Oy BhAratiyArE!--A Child's Eye View of the Poet

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arasi
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Re: Oy BhAratiyArE!--A Child's Eye View of the Poet

Post by arasi »

PBala,
Thank you for the information you have collected.
Yadugiri was not 14 to 21 years old when she was in Puduvai! In the days of child marriages, she would have been, let's say, 12, I3 when she got married? She got married in 1913. Her family left for Puduvai in 1904 when she was a little child. You can see it in the publisher's introduction which I have posted. As we go further into the book, we will find out more.

cmlover
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Re: Oy BhAratiyArE!--A Child's Eye View of the Poet

Post by cmlover »

Thanks PB for the time coordinates.
It appears Yadugiri was not a child but a young woman during her interactions with Bharathy. She sounds quite mature and even if she did not keepa diary her recollections of the dialogues mutatis mutandi are credible!
She appears quite sensitive too as is evident from her emotional response on hearing the Fiji atrocities.

Arasi
Your translations are excellent - almost like reading the original..
This translation must definitely be published. We at the Forum are lucky to read it first hand..
Accept our gratitude.

smala
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Re: Oy BhAratiyArE!--A Child's Eye View of the Poet

Post by smala »

Fascinating saga...

Found the following worth investigating - PBala please could you list names of the books, with publishing info - dates, whether out of print etc., from these persons as mentioned in the translated Foreword?

*****
....
Bharathiyar's political friends like Va vu chi and his disciples like va rA and Bharathidasan, Bharathi's wife Chellammal and his daughter Thangamma have written books about him from their perspectives....

Pratyaksham Bala
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Re: Oy BhAratiyArE!--A Child's Eye View of the Poet

Post by Pratyaksham Bala »

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arasi
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Re: Oy BhAratiyArE!--A Child's Eye View of the Poet

Post by arasi »

Bala, I will leave it to you good sleuths to find all the information. Neither have I the capability to research nor do I want to go by my not-so- reliable memory. Carry on your good work. Others too, like smala.

CML,
I cannot believe Yadugiri was not a child when she was in Puduvai. Even in our days, we were not referred to as kuzhandaigaL when we were women. Yadugiri's pATTi was still around. Though I cannot pin the years down, I remember reading that when Yadugiri is engaged to be married, the paTTi says, but for Bharathi and Iyer, she cannot talk to other men because she's now betrothed. Imagine. A traditional woman like her would have let the eldest daughter of her son go unmarried beyond teenage? That too, nearly a hundred years ago? They kept the tradition by marrying her off into a family from Mysore, though they lived in tamizh nADu for a long time (of several mandayam families--those originally from Mandya, karnataka, then in other parts of the state --who had settled down by the Parthasarathi temple in Triplicane).Twenty was the average age for women in the fifties and sixties to get married.If you didn't go to college, it was in their late teens!
A word about Mandayam Iyengars from what I know: they are very sociable and are community minded--modern, if you may call it, but even today, they are very traditional in celebrating festivals and in sticking to certain traditions.
If you want me to, I will go through the book to the end and see if I can find anything out about this. In that case, I don't mind not going along with you all in reading the book, well, a chapter ahead of to translate...
Another thing: you and I have been around freedom fighters in our childhood around Independence. You know how the fervor of adults were catching. Our minds had the fodder of adult thinking. Yadugiri lived in the midst of the most keen minds--intellectual and creative!

Pratyaksham Bala
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Re: Oy BhAratiyArE!--A Child's Eye View of the Poet

Post by Pratyaksham Bala »

arasi wrote:One Sunday, we were traversing Gowrla St ...
Most probably it is 'Gowrna Street' or 'Governer Street' - the eastern extension of Dupleix Street where Mandayam House was located. From there naturally one has to go through the 'Governor Street' (which had the Governor's bungalow) to reach the sea-front.

smala
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Re: Oy BhAratiyArE!--A Child's Eye View of the Poet

Post by smala »

P.Bala did you see my post 78 ?

rajeshnat
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Re: Oy BhAratiyArE!--A Child's Eye View of the Poet

Post by rajeshnat »

I just googled to find out that yadugiri is also known as melkotE. MelKotE is generally known

Pratyaksham Bala
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Re: Oy BhAratiyArE!--A Child's Eye View of the Poet

Post by Pratyaksham Bala »

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arasi
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Re: Oy BhAratiyArE!--A Child's Eye View of the Poet

Post by arasi »

Yadugiri dedicates this book to the lotus like feet of her father.
(bhArathiyin thOZharAga viLangiya en pithA Sri.SrinivasAchAriyin pAda kamalangaLil ich chiRu nUlai samarppikkiREn)



Yadugiri's FOREWARD

Next only to the love of parents for their children, is the love gurus have for their students. The teacher's love and care for their wards is abundant, indeed.
About forty years ago, I had the great fortune of being Bharathi's disciple and a favored 'daughter'. I'm thrilled to share my experiences with you today.

