Bridging the gap!

Fortunate are those who know to read, and even more are those who can, in more than one language.

My mother tongue is Tamil, but my mother’s language is English, even though she loves Tamil. So, I’m introduced to literature of English and Tamil at a very early stage.

As much as I love reading in both languages,I love to write in both as well. Since, most of my communication is required to be in English, writing in English has become more common than my mother tongue.

My blog wasn’t started on an impulse. I first decided on the tag line, “aZhagiya salanangal“, then on the name “Ripples”. Also the very first post I conceived for my blog was in Tamil, which can be read here and I eventually translated it into English, here.

The reason I shifted to English is for two reasons. First, my Tamil audience is so limited, that there is no point writing solely in English is understandable to them. Secondly, my respect for the language is the highest and I don’t use it in vain. So I started writing in Tamil, only after a long thought process and for the content very close to my heart.

I mean no disrespect for English, as that’s the first language I prefer to communicate with a stranger and that’s the language that has given my words a global audience!

To find a balance between my passion for writing in my mother tongue and for reaching global audience, I stepped into translation. And that opened a whole new horizon for me.

I started translating only on my blog and for my own work, but later extended it to translate movie lyrics, just so, those who weren’t able to understand Tamil could understand the beauty of the works in Tamil. That led me to working and becoming co owner of the site, lyricaldelights.com

This venture has led me to take my passion to next level, when I started translating the works is my favorite poet in Tamil, Bharathiyaar. The project is still a work in progress, but what’s done so far can be found here.

I’m not sure whether I would be this content if I was able to write in just one language. But being the bridge between the two has made me even more purposeful and content.

Today is World Literacy Day! And I dedicate this post to everyone who’s taking a step forward to make the world a little more wider with knowledge!

I’m taking my blog to the next level with Blogchatter’s #MyFriendAlexa

Ahoy! Five years on board!

My blog did cross a pompous milestone of Five Years! And this is the first year, it had gone by without me blowing the trumpet for it..

I recently revamped the looks of my site. And thought of cleaning up my past posts. Since I am yet to grow strong within to call crap as crap, my old silly posts still stay, for now.. But I had better success with my drafts and this one needed to be posted on my blog..

I wrote this for my 100th post.. But I am much closer to my 500th right now.. So I have changed over those 100s of posts and might also claim to have grown a teensy bit.. Yet in the depth of my hearts, I still have a high pride of my blog and here below is one such pompous trumpet blowing post.. Reserve your judgements, till you read it till the very end..

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Written on Feb 8, 2016

Now go grab a cup of coffee or chai and some refreshments so you won’t sleep in between this long post of ramble.. 😉

This is my 100th post!

It had taken a very long journey of two years to cross the two-thirds, while just one month was enough to complete the last one-third.

I have successfully managed to post a day on every day so far, in spite of the times I was inclined to not write up the next. I wanted to post daily, not out of some challenge or someone dared me to! I took this up voluntarily for a personal reason and this seems to work beautifully.

Now is the time to take a look back, so I would know what I have come across, so I could reassure myself that, I could go further and reach where I want to reach!

I had updated my Facebook page’s ‘About me’ as follows. Do take note that it was written more than a year back.

Raasaali – Tamil Lyrics with translation

A repost of my post in here! (Tamil lyrics available in the link.) Hearty thanks to my friends over the site lyricaldelights.com for transforming the process of translation from a tedious task to sheer fun with all the timely help! 😀

I’m head over heels in love with this song.. So head over and relish the music and the poetry!

Bitten by the #Rasaali magic yet? Pure magic both in terms of lyrics and music.  #ARRahman #Thamarai #GauthamVasudevaMenon

Movie: Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada
Lyricist: Thamarai
Singers: Sathya Prakash, Shashaa Tirupati
Music director: A R Rahman
Song sequence: (1)-(2)-(3)-(4)-(5)-(6)-(7)-(6)-(7)-(3)-(4)-(8)-(9)-(8)-(9)-(3)-(4)

Yo flying falcon, flying falcon, stop!

Are you fast, or am I faster? tell!

The clock too would lie, I realised!

As the east is turning to west..

(As an entire day passes by)

 

I feel like becoming a bird today..

The wings and my hands are the same..

