A29 The Enquiry Commission Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

The Dean’s heart, once stone,
Turned itself to a soft tone,
What was its hidden reason?
Perhaps, it was known to one.

The Lady might be the one,
To make the girl’s life harden,
With her best of intention,
To her only, that was known.

At the Bishop’s headquarter,
The strange Lady’s matter,
Affecting the church particularly,
Was taken up very seriously.

The Dean was called in
Who, in fact, had spoken
In favour of Bernadette,
But the Bishop opposed it.

The Dean asked for a chance,
To prove the girl’s innocence,
And about her noble Lady
Before the august body.

“It’s a mass movement,
Having people’s involvement,
That needs parish’s fair attention,
Not its outright rejection.”

“She has a simple heart,
With no intention to cheat,
And has no such ambition
For monetary consideration.”

“She’s a normal girl at home,
And has no mental problem.
Please give her a chance
To explain the truth once.”

Like this, when he spoke
The Bishop turned back
And said, “We can’t take
Such reports as authentic.”

“Either the girl is mad.
Or she’s being tutored.
For this, she needs a doctor
Or a prison, it’s better.”

“Now, the Lady will have
A last chance to prove,
And should this also fail
Your girl will land in jail.”

“I’ll keep the order ready
For a commission of enquiry
By the leading scientists,
The doctors and the priests.”