Martyr - Martin Luther King
Prof. Hazara Singh
Martin Luther King was not ruler of any land
But of hearts, thrilled by his awakening dream
Inspired by norms, basis of beneficial reforms
Desired to be pursued to elevate human beings
‘When many not exploited for a privileged few
When colour lowers not an individual’s worth
When talents not harnessed for a vicious loot
Depriving fellow beings of their rightful due’
King was pained that the laws were ineffective
Racial prejudice in latent form still persisted
Human rights stressed abroad, but within detested
In words and deeds the system contravened itself.
The moderates preaching to just watch and wait
Did not help as it merely lulled the depressed
A discourse on Gandhi revealed the missing link
Between tenets and practice of Christian faith.
The wicked hold was not easy to be weakened
Protesting moves could be likewise resented
Non-violent approach free of hate or revenge
Would give moral force to the mute oppressed
Almost a century after the historic Civil War
America started simmering with racial unrest
Organising itself as a deterrent Black Power
For exposing lapses of pioneers of New Order.
King could not endorse the counter arrogance
As it might activate prevailing indifference.
Knowing well the fate of saviours of humanity
Did not waver in adopting the rightful remedy
The Nobel Peace Prize awarded to him therefore
Approving passive norms to awaken the deprived
Firmly accepted relevance of his mass movements
Higher than war heroes rode this peace champion.
The fateful day came with a lurking premonition
Massive rally for civil liberties was mobilised
For reminding the nation of lofty pledges taken
An assassin suddenly did away with the crusader.
The swelling assemblage paid befitting tribute
By remaining peaceful, free of hate and rancour
Consonant with epitaph, epilogue of that dream
Reading ‘Thank God Almighty, I’M Free At Last’.
The martyr saved America from an ominous split
Not geographical, which Civil War firmly nipped
But a cancerous chasm, fostered by racial venom
Posing dark threat to its plural social fabric.
Eighteen years after that momentous martyrdom
President Reagan offered what nation owed him
Third Monday of January, King’s month of birth
Declared Federal holiday; rare national honour.
Martin Luther King
(January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968), Black American crusader for civil
liberties.