Falcon.. Is this a bet/challenge/race?

Would you be the first?

Or would I be the first?

Let’s see..

 

Who is gonna first reveal the affection?

Who is gonna first release the arrow?

(From the Cupid’s bow)

 

As the silence faded without talking,

(As there is incessant talking between us)

As the lotus dances in the tank’s water,

Beautiful dreams dance before my eyes!

You, over my shoulders,

Is the warmth that expels cold!

 

In the day time, all eight directions nudge me,

In the night time, only the descending mist gives company,

In my heart, as a silky voice budges,

Would I die? (With the overwhelming feelings)

 

In front of me, is the joy of air rushing on my face,

Behind me, over my back is a little green parakeet,

This is the journey in my life,

Will I let it get over?

 

The ceaseless drench that flustered even the sun and rain,

The silly arrogance of the twinkling stars that followed,

The lingering fragrance in the air unique to every city,

Will not be forgotten by me..

 

Even before this, “Similar to this, I had a new experience”

To say so, there is not a memory in my past,

As well, I don’t see a chance to say in the future too..

(For this experience is unique and)

Will not be forgotten by me..

Spoiler alert : The beauty of poetry is till the realisation of the meaning. But this is one song, where it’s beauty is multiplied after knowing the meaning..

A girl enjoying the bike ride, feeling like a free bird..
The simple yet unmatchable experience of a bike ride..
Exploring different cities in bike..
Experiencing a unique feel..
All these interlaced with classical Carnatic music and sprinkled with love..

The cherry on the cake is the beautiful intricate words by Thamarai, that spices up the whole song to a new level..

The potpourri of music by ARR is just perfect and as ever, it adds emotion to the Tamil words and let’s you experience the fresh air on the face as well as the complexity of a seemingly simple experience!

I know it’s easy to get mesmerized by the song.. Just remember to drop in your views in the comments.. 😉

Wind – Part 15

15

 Oh life, who knows the goodness of you? 
You are the visible God.
All rules are formed because of you.
All rules are destroyed because of you.
Oh life,
You are the wind, you are the fire, you are the water, you are the sky.
In the things that appear, you are the guideline of appearance.
In the things that change, your work is to change them.
The insect that flies, the tiger that kills,
The worm that crawls, the countless lives in this world,
The infinite living things in the countless worlds -
All these are the explanation of you.
We consider the lives filled and spread in the land, water, air.
In the area of a square-feet in the air, lives lakhs of organisms, invisible to the naked eye.
One big organism; within its body, many small organisms; within them, many smaller organisms than that; within that even smaller ones-- Like this the world has stuffed life.
Huge -- Huge than the huge -- bigger than that -- bigger than that -- nucleus -- smaller than that nucleus -- even smaller than that -- even smaller than that --there is no end in both ways.
Endless in both ends.
Poets, when we wake up everyday in the morning, let us praise all the lives.
"Prayers, Lord Wind, the omnipresent Brahma" 

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Note: This is the final part of Bharathi’s Prose-Poetry titled “Kaatru”. Interested in the Series? Check here to read the previous parts! To read the original version in தமிழ் or in Transliterated version? Click here! And here’s a feast to the fans of Bharathi (with translation)

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Wind – Part 13-14

13

Does life stand in the fluttering leaves? Yes.
Does life moves the roaring sea-water? Yes.
The stone that is dropped from the roof falls in the floor.
What causes the change? The life in it.
What is the state of the water canals? Life-state.
The wind which was mute has started to blow!
What has happened to it? Life happened.
The cart is being pulled by the bullocks.
The life of bullocks is carried to the cart.
While the cart goes, it goes with life.
The Kite! It has life.
The Steam Engine train has life! Big life.
All the machines have life.
The Earth-ball rotates ceaselessly with high force.
She has an unending life. The Mother Earth.
Hence, every thing on her surface has life.
The whole world revolves.
The moon revolves. The Sun revolves.
Crores and crores and crores and crores
Multi-miles apart and farther and beyond
The scattered stars in the skies are revolving.
Hence, this earth has life.
We call the 'life' of the World as Wind.
We hail and praise him thrice a day.

