Shortlisted
The Lost Legend
Shanghai Singapore International School, Aradhana Upadhyay, 12
C
ome my children, gather around the warm fire. Tonight, I shall tell you my story,” I
beckoned to them.
Soon we were comfortably settled in my large Gher
1
. I closed my eyes, gathering my
thoughts and decided where to start.
“I, Bataar, was born in 1214 to the youngest son of the great Genghis Khan. I was destined to
rule, but unfortunately, that is not the case. It is amazing how a roll of the dice can change ones’
future. My story starts in the year 1259. Children, as you should know, this is the year my beloved
brother and our esteemed ruler, Mongke Khan, was killed in battle.”
I swallowed back the lump of sorrow that began to rise at the thought of my brother,
Mongke Aqa
2
.
When we heard the news, Kublai and I were busy laying plans to besiege Sichuan. I, as the
eldest then, knew that the reigns of the Mongolian Empire were in my hands. As much planning
had gone into this move, I felt it proper to continue the plan of defeating the Song Dynasty, as
envisioned by Mongke Aqa. You can imagine my surprise when my loyal general, Sükh, told me
about Ariq Böke’s plans of naming himself Khan. Kublai and I saw the need to quickly address
this matter.
One week before the Kuiltai
3
, Kublai expressed his desire of becoming Khan and wished
to fight me for the throne. When our mother came to know about our plans, she cried that she
couldn’t bear to lose another son and made us promise to settle the matter our traditional way, by
playing the game of dice.
On the day that the game was played, I woke up early, changed into the new clothes that my
wife put out for me and prayed to my ancestors for good luck. The game is based on ones’ luck,
if you win the game; it means that the ancestors have chosen you. I felt very sure that I would
win, but luck was not on my side. When I knew I had lost, I pulled my sword and set it in front of
Kublai, and knelt down.
I went back to my room to tell my wife that I had lost. I found her gagged and surrounded by
guards. Instinctively, I reached for my sword, but then I remembered, I had left it at Kublai’s feet.
Seven guards pounced on me. I was bound, gagged and shoved into a tiny room with my wife
and son. I had hopes of Sükh coming to save me. That evening a soldier came and said with a
cruel laugh, “Here comes Sükh to save you!” and flung the head of Sükh at me. Soon after I was
separated from my wife. That night I heard my wife’s high pitched screams and my son’s loud
wails, there was nothing I could do, and I knew that they would be joining my ancestors.
The next day, Kublai came into my cell clutching a dagger. As he was shutting the door, my
mother barged in and flung herself between us. She made Kublai swear on her life that I would
not be killed. So, I was banished. I was dressed like a beggar so that no one would recognize me.
Before my departure, my mother gave me a hug and whispered that should I be in trouble, to look
into the lining of my sleeve.
It was a long walk to the desert. Those who were escorting me were on horseback whereas I
had to walk. When we reached the border of the Gobi Desert, from where I was to be banished,
Kublai’s general told a soldier to spread the word that anyone caught helping me would be
“
