Table of Contents
Part 1
Zulfikar Ghose says that at the time of independence, the people of Indian sub-continent considered their victory as grand, but the greedy and selfish leaders looked at this newly independent country as a dog sees the residual.
Thus the victory achieved by India burnt in the flames as the violence between Hindus and Muslims was transformed into a bloody fight that cost hundreds of deaths.
Part 2
In the 2nd part of the poem, Ghose talks about the murder of Gandhi. According to the poet, Gandhi who is the symbol of innocence was offering his prayers under Ashoka (that symbolises non-violence) and was preaching communal harmony among three colours that indicate three religions.
But his act of fraternity was not praised by a person who came with a gun to murder Gandhi. It indicated that the struggle of the politicians to maintain peace and brotherhood became a victim of communal hatred.
Gandhi being innocent and humble disapproved such radical thinking of people. He tried his best to prevent all kinds of violence by fasting; still, the flames of violence did not cool and cost his death. But for the poet, he did not die; instead, he went on an eternal fast for the sake of peace.
Part 3
In the 3rd part of the poem, Ghose explains the loss of hope felt by the youth of the country with the death of Gandhi. The poet cites the example of a boy in Bombay to explain the loss.
According to Ghose, a boy in the street of Bombay feels that he has to live with the vices left by the English. He felt that he has again become a slave of the new rulers.
Though the independence was meant for all yet he did not welcome it like monsoon clouds as the power again went into the hands of a few rulers. He was irritated to see this as a cow irritates when a fly sits on its nose and revolted against it but in vain.
Though Bombay did not witness the violence as that of Lahore and Punjab yet its waves were felt in this city. The hopes of the city were lost.
The heart of the boy which was once filled with enthusiasm, optimism and hope now became as dead as a stone and was played with the men who took over the rule.
Ghose says that the country, independence of which was marked by the blood of, not of poultry but of humans, its rule went in the hands of greedy people who will now remain there for eternity.
Thus the hope of the boy as well as his will for an independent state was lost with the death of Gandhi.