14

We can't praise the Wind.
For his praise is endless.
He is praised by the Rishis as
"Ever-persistent Brahma"
We worship the life breath. Let him protect us.
We worship the Abhaanan. Let him protect us.
We worship the Vyaanan. Let him protect us.
We worship the Udhaanan. Let him protect us.
We worship the Samaanan. Let him protect us.
We are spreading the acts of the Wind.
We pray the life.
Let life live.

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Note: This is the Part 13and 14 of Bharathi’s Prose-Poetry titled “Kaatru”. Interested in the Series? Check here to read the previous parts! To read the original version in தமிழ் or in Transliterated version? Click here! And here’s a feast to the fans of Bharathi (with translation)

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Wind – Part 12

12

The crow flies away;
It swims over the waves of the wind.
What is that, that becomes the waves and facilitates the crow to swim across? Wind.
No. It is not wind.
It is the place of wind.
The station of wind.
Invisible to the eyes, the tiny particles of the world comes and crashes over us (When the wind blows).
It’s common practice to call those particles as wind.
It is not wind, it’s the chariot of the wind.
The heated ice becomes water.
The heated water becomes wind.
The heated gold becomes liquid.
The heated liquid becomes wind.
Like this, every object of the world could be converted to the form of wind.
This wind is a particle of physics.
The power / force in which these particles crawls (carried) is worshipped as the wind lord by us.
The flying path of the crow is the wind.
That path is controlled by the wind.
It is inclined to that path by the wind.
We worship him.
We surrender our lives.

காக்கை பறந்து செல்லுகிறது;
காற்றின் அலைகளின்மீது நீந்திக்கொண்டு போகிறது.
அலைகள்போலிருந்து, மேலே காக்கை நீந்திச்செல்வதற்கு
இடமாகும் பொருள் யாது? காற்று.
அன்று, அஃதன்று காற்று;
அது காற்றின் இடம். வாயு நிலயம்.
கண்ணுக்குத் தெரியாதபடி அத்தனை நுட்பமாகிய பூதத்
தூள்களே (காற்றடிக்கும் போது) நம்மீது வந்து
மோதுகின்றன.
அத்தூள்களைக் காற்றென்பது உலகவழக்கு.
அவை வாயு வல்ல, வாயு ஏறிவரும் தேர்.
பனிக்கட்டியிலே சூடேற்றினால் நீராக மாறிவிடுகிறது.
நீரிலே சூடேற்றினால் ‘வாயு’ வாகிவிடுகிறது.
தங்கத்திலே சூடேற்றினால் திரவமாக உருகிவிடுகிறது.
அத் திரவத்திலே சூடேற்றினால், ‘வாயு’ வாகின்றது.
இங்ஙனமே, உலகத்துப் பொருள்களனைத்தையும் ‘வாயு’
நிலைக்குக் கொண்டுவந்துவிடலாம்.
இந்த ‘வாயு’ பௌதிகத் தூள்.
இதனை ஊர்ந்துவரும் சக்தியையே நாம் காற்றுத்தேவ
னென்று வணங்குகிறோம்.
காக்கை பறந்துசெல்லும் வழி காற்று.
அந்த வழியை இயக்குபவன் காற்று.
அதனை அவ்வழியிலே தூண்டிச்செல்பவன் காற்று.
அவனை வணங்குகின்றோம்.
உயிரைச் சரணடைகின்றோம்.

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Note: This is the Part 12 of Bharathi’s Prose-Poetry titled “Kaatru”. Interested in the Series? Check here to read the previous parts! To read the original version in தமிழ் or in Transliterated version? Click here! And here’s a feast to the fans of Bharathi (with translation)

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Wind – Part 10-11

Wind - Part 10 & 11

10

It is raining,
The whole town is drenched wet.
The Tamizh people, Like the buffaloes, 
  Always stand in the wetness, Sit in the wetness,
  Walk in the wetness, Sleep in the wetness,
  Cook in the wetness, Eat in the wetness.
A dry Tamizhan is not available even
  for medicine (Even for sample)
The cold Wind blows relentlessly.
Many of the Tamizh people fall sick with fever.
Few people die everyday, The fools that remain
  blame it as 'fate'.
Oh yes man, it is fate only.
'For those who lack Knowledge, Lack happiness'
  is the fate of Eesan. (The Almighty)
In the country that lacks discipline,
  the abundance of disease is the fate.
Tamil Nadu lacks that discipline.
  Instead of flourishing the true discipline,
  And also Forgetting the lingering disciplines,
  Few (Brahmin) people
  from Tamizh Nadu spin false tales
  to the fools and earn their daily bread.
Do you think that the cold Wind is Poison?
That is Manna, If you can live in
  Not-Wet homes with good clothes.
Wind is good.
We worship the Wind.