At that time, patriots were called svadESis. Those who moved to Puduvai to escape arrest and those who went to live there even otherwise--were kaviyarasar BharathiyAr, va ve su Iyer, Aravinda Ghosh, the publishers of Bharthi's weekly INDIA--my father and Thirumalachari and others. There were frequent visitors too.
My father and Bharathi were close friends in Chennai, also our families.
Bharathi came to our house often. He would sing or recite his creations to us. There was no particular time or rhyme about his visits. Sometimes, I'd be occupied with my studies or will be reciting the nAlAyiram that my mother taught me. Whenever Bharathi came, my attention would turn to him. If I heard him sing upstairs, I would try to copy singing the first line of the verses. If Bharathi noticed it, he would ask me to come upstairs and give me the piece of paper on which the verse was written. I had safeguarded those in a book of mine. As luck would have it, the book was ruined by getting caught under a broken wall in Puduvai in the terrible storm in naLa varusham on kArthikai 6th (1916).
Since I was a mere child when I knew Bharathi, I did not have the capacity to appreciate his lofty thoughts which sparkled in all that he said. With what I can recollect, I realize that every word of his was precious--his thoughts were something which the world could learn from and some, beyond our comprehension.
It was my duty every time he came to see us, to offer him a Sembu ( little pot ) full of water and betel leaves and areca nuts. Va ve su came with bharathi regularly in the evenings, occasionally in the mornings. It was not so with Bharathi. He appeared at any time of the day.
There were many students, friends, relatives and others who knewof his greatness. They adored him and praised him no end. Yet, all put together, they could not bring him the peace of mind which could have made him sing his heart away without a care in the world. Still, Bharathi mostly spent histime adoring Nature and its beauty and in conversing joyously with others.
Bharathi was a fierce reformer. He used to say: 'tamizh world' has just opened its eyes and is like an infant, learning to turn on its belly and hasn't developed its ability in looking around in all four directions...
He was intense in wanting to uproot many old so-called traditions. Smt. Chellamma often differed from him on this. Chellamma kept her orthodox ways in the kitchen. While she was cooking, observing 'maDi', Bharathi, after washing his hands and feet, would enter the kitchen and handle the utensils. "paTRu! Don't touch them!", Chelamma would object. Bharathi would not care and an argument would follow but Bharathi prevailed. Chellamma would keep quiet after that.

Bharathi ate at anyone's house when he was invited to a meal. Religion or caste did not mean anything to him. Whatever he said in his verses, he observed in his life. His thoughts were translated into his deeds. However tough it seemed, he was tireless in doing this. He did not care what others said about his behavior either.

Bharathiyar sang his songs with such bhAvam. He sang majestically. It gave goose bumps to those who heard him. He has described his life in some of his songs. How many precious songs he has created in simple kummi tunes, folk tunes and in hindusthAni mode!
Nowadays, great artistes sing his songs in many rAgAs and varNa meTTus. Still, those who have heard him sing will not be as thrilled. His majesty and his becoming one with hi ssong is something no one can match.
Bharathi's glory has spread far and wide today. We hear his poems everywhere. I heart often aches to think that he did not live to see all this. Then I console myself. Though he is gone,.he has left behind his greatness in his writings for us to cherish him eternally.
We could not do much for Bharathi's peace of mind then. At least now, tamizh folks should make it their duty to support poets who still live among us.
I felt I should share wha I know about Bharathi with others. These impressions were written in 1938-39. They are going to see the print now. I am not a woman of today, a college-educated one. I was schooled at home by my father. I humbly request that 'periyOrgaL' (lofty readers) forgive me for my inadequacies and see only the essence of what I have presented here.


ma. gO. Yadugiri


Bangalore
28-7-1954
Last edited by arasi on 13 Jul 2011, 01:53, edited 1 time in total.

arasi
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Re: Oy BhAratiyArE!--A Child's Eye View of the Poet

Post by arasi »

Bala,
Thanks for Governor St! That 'Gowrla' was bugging me!

arasi
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Re: Oy BhAratiyArE!--A Child's Eye View of the Poet

Post by arasi »

This is what I'm reading now about Yadugiri's marriage they are planning on holding in the month of ChithrA. I reproduce the dialogue:

Bharathi: She's far too young to get married.Srinivasachari is an old-fashioned man. He wants an innocent child to get married. Sounds like a bommaik kalyANam (a doll's wedding ).

