Commentary/Mani Shankar Aiyar
Make me President, Make me King!
Me, Seshan (thump! thump!)
All the others (dump! dump!)
I am T N Seshan, if you please
I am T N Seshan, if you don't please
My country, for thee I weep,
For thee, my country,
I do not sleep.
For thee, my country,
'Tis I who suffer,
Duffers,
And fools,
Who know no rules.
But do not fret,
I'll save thee, yet.
I know how,
I'll do it now.
Seshan for President,
I demand!
Seshan for President,
I command!
Cries my nation,
"Where is Seshan?"
Seshan is here,
Yes, here I be.
The devil made India,
But God made me!
Vote for Seshan,
Here I am,
Vote for Seshan,
Sir or ma'am!
Why sacrifice
My peace of mind,
Why take my nose back
To the grind?
I'll tell thee all,
Just gather around.
I'll tell thee all,
My ear to the ground,
Listen:
Guns cocked ready
At my rear,
Uniforms
That inspire fear,
The clump of jackboots
When I draw near,
Are symbols of all
That I hold dear.
But there be another
With even more:
Black Mercedes
Sleek, that hum,
Horses and carriages,
Kettle and drum,
Braid and lances
Which draw
More glance
Than when
It chances
That I whizz by.
I have had my fill
Of humble pie:
Marutis
Of domestic make,
Ambassadors
That rattle and shake
Gypsies
That do break my bones.
Indistinguishable,
Ugly clones,
That do not see
Just who I'll be,
But think I'll stay
At home and play.
The world, it longs
I right its wrongs.
But how can I
In an Indian car?
I have far to go, sir,
Very far.
So give me a Rolls
And a Studebaker,
Give me a vaahan
I can show my Maker.
I ask nothing
Of my nation
But that they make
Me, T N Seshan,
King of the Road, sir,
King of the Road.
My own syces,
My own grooms,
My own stables,
My own rooms.
My outriders
My ADCs,
My bodyguard,
My own courtyard.
My own pilots,
My own lane,
My air force 'plane,
In sun or rain.
Moghul gardens
Spreading wide
Place enough for
Even me to hide.
Fountains soaring
In the air.
Furniture
That's old and rare.
Servants darting
Here and there,
Contradict me
No one dare.
For thy sake I've done
A thousand tasks.
For thy sake I've worn
A thousand masks.
Now do this for me.
This one small thing:
Make me President,
Make me King!
In the early dawn
I wake,
And feel the stubble
On my chin.
To the mirror
Then I make
My way to see me,
Then I grin.
For with wonder
Do I grow
As I gaze upon
This face you know:
How great is God
How glorious He
That for your Lord
He's chosen Me!
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