11

We call the Shakthi as Wind.
The power that lifts,
The power that cleans,
The power that crashes,
That spins, That blows.
Out of the many forms of Shakthi,
  Wind is also one of them/
All divinities are the art of Shakthi.
We call the art of Shakthi only as Divinity.
Wind is the Son of Shakthi.
We worship him.

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Note: This is the Part 10 & 11 of Bharathi’s Prose-Poetry titled “Kaatru”. Interested in the Series? Check here to read the previous parts! To read the original version in தமிழ் or in Transliterated version? Click here! And here’s a feast to the fans of Bharathi (with translation)

Wind – Part 9

Wind - Part 9

Come hither wind, Come slowly.
Do not break down the doors in the windows.
Do not throw take and throw away the papers.
Do not push down the books in the Almira.
Did you see this? Here, you pushed them down.
You torn away the pages of the book.
You brought back the rains.
You are so good in taunting the weak.
Dilapidated House, Dilapidated Door, Dilapidated Roof,
Dilapidated Tree, Dilapidated Body, Dilapidated Soul,
Dilapidated Heart -- These are broke down to pieces by the Lord of Wind.
He does not listen, even when told.
Hence, Gather around Humans.
Let us build stronger houses.
Let us strengthen the doors.
Let us train our bodies to stay robust.
Let us make our body resilient.
Let us toughen the our hearts.
If we do this way, the Wind will become our friend.
The Wind blows away the weak flame (of fire);
(But) Augments the strong flame (of fire).
His friendship is good.
We hail his praise everyday.

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Note: This is the Part 9 of Bharathi’s Prose-Poetry titled “Kaatru”. Interested in the Series? Check here to read the previous parts! To read the original version in தமிழ் or in Transliterated version? Click here! And here’s a feast to the fans of Bharathi (with translation)

Wind Part 8

Wind - Part 8

Rainy Season.
Evening time.
Cold breeze comes in.
The sick covers his body (from the cold).
To no avail.
With the fear of Wind, cannot live happily, in the Earth.
When the breath is Wind, how could one live in fear of it?
Let the Wind blow on us.
Let it protect from us from diseases.
The Air from the Mountain is good.
The Air from the Sea is medicine.
The Air from the Sky is fine.
The Air in the cities is made as enemy by humans.
They do not worship the Lord of Wind directly.
So the Lord of Wind becomes angry and destroys them.
Let us worship the Wind Lord.
In his path there should not be,
  stagnation of the muddled water;
  presence of odor; rotten food thrown away;
  layers of dust settled; or any kind of impurity.
He, The Wind, is coming.
In the path he comes by, let us keep it clean
  by wiping it and sprinkling good water.
In the path he flows by, let us create
  groves and floral gardens.
In the path he flows by, let us burn
  camphor and other fragrant incense sticks.
Let him come as medicine.
Let him come as our lives;
  As elixir.
We worship Wind.
He is the son of Shakti. Descendant of Queen.
We welcome him.
Let him live.

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Note: This is the Part 8 of Bharathi’s Prose-Poetry titled “Kaatru”. Interested in the Series? Check here to read the previous parts! To read the original version in தமிழ் or in Transliterated version? Click here! And here’s a feast to the fans of Bharathi (with translation)

Wind Part 7

Wind - Part 7

Look at the tiny ant.
How tiny it is!
Within it tiny form, the physical parts of
   hands, legs, mouth, stomach and
   all other parts are proportionately set.
Who set it so? The great Shakti.
All those parts are doing there work properly.
The ant eats, sleeps, gets married,
   give birth to off springs, runs,
   searches, wages wars, saves/rules their nation.
The wind is the base for all these happenings.
The great Shakti plays the game of life using wind.
We sing about the Wind.
It stands as strength to the knowledge;
As likes and dislikes of the heart;
In the lives (of living things), life exists by itself.
In the (exterior) world (visible to the eyes),
   we know of its actions;
   (yet) we don't know (of all its actions).
We praise the Wind!

