I wish to be a minister once

The realm of politics involves intricate calculations. This complex calculation of politics turned convoluted when the maharaja of the state of 'Sukhinagar' announced to appoint of his minister for dejection. In his declaration, the King expressed his desire to appoint such a person as the dejection minister who in a real sense has the experience of enduring pain and can contain it at the bottom of his heart. Following the announcement, several individuals claimed to be in a somber mood and made a long queue outside the palace with the desire to assume this new ministerial post. However, during the interviews, the maharaja observed that none of the candidates neither went through intense pain nor possessed any significant experience of somberness. Consequently, the appointment of a minister for the ministry of dejection became Maharaja's new-found preoccupation.

In the state of Sukhinagara, happiness can be found in abundance. Today's Sukhinagar is as prosperous as the old days legendary hearing of stables full of elephants and horses. Here lavish garages at every home boast a collection of half a dozen to a dozen expensive cars, all of the latest models. No one in this state possesses fewer than six cars, and none of them are anything less than a Mercedes Benz. Supermarkets offer only the finest Basmati rice, leaving no room for cheaper alternatives. The people of this kingdom have long been accustomed to the delightful aroma of rice pots. Renting a house is unheard of in this state, as everyone owns their own house.

The walls of these houses are adorned with exquisite marble and stone work. Each wears expensive outfits made from high-quality yarn. After just three washes, these garments are discarded and handed over to the royal guards, who then distribute those among the people of the impoverished neighboring state. As a result, the people of these neighboring states hold a special reverence for the Maharaja of Sukhinagar.

So in such a state of ultimate happiness, can it be an easy task to find individuals who have experienced suffering? The maharaja has vowed not to leave the matter unaddressed for a single moment until he finds a suitable contender for the post of dejection minister. The idea was first formulated by rajkobi (state poet) Pathik Sagar. One day, the disappointed king told the poet: 'Your poems are not attracting me anymore as nowadays those only taste like bitter medicine. If this continues, there will be no need to keep a poet with the status of a minister.’ This criticism caused Pathik Sagar to react abruptly, fearing that he may lose his position in the royal court. As soon as the maharaja finished reprimanding him, the poet immediately stood up, clutching his chest with both hands, he was drenched in sweat.

The royal poet quivered and uttered, 'Your Majesty, no poet greater than me was born ever nor anyone will be born in the future. You have bestowed such praises upon me on numerous occasions. I trust that you still hold that belief.'

The maharaja displayed a hint of irritation, 'Considering that I am the one who frequently extols your virtues, is there a particular necessity for you to boast about yourself? Explain why I no longer encounter that awe-inspiring phrase in your verses as I did before.'

The royal poet requested some time from the maharaja to delve into the depths of his thoughts and discover the reason behind his poem's loss of essence. He closed his eyes and pondered for a few moments. Then, a serene smile graced his countenance.

He rose to his feet, took a step forward, and addressed the maharaja, expressing his concern about the repetitive nature of joyful and lighthearted poetry. He emphasized the need for a balance between happiness and profound sadness to infuse poetry with renewed vitality. However, he pointed out that in the realm of Sukhinagar, there was no room for sorrow, no source from which it could arise. This posed a challenge in establishing a fulfilling life within poetry. As the king listened, he sat down with a trembling demeanor. He said,' The tale holds true as the royal poet admitted, my kingdom lacks sorrow. Yet, nothing is amiss in this realm.’ The story remained unfinished, leaving the question of how to address this deficiency unanswered. After much contemplation, a final decision was made to constitute a ministry dedicated to grief and appoint a new minister to oversee it. This minister, along with their officials, would take appropriate measures to alleviate the absence of grievances within the state. In this modern era, ministers are referred to as 'Ministers' in a clever manner. Hence, the minister responsible for dejection would be known as the 'Minister of Grief'.


