all.
He was the King. His Majesty
Was therefore hanged by Royal Decree.
'Thank Goodness we found someone,' said
The Ministers, 'for if instead
We had not, the unruly town
Might well have turned against the Crown
'Long live the King!' the Ministers said.
'Long live the King! The King is dead.'
They pondered the dilemma; then,
Being practical-minded men,
Sent out the heralds to proclaim
(In His [former] Majesty's name):
The next to pass the City Gate
Will choose the ruler of our state,
As is our custom. This will be
Enforced with due ceremony.'
A man passed by the City Gate.
An idiot. The guards cried, 'Wait!
Who is to be the King? Decide!'
'A melon,' the idiot replied.
This was his standard answer to
All questions. (He liked melons.) 'You
Are now our King,' the Ministers said,
Crowning a melon. Then they led
(Carried) the Melon to the throne
And reverently set it down.
This happened years and years ago.
When now you ask the people, 'So Your King appears to be a melon.
How did this happen?' they say, Well, on
Account of customary choice.
If His Majesty rejoice
In being a melon, that's OK
With us, for who are we to say
What he should be as long as he
Leaves us in Peace and Liberty?'
The principles of laissez faire
Seem to be well-established there.
Questions.
Question.1. Narrate ‘The Tale Of Melon
City’ in your own words.
Ans. ‘The Tale Of Melon City’ runs like a
folk tale. The city is called Melon city
because its ruler is melon. There is curious
tale around it. Once a fair and gentle king
ruled over a state. He got an arch built
across the thoroughfare. As he passed under
the low arch it struck his head and lost his
Continued.
crown. He thought it a disgrace and ordered
the chief of builders to be hanged. The chief
lay the blame on the workmen. The
workmen were surprised. They said that the
bricks were made of wrong size. So the
masons were thought guilty. The masons
shifted the blame on the architect who put
blame at the king’s door as he had amended
Continued.
his original plan. It is a practical situation
and the habit of the people to have blame
game.
The king sought a wise man’s counsel. He
held the arch guilty and ordered to be
hanged. A councillor objected to it as it had
touched the king’s head. The people became
restless.
Continued.
They wanted to see someone hanging. Only
the king’s head could fit the noose. So he
hanged. It was now announced that the next
man passed the city gate would choose the
king. An idiot came. He suggested ‘A
Melon’. So melon was crowned the king.
He taken to the throne. He was called melon
king.
Question2.
Who was held responsible for the disgrace?
What do know about the king?
Ans. The chief of builders was held
responsible for the disgrace and ordered to
be hanged. The chief called it the
workmen’s fault. The king ordered to have
all the workmen hanged. The workmen
looked surprised but they blamed the wrong
Continued.
size of bricks for it. This shows the king’s
fickle mindedness.
Question3.
What argument did the architect advance in
self defence? How did the king take it?
Ans. The architect reminded the king that
he had made certain amendments to the
original plans of the architect. He suggested
that it was the fault of the king himself. On
hearing it, the king became so angry that he
nearly lost his ability to act sensibly or
calmly.
Question4.
Comment upon the criteria of selection of
the wisest man and the quality of counsel he
offered.
Ans. The king got confused and he sought
the advice of the wisest man in the country.
The criteria was the wisdom comes with
grey hair. The old man they selected could
not walk and see. He spoke in a trembling
Continued.
voice. The advice he offered was absurd. A
lifeless object can not be deprived of life by
hanging it.
Question5
Why did the king succumb to public
demand?
Ans. The king noticed that the crowd of
spectators had became restless and people
were muttering aloud. He judged their
mood. He trembled to think of the
consequences if they were deprived of the
fun of watching some one being hanged.
Continued.
So, in order to save his skin, he ordered
that someone be hanged immediately.
Continued.
Question6.How was the new ruler of the
state selected?
Ans. The Ministers sent out messengers to
declare that the next men to pass the city
gate would choose the ruler of their state.
An idiot happened to pass the gate. When
asked to decide who was to be the king, he
replied, ‘A melon’.
CONTINUED.
This was his standard answer to all
questions. The ministers declared that a
melon would be their new ruler.
A PRESENTATION……
Remember: Some people are born great,
some upon greatness is thrust and some
achieve greatness with their hard work.