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Note: This is the Part 7 of Bharathi’s Prose-Poetry titled “Kaatru”. Interested in the Series? Check here to read the previous parts! To read the original version in தமிழ் or in Transliterated version? Click here! And here’s a feast to the fans of Bharathi (with translation)

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Wind Part 5 and 6

Wind - Part 5 & 6

5

Bheeman and Hanuman are said to be
 the off springs of Wind in the epics.
The Veda says, all living things are
 off springs of Wind.
Life is nothing but Wind.
Life is the form / object.
 Wind is the action.
Mother Earth is alive.
Her breath is the Wind surrounding the Earth.
Wind is Life. He kills lives.
Wind is Life. So life is not destroyed.
The smaller form or life merges
 with the eternal form.
 (The life of individual merges
  with the soul of the world)
There is no death.
The entire world is life-form.
Appearance, Growth, Change, Disappearance
 - All are stages / acts of life.
We praise the Wind.

6

Oh Wind, come!
Come, carrying the pollen drops,
 with sweet fragrance that mesmerises the heart.
Flow over the leaves and waves,
 and carry the essence of their soul to bring to us.
Oh Wind, come.
Flow nicely such that,
 the fire/warmth of our lives linger long
 and let the good light glow bright.
Don't extinguish it, as your power declines.
Don't kill it, by bashing like ghosts.
Keep flowing for a very long time, 
 slowly and with good rhythm.
We will sing songs on you.
We will keep praising you.
We will worship you.

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Note: This is the Part 5 and 6 of Bharathi’s Prose-Poetry titled “Kaatru”. Interested in the Series? Check here to read the previous parts! To read the original version in தமிழ் or in Transliterated version? Click here! And here’s a feast to the fans of Bharathi (with translation)

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A scene from an epic!

This week’s song requires a bit of introduction to Mahabaratham, the great Indian Epic to understand and appreciate this song better. The epic has a great war Kurushethra, in which the Pandavas (the good gang) win over Gauravas (the bad gang). Though I can’t narrate you the story in a single post, I will just give you a small context. 

One of the heroes in the good gang is Arjuna (Who has 27 names, Gandeepan – one who has the bow named Gandeepam, is another name mentioned in this song). He resents war from the start and the Lord Krishna becomes his chariot to keep him in the war and help the good win over the bad. Karna is a good guy who ends up in the bad side due to circumstances. Arjuna kills Karna and this song is placed at that point.

The visualisation of the song also needs a little explanation for my dear readers, who are not aware of this art of stage performance. This is one of the art forms that is being followed since ages and is the ancestor for our movies. These performances are void of extraordinary special effects and relies on the voice, music and foremost the acting of the people. This is a song from the period film Kaaviya Thalaivan (Epic Hero) released in 2014.

I will save the favourite part of the post, my ramble about the song, to go below the song.. 😀

Tell me, tell me, tell me,
What’s the final judgement? You tell me..

Stop here, stop here, stop here,
In this war in this stage stop by here..

Go away, go away, go away,
Enough with this war, get away..

If you want any more lives to be taken,
Kill me yourself first..
Oh kanna, kill me first..

Why did you make me hold the arrows?
Why did you make me swim in the blood?
Why did you let me win over the world?
Why did you let me fail within myself?
You made me win the world,
And yet lose deep inside..
I, Gaandeepan, is asking you, oh Kanna, Gandeepan is asking..

The wheel of time is in your hands,
Yet the one who tumbled in it, is me..
The fate and the conspiracy is in your eyes,
Yet the one who got tangled in it, is me..

If my blame of killing Karna, will go to Kannan himself,
Where will my blame of blaming kannan himself, would go?
I’m at lack of words to express my distress..

Oh world, why wars?
Oh lives, why blood?
Oh almighty, why distress?
Oh heart, why vengeance?

Kanna, stop the chariot!
After defeating everyone, With whom would I live?
Stop the chariot!
Enough of this blood-bath! Stop the war!
Let the world of tomorrow prosper!
Stop the war!
Stop the war!

