Committed to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW Vol. 5 Num 894 Sat. December 02, 2006       Point-Counterpoint Have a stamp for the guy Muhammad Habibur Rahman A ruler is often mystified After his death he may be mummified After some time he may be demystified After some more time he may be dehumanised After some still more time he may be demonised A ruler de jure by royal descent or by divine right, Or a ruler de facto by the tin dictator's might Or elected in an election with hundred per cent polling And with widespread and wild scale rigging And for the satisfaction of the poor electors And for assuring the foreign investors Certified by the foreign observers That the election after all deserves To have been held "as per the laws of the country". He used to call so endearingly "my country ,my country". When the country's security Was equated with the ruler's security , Alas! For the sake of security He was to be eliminated And he was assassinated. Before his assassination His portraits were done By the best painters in the country In oil, water , tempera or gouache In watercolour, aquarelle or wash He got his figure cut, carved or crafted, Chiseled ,engraved or sculpted . By the best sculptors in the country In many a mould In bronze, silver or gold. And on the notes his crown was printed And on the coins it was also well minted. If he built his statue during his own life The little man should be given a longer life To see that gargantuan statue, larger than life, Being dragged down to the earth by the people He used to call so endearingly "my people, my people". That statue may be refused to be borne by the country It was his country, the same country He used to call so endearingly "my country ,my country". Never mind, have pity for the fall guy And a postage stamp for the little guy: A place in the purgatory of philately, Or, you may like to call it, the pantheon of philately. Two point four and two point two centimeter A stamp for the fanfaronading fire-eater .