Numerous individuals underwent interviews at the palace in the hope of becoming the minister of the ministry of grief. The first candidate to appear was the wealthiest businessman in the state. He possessed a diverse range of businesses within the state, including control over the sand market, Jalmahal, a shoe shop, a cloth shop, a tissue paper factory, and a building construction company. The maharaja inquired, 'You are nearly as affluent as I am in this kingdom. Quite an impressive feat. How do you intend to handle the ministry of grief?'

The kingdom's most successful merchant responded, 'Your Majesty, it is true that I lack neither money nor wealth. However, despite owning such vast riches, I find myself compelled to visit various offices each year to renew my business licenses. Meanwhile, the ministers sit idly, their gazes fixed upon the heavens. I cannot adequately express the difficulty of capturing their attention. This melancholy plagues me frequently, and as a result, I possess firsthand experience of suffering. Hence, I believe I am more qualified for this new ministry.'

The maharaja furrowed his brow and declared, 'Waiting at the government office does not hold any special significance to me. You may leave now.'

The second interviewee was none other than the country's finest actor, who had received the National Award for a remarkable five times. His presence in a movie guaranteed its success at the box office. Addressing the maharaja, he confidently proclaimed, 'O My Lord, I am an exceptional artiste. I am not the best actor in this state, but also in the ten surrounding states. Therefore, the country's beautiful heroines will naturally be drawn to me. This is not uncommon. Sharing a cup of coffee with a heroine after a shoot or enjoying a picnic in a secluded private garden should not be seen as wrongdoing." However, he continued, 'You see, my first wife, who was also an actress, started criticizing my interactions with other actresses. As soon as I entered the house, she would grab the collar of my blazer over the issue. So divorce became inevitable. I then married another heroine as my second wife, but she too followed the same path and began reproaching me violently. Divorce followed once again.

The same pattern repeated with my third, fourth, and fifth wives. They all ended up divorced. After that, I decided to forgo marriage and opted for the current 'girlfriend' arrangement. However, even that has its challenges. One girlfriend cannot tolerate another, leading to constant rebukes. Even today, I arrived in your court after enduring a barrage of harsh words from my eleventh girlfriend. My lord, judge now the depth of my sorrow. Therefore, I believe I am qualified for the responsibility of the new ministry.' In a somewhat irritated tone, maharaja responded, 'I can see that you are in a state of enjoyment. Your grief over trivial matters and your inability to handle such issues disqualify you from becoming a minister.'

The third individual is undoubtedly the most exceptional athlete in the entire state. Within the realm of sports, he reigns as the supreme figure of the state. However, he possesses a distinct aspiration to pursue a career as a minister. He expressed, 'As an athlete, I have garnered immense respect both domestically and internationally. Even the king of numerous states has not been bestowed with such an honour. Yet, I am compelled to be recognized merely as a player under a sports board. The position of the board's chief is occupied by a minister. This minister, who has never stepped foot on a playing field, continues to exert authority over esteemed sportsmen like myself, taunting us which shatters our hearts. This sorrowful reality causes my soul to ache with profound grief. It is out of this profound sadness that I yearn to become a minister.' The maharaja, with a smile, responded, 'Your depiction of sorrow has ignited an intense anger within me. I implore you to swiftly depart from the royal court.'

The fourth individual is a previous high-ranking official of the royal court. Upon his arrival at the royal court, the maharaja let out a small sigh. 'Ah, you as well. I have tripled the salaries of various levels of state officials based on your advice. Lavish cars, the establishment of exclusive residential areas resembling royal palaces, and lucrative business licenses upon retirement. You have wielded more power than the ministers. Yet, what is troubling you?' The former chief official wiped away his tears before speaking. He blew his nose a couple of times and then, slightly bowing his head, assumed a posture of respect and said, 'Your Majesty, I served as the chief officer of this Royal court. During that time, I fulfilled numerous requests from the ministers. I saved many ministers when they faced your wrath. But now, after my retirement, those ministers don't even answer my calls. I requested a new license for my daughter's boutique business, but the Commerce Minister did not approve.