Movie: Kaaviya Thalaivan | Music: A. R. Rahman | Lyrics: Pa. Vijay | Singers: Mukesh

சொல்லிவிடு சொல்லிவிடு சொல்லிவிடு
இறுதி தீர்ப்பை நீ சொல்லிவிடு

நின்றுவிடு நின்றுவிடு நின்றுவிடு
இப்போரில் இவ்விடம் நின்றுவிடு

சென்றுவிடு சென்றுவிடு சென்றுவிடு
இந்த யுத்தம் போதும் சென்றுவிடு

இன்னும் உயிர்கள் வேண்டும் என்றால்
என்னை முதலில் நீயே கொன்றுவிடு
கண்ணா என்னை முதலில் கொன்றுவிடு

ஏன் அம்பை எந்த வைத்தாய்
ஏன் குருதியில் நீந்த வைத்தாய்
ஏன் உலகத்தை ஜெயிக்க வைத்தாய்
ஏன் உள்ளுக்குள் தோற்க்கடித்தாய்

உலகத்தை வெல்ல வைத்தாய்
உள்ளுக்குள்ளே தோற்க்கடித்தாய்
காண்டீபன் கேட்கிறேன் கண்ணா
காண்டீபன் கேட்கிறேன்

ஆ… காலச்சக்கரம் உன் கையில்
அதில் சுற்றியதேனோ நான்
விதியும் சதியும் உன் கண்ணில்
அதில் சிக்கியதேனோ நான்

கர்ணனை கொன்ற பாவம் கண்ணனுக்கு போகுமென்றால்
கண்ணனுக்கே பாவம் தந்த பாவம் எங்கு போகும் ஐயோ

ஓ… உலகமே யுத்தம் எதற்கு
ஓ… உயிர்களே ரத்தம் எதற்கு
ஓ… இறைவனே துயரம் எதற்கு
ஓ… இதயமே வன்மம் எதற்கு

கண்ணா தேரை நிறுத்து
எல்லாம் வீழ்த்தி எவருடன் வாழ தேரை நிறுத்து
போதும் இந்த குருதிக்குளியல் போரை நிறுத்து
நாளை உலகம் நலம் பெறும் என்று
போரை நிறுத்து போரை நிறுத்து

This song is a very dear song for me, especially for these two lines:

“கர்ணனை கொன்ற பாவம் கண்ணனுக்கு போகுமென்றால்,
கண்ணனுக்கே பாவம் தந்த பாவம் எங்கு போகும் ஐயோ”

“If my blame of killing Karna, will go to Kannan himself,
Where will my blame of blaming kannan himself, would go?
I’m at lack of words to express my distress..”

I could never express in words the emotions it evokes.. The resent it poses.. There are many things to regret from that war, but how could one ever get absolved from the blame of blaming the God himself. This leaves me spellbound and the voice and music is just perfect to emote those lines. And the actor Siddharth has done justice to that role. Overall, this song leaves me in goose bumps at times. Though, I can’t be expecting that much from everyone, do let me know whether you could appreciate the song.. Waiting for your thoughts in my comments..

Wind Part 3 and 4

Wind - Part 3 & 4

3

The base of Wind is Ear.
 Wind stands in the ears of the Shivan.
 If there is no wind, Shivan will not be able to hear.
 The Wind doesn't have ears.
 He is deaf.
 If he could hear, will he make such a racket?
 If he could hear, will he let the clouds clash with each other,
 _create thunders and be witnessing the show?
 If he could hear, Will he play by causing whirlwinds in the sea?
 We bow to the Wind, Sound, the Power.

4

Desert.
 Sand, Sand, Sand, For a very wide area, in all four sides,
 _there is levelled sand everywhere.
 Evening Time.
 Through that expanse of forest, over the camels,
 _a group of merchants are passing by.
 Vaayu (Wind) has become untameable / ferocious.
 The sands of the desert is rotating as a whirlwind in the mid sky.
 One moment, Pain of death, the entire group of merchants
 _get destroyed in the sand.
 Vaayu (Wind) is devious. He is anger-personified Rudran.
 His sound imparts fear.
 His acts are deadly.
 We praise the Wind.

