Friends Not Masters Poem by Mehta Hasmukh Amathaal

Friends not masters

I remember precisely
It was so early morning
I was getting ready for Airforce test
I had dreamed to join and dreamed to materialize at the earliest

Suddenly the sad tune started playing on All India Radio
"The Prime Minister Shastriji "is dead in Tashkent
Two Prime Ministers were holding talks for ceasefire
And suddenly the news of his demise was aired

The Russians had mediated for cessation of hostilities
Since Russian was in vicinity and neighbourhood country
Both the countries readily accepted offer
Suddenly he had developed chest pain and expired

I was short of good luck
The news struck my mind
Will this test be cancelled?
But after paying homage, it was scheduled

I read field Marshall Ayub khan's biography
He had all praise for his country
He vividly painted on friends
And wrote"Friends are not masters"

He had ascended on and seized power
The president was exiled and now he turned as dictator
All powers were exercised on his name
He assumed great fame in 1965 war

The compromise formula was cruel test
He could not bear the reversal of trust
This, as medical bulletin put, took his life
As he feared, the country might have shown him sharp edge of knife