On the contrary, he claimed that I had already received enough benefits during my tenure. Does this mean that once we retire, all the benefits cease while the ministers continue to enjoy them for life? My lord, this sorrow keeps me awake at night. I fall asleep in the morning and wake up after many hours. Consequently, my health has started to deteriorate. Please tell me, is my sadness justified or not?' As the former chief officer finished speaking, the King responded in a slightly reproachful tone, 'What a calamity! How can you fulfill the duties of a minister if you suffer from insomnia or declining health? You should see a doctor immediately.'

Following that, renowned journalists, university professors, attorneys, physicians, and engineers faced individual interviews. They all share a similar sense of sorrow. In their professional lives, they diligently work, utilizing their exceptional talents and wisdom to serve the nation by providing information, education, legal assistance, healthcare, and technological advancements. However, they do not receive the same privileges or respect as other government officials. In numerous minor tasks, they are compelled to incur unnecessary expenses from their hard-earned income to gain favor from administrative officers. Even when taking a day off from their professional duties, they are subjected to the scrutiny of lower-ranking administrative officers in both public and private workplaces. If there is anyone truly suffering in this state where happiness abounds, it is these professionals.

Maharaja was greatly taken aback. The anguish experienced by journalists, professors, lawyers, doctors, and engineers is indeed valid; however, it is not feasible to appoint all of them as ministers simultaneously! Consequently, he dismissed them all. As the maharaja was about to adjourn the court, he was informed that there was another individual who wished to meet him. This person happened to be a wandering baul from the state. Maharaja's eyes widened in surprise, but he instructed for the baul to be brought forward. Upon seeing the baul’s attire, maharaja became filled with intense anger.

In an angry voice, he said, 'It seems very strange to me that there are still these ragged-clothed vagabonds in this kingdom. Its face is all sad, the face of a poor man. It is unimaginable in my state. Minister of this state, have the officials constantly given me wrong information about the state of affairs..?' Everyone in the royal court was silent at the words of the maharaja. After a few seconds, it was the Bard who broke the silence. His eyes and face are illuminated by a different light. 'King avoid tension. Tension is not good for the body at all. I can catch a song if you allow it. Music will surely calm my mind.' Maharaja gave him permission with a gesture. Baul began to sing, 'Preceptor lives in the dark, Preceptor lives in the dark. Whoever he found near his hand, his words remained alive, what happened in the world, he did not care... Preceptor lives in the dark....' maharaja stopped him. 'Baul, your music is causing pain in my head. Now tell me, why do you consider yourself worthy to be a minister.'

Baul now responds in a melodious tone, "Oh My lord, I sing with utmost joy from my heart. Take a stroll along the road. If hunger strikes, you can beg for food at any house or food shop that catches your eye. However, no one ever does. In the state of Sukhinagar, if a hungry person asks for food, no one denies them. That is why this state appears to be a truly blissful city.' With a gentle exhale, Baul continues, 'Oh My Lord, I have no sorrow or desires, but I possess a trick. I am aware that my wish will not be fulfilled in this lifetime or the next. I am unsure why this longing arises within me. Nevertheless, I hold onto the hope that one day I will become a minister.'

Maharaja bursts into laughter. 'O Baul, it is true that the sadness of not being able to become your minister in each birth is valid. I have found suitable candidates. You shall be my Minister of Sorrows, but there is one condition.' The faces of everyone present in the royal court contort. Baul remains silent. Maharaja himself explains the conditions, saying, 'Baul, there is only one condition. As long as you serve as my minister, you cannot sing any song of your choosing. The music shall be played according to my desires. If I laugh, you shall sing a joyful tune, and if I cry, you shall sing a mournful melody. Do you agree?'

Baul then bows respectfully and replies, 'Oh Your Majesty, you are indeed wise, and that is why you understand that an independent Bard like myself will never agree to become a minister under the conditions of subjugation. With utmost respect for your knowledge and wisdom, I shall take my leave from the royal court.'

Rased Mehedi: Fiction writer and journalist