By Victor Karunairajan
On the road to Maradankadawela
Via the town of Horowopotana
We encountered the mighty Rajah
The lord beheld in dread and awe.
Alone he was, in rage and anger,
His herd had gone to Habarana
All the way from Polonaruwa.
Leaving him in Kebettigollewa.
Where will Rajah seek refuge?
Another herd in Mihintale!
Or further west in Wilpattu
Or towards east in Minneriya!
Our jungle presence Rajah noted
In gestures certain he mooted
As tolerance bare he hooted
And readied to have us booted.
Glued in terror, struck in daze,
Lost in mind and caught in haze
And Jumbo on a hasty pace
Just a little, ahead in space.
Shall we run? Shall we race?
Shall we seek God’s good grace?
But suddenly as he ran amok
Caught his steps in tightened lock
And stopped himself behind a rock
Gone for us was a nasty shock
As we cycled down the slope
With aims to save our lives so dear
We heard Rajah’s trumpet clear
This land is mine; yours as well
On the road to Maradankadawela
Via the town of Horowopotana
We encountered the mighty Rajah
The lord beheld in dread and awe.
Alone he was, in rage and anger,
His herd had gone to Habarana
All the way from Polonaruwa.
Leaving him in Kebettigollewa.
Where will Rajah seek refuge?
Another herd in Mihintale!
Or further west in Wilpattu
Or towards east in Minneriya!
Our jungle presence Rajah noted
In gestures certain he mooted
As tolerance bare he hooted
And readied to have us booted.
Glued in terror, struck in daze,
Lost in mind and caught in haze
And Jumbo on a hasty pace
Just a little, ahead in space.
Shall we run? Shall we race?
Shall we seek God’s good grace?
But suddenly as he ran amok
Caught his steps in tightened lock
And stopped himself behind a rock
Gone for us was a nasty shock
As we cycled down the slope
With aims to save our lives so dear
We heard Rajah’s trumpet clear
This land is mine; yours as well
(Based on a true incident August 1954 on the jungle road between Vavuniya and Horowpotana –four of us students from Jaffna College on a cycle tour through seven of Sri Lanka’s nine provinces)
Victor Karunairajan, a journalist with extensive East-West experience has had an exciting career having worked with Anglican, CSI and Catholic institutions, a Buddhist organization and a socialist government in as many as seven countries. He has been a parents' leader of Jaffna College which he served as member of its Board of Directors and for four years, a member of the Jaffna Diocesan Council. Recently he wrote and published a book on the Dances of India which was very popularly received. 
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