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Personal Note: The Part 3 talks so softly and explanatorily about the simple fact that Wind causes all the atrocities only because, he doesn’t have ears and he couldn’t hear the noises he creates. So it finds excuses for him and praises him. Whereas, in Part 4, once again the Wind’s darker side (Does Wind have sides at all?!) is put to light with its destruction of the group of merchants in the desert. How could someone find excuse as well as shows light on the executions of the same wind? Does Bharathi love wind beyond measure or what else could it be? Let us see what he comes up with in the next parts!

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Note: This is the Part 3 and 4 of Bharathi’s Prose-Poetry titled “Kaatru”. Interested in the Series? Check here to read the previous parts! To read the original version in தமிழ் or in Transliterated version? Click here! And here’s a feast to the fans of Bharathi (with translation)

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Wind Part 2

Wind - Part 2

Middle of the sea. A lone ship.
  Fierce stormy wind, as if the skies has unleashed their anger.
  The tides are high. It splatters ferociously.
  It explodes as it crashes.
  It plunders.
The Ship wobbles;
  It is moved in the force of the lightning;
  It crashes against a rock.
  Massacre!
  Two hundred lives perished.
  Before they perished, they realised
  the experience, of what the perishing of the era entitles.
  The end of eon will also be like this.
  The earth will be amassed with water; Hot boiling water.
  Sakthi will become the wind.
  Sivan will be furious.
  The world will seem to be one.(??)
  And that one will be Sakthi.
  And Sivan will be behind the Sakthi.
The Wind moves the ropes tied in the roofs. He pours life into them.
  The Wind shows whirlpools to water,
  adds lightning to the Sky,  
    Transforms water to fire,
    Transforms fire to water,
    Transforms water to dust,
    Transforms dust to water
    And wreaks havoc.
  The Wind brings apocalypse.
  The Wind protects.
  Let the Wind protect us.
  "Salutations to Vayu, the Lord of winds.
   You are the visible representation
   of the ultimate reality, Brahman."

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Personal Note: You would better understand this personal note, if you have read the part 1 here. In the first part, the Wind was praised as the life-force and the life-giver. Now, the same Wind, which animates a piece of rope by blowing life into it, massacres 200 lives, just with a whoosh.

The first part was filled with tender love between the ropes and was so soft and elegant in its grace. Here, the same Wind has become ferocious and uncontainable. The emotions that flow through this part is more of anger, fear, ferociousness, wrath, demise, massacre et al. What a contrast and how versatile the Wind is.

The Wind brings apocalypse.
The Wind protects.
Let the Wind protect us

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Note: This is the Part 2 of Bharathi’s Prose-Poetry titled “Kaatru”. Interested in the Series? Check here to read the previous part! I have taken up the liberty to restructure the lines for the ease of reading and using few easier common terms over the literal meaning. Would you like to view the notes on translation or To read the original version in தமிழ் or in Transliterated version? Click here! And here’s a feast to the fans of Bharathi (with translation)

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Wind

Wind - Part 1

In the porch of the house is a roof.
  Thatched roof,
  with coconut leaves.
There are seven-eight bamboo pipes,
  set in  criss-cross and
  held together with ordinary jute rope,
  and over them, the thatched coconut leaves are spread.

A small excess of rope was hanging
  from one of the bamboo pipe.
  A foot-long rope.
One day, This rope was happily swinging.
  It doesn't seem to have even a silly worry.
Sometimes, it will look forlorn and hangs still.
  It doesn't even answer, when called.
Today it wasn't like that.
  Looked jolly-good.

The rope and I, are friends.
  We often talk to each other.

“If you talk to a rope, Will it reply?”
  Try talking to it,
  to find whether it replies or not.

But you have to start the conversation,
  when it's happy.
Otherwise, it will frown and be tight-lipped,
  like women.
Whatsoever, the rope in this home speaks.
  There's no doubt in that.

Did I say one rope?
  There are two ropes.
  One is one-foot long.
  The other is three-fourth of a foot long.
One male;
  Other female;
  Man and wife.

They both were looking at each other
  with amorous looks, and
  were exchanging coy  smiles, 
  bantering about sweet nothings,
  they were lost in love.
That is when, I reached there.

The male rope is named ‘Kandan.'
  The female rope is named ‘Valliyammai.’
(Just like people, small ropes can also be named.)