Chellamma: Brahmins are supposed to get their daughters married at the age of nine. That's shAstram.

Bharathi: Traditions and shAstrams are umpteen! If you wish, get Thangam married too now. Another meaningless doll's wedding!


More:
Yadugiri gets married, stays back in Puduvai. After a few months, they celebrate her 'rutu snaanam' ceremony (holy bath after her first menstruation). This should make it clear that she was barely a teen when she got married.

Pratyaksham Bala
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Re: Oy BhAratiyArE!--A Child's Eye View of the Poet

Post by Pratyaksham Bala »

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Pratyaksham Bala
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Re: Oy BhAratiyArE!--A Child's Eye View of the Poet

Post by Pratyaksham Bala »

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smala
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Re: Oy BhAratiyArE!--A Child's Eye View of the Poet

Post by smala »

PBala, I loved the info given in post 84, love the bits that Arasi throws at us every now and then, I am now set on a thirsty trail.

Please do add WHATEVER you can to supplement this sparkling personal saga, the private but involved life of this much short-lived Mahakavi is immensely appealing - if there's a book from Chellamal or Thangamma that you too can translate to embellish the personal aspects - we will be all beholden to you and Arasi. I ask this because you have a rich library - possibly a great collection on Bharathi there at Puducheri at your disposal. Do it at your time and pace, but do it please.

arasi
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Re: Oy BhAratiyArE!--A Child's Eye View of the Poet

Post by arasi »

Bala,
Yes, I did see the question mark. However, your info that she would have been 14 to 21 during the time the svadEsis lived in Puduvai did not make sense to me. That's why I looked in the book for some clues on this. She does say she got married in 1913.

smala,
You have a good idea there. If we can get the facts from Chellamma and Thangamma's books, then we may be able to put them in time frames and of course, learn more about the life o Bharathi.
As I mentioned before, I meant to start it as a child's narration and then go to 'fact finding' at the end. I understand that it will be a long wait for some. So, I changed my mind and have posted the Intro and Foreward. Let me see if I can 'throw a few more bits" into the forum ;) My original intention was to sail through this translation without any sidetracks (perhaps has to do with my way of working--old -fashioned?).

Another thing. It's human nature. Mention a name--and we tend to say, even if we are nodding acquaintances--Oh, we know him very well! In a luminary's case, more so! We all understand that many of the people who knew Bharathi's even slightly, would have felt they were very close to him. Without questioning them, it is possible to get some insight into the poet. The more we read about him, the more we will come to know. Meanwhile, if you forget Bharathi for a moment, this is still a book worth reading about a girl growing up in those times .
Interesting to note that the publisher says, 'ivar kaiyyALum vITTu naDai avar nuLukkuth thanich chuvai aLikkiRadu' . Of course, he had read the works of intellectuals like va.rA.
Something else came to mind. According to the publisher, Yadugiri's father was very much alive (not old either) when she wrote this. Being a writer himself, he would have helped Yadugiri in many ways, suggesting things, filling in details of happenings she had vague memories about...

smala
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Re: Oy BhAratiyArE!--A Child's Eye View of the Poet

Post by smala »

"Yadugiri dedicates this book to the lotus like feet of her father."

Isn't it more than than that ? considering this significant qualifier,
(bhArathiyin thOZharAga viLangiya en pithA...)" the dedication to the lotus feet of my father, one who moved with Bharathiyar as a dear friend...it seems she never lost sight of the fact that her humble diary "chiRu nUlai" and record was of Bharathi, something she has offered ("samarppikkiREn" has no real English equivalent! ) at the feet of her father -- for befriending this man with the lofty ideals.

Unspoken, but felt from the words of her dedication : her father's friendship, thereby allowing her close opportunities to write of her experiences with this remarkable man ?

.."According to the publisher, Yadugiri's father was very much alive (not old either) when she wrote this.."

More than that, her father lived to see the publication and beyond - from the preface/forward - that at the time of the publication of Yadugiri's book (which came after her demise - at age 56 /PBala), her father was living with her brother in Delhi...

arasi
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Re: Oy BhAratiyArE!--A Child's Eye View of the Poet

Post by arasi »

smala,
Yes, Bharathi's influence on Yadugiri is immense.
tamizh is not an easy language to translate, the lotus feet is a common expression in the highly ornate vaishNava paribhAshai and all the more