CHAPTER 16 :THE REFORMED KING

King Ravichandran yet again received Aryaman with great hospitality. After they had exchanged pleasantries and were seated in his chambers, the King disclosed his mind, “I have given a hard thought to all that you said yesterday. My self-introspection revealed that I have indeed been callous towards my subjects. I have not done due justice to the great responsibility bestowed on me. I have thus decided to make amends. From today, I will strive for the welfare of my people and kingdom. Regarding Amlanagar, I cannot do much until I resolve the existing dispute with Chandrashekar. I will hold a meeting with him after I have put things in proper perspective in my kingdom. If required I may need your help which you have already offered. Till that time, you can continue to help the people in the way you are doing.”

Aryaman thanked the King for his positive response. He had never expected Ravichandran to agree to his request so quickly. He felt happy for the people. He informed the King about the noble initiative of Vedanand and his full support for the cause. “I am sure King Chandrashekar would not have any objection to this, Maharaj. After all, this is an undertaking by a common man which is being supported by someone who does not belong to your kingdom. You can always defend yourself in this manner if King Chandrashekar questions you about the change happening in Amlanagar.”  

The King agreed. Before Aryaman took his leave, Ravichandran asked him, “That temple incident where a mysterious voice admonished the devotees against caste and gender discrimination! Were you behind it?”

Aryaman smiled and replied, “Let this be a secret between you and me!”

Ravichandran beamed at this response.

Thereafter, they joined their palms as a parting greeting and Aryaman took his leave.  Ravichandran stayed back in his chamber where he chalked his future course of action.

The months ahead witnessed the metamorphosis that the King had promised Aryaman. He threw open the palace gates to his people which was hitherto permanently closed for them. The biggest problem plaguing the kingdom was rampant corruption by the King’s ministers. With no one to monitor their functioning, they swindled funds meant for the welfare of the people for meeting their own stakes. Those who were involved in corruption charges were dropped from the administration and suitable proceedings were initiated to prove their culpability. The King appointed honest and hard-working ministers and assigned them duties to reach out to the people and address their grievances.

Ravichandran implemented steps to curtail the unabashed influence the zamindaars wielded upon their labourers. In consultation with his trusted ministers, he decided to have some fixed working hours for the poor labourers.   He promulgated land rights to the workers they were working on so that they too could have some share out of any revenue gained by the zamindaar from that land even if it is sold to another party. The zamindaars were issued a stern warning of expropriation of their lands if they maltreated their workers.

Another problem that was prevalent in Pallava was the lack of shelter for several elderly couples whose grown-up sons had shown them the door for they no longer required the support of their parents! The King opened dharmasalas for them and even formed a cell of experts who counselled youngsters to take care of their parents in their old age.