Kandan tries to hold Valliyammai.
  Valliyammai backs a little.
In that particular moment, I reached there.

I asked, “What Kanda, are you fine? 
  Maybe I came at the wrong moment, is it? 
  Shall I come back later?"

For which, Kandan said,
  "Ah come on, you old man! 
  What shyness in front of  you? 
  What Valli, are you angry that,
  this Iyer was witnessing our courting?"

“Fine, fine, don't ask me anything”, said Valliyammai.

For that, Kandan laughed aloud clapping hands,
  jumped and hugged Valliyammai,
  all while I was standing just there.
Valliyammai started screeching.
  But, Valliyammai was also enjoying,
  secretly.
Aren't we happy when others see, how happy we are?

I was also content in watching their show,
  what's the crime in saying the fact?
  Witnessing the intimacy of young love
  brings such a great joy, isn't it?

Since Valliyammai started screeching louder,
  Kandan left her alone.

After few moments, he caressed her again. 
  Again a screech, again the freeing;
  Again a caress, again a screech;
  this kept on continuing.

“What's this Kanda,
  you don't seem to be interested
  in saying a word to this visitor, 
  I'll come back after some time,
  shall I leave?” I asked.

“Come on, oldie, aren't you just watching us.
  Stay on for little more time.
  I've few affairs to finish with her.
  After I finish that,
  I am thinking of having a discussion
  with you on certain topics.
  Don't go away. Stay”, it said.
I stood there and kept watching.

After a while, the damsel,
  in the glaze of happiness,
  dropped her shyness,
  even forgetting that,
  I was still standing there.

Immediately a song.
 Elegantly broken pieces.
 Every line with its own tune.
 Just a couple of varaitions.
 Then another song.
As Kandan finished singing, it was Valli's turn.
 After one finished, the other one.
 Singing one after another -- Immense joy!

For some time, they keep singing,
  while standing apart, without touching.
  Then Valliyammai will go herself to caress Kandan.
  He comes to hug. She runs.
  Immense Joy!

Valliyammai got giddy with happiness
  as this continued for a long time.

I was thirsty, went to the next house to drink water,
  to quench my thirst. Both the ropes didn't notice my leaving.

When I came back and saw,
  Kandan was waiting for me,
  while Valliyammai slept.
As soon as  seeing me,
  “Where did you go, old man!
  You left without goodbye”, it said.
I asked, “Seems like madam is sleeping deeply”

Aaha! at that moment,
  The rope exploded and
  before me appeared the Lord
  and how can I express His greatness in words?

The Lord of Winds appeared.

I had always presumed that,
  His form would be broad and ballooned.
  But, His form was like a diamond needle,
  glowing brightly.

"Salutations to Vayu, the lord of winds.
 You are the visible representation of the ultimate reality, Brahman.
 I affirm that you are indeed the visible form of Brahman"
 Hail thy wind. You are indeed the visible form of Brahmam.

When he appeared,
  the skies were filled
  with the life-force's power
  and the warmth was spreading all around.

I worshipped Him a thousand times,
  with my tributes.

The Lord of Wind sayeth: -- 
   "My son, What did you ask?
   Are you asking whether
   the small rope is sleeping?
   No. It is dead.
   I am the life-force's power.
   The body / form, that is related to me, is active.
   Which doesn't relate to me is corpse.
   I am the life-force.
   Because of Me,
   that small rope was alive;
   had experienced pleasure.
   After it got a bit tired,
   I let it sleep -- die.
   Sleep is death. Death is but a sleep.
   They both do not exist where I am present.
   I will come back in the evening and blow.
   It will come back to life again. 
I awaken it. Animate it. I am the son of power, Worship me and live."

"Salutations to Vayu, the Lord of winds.
 You are the visible representation of the ultimate reality, Brahman.
 I affirm that You are indeed the visible form of Brahman"

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Note: This is the Part 1 of Bharathi’s Prose-Poetry titled “Kaatru”. Interested in the Series? Check here to know more about it! I have taken up the liberty to restructure the lines for the ease of reading and using few easier common terms over the literal meaning. Would you like to view the notes on translation or To read the original version in தமிழ் or in Transliterated version? Click here! And here’s a feast to the fans of Bharathi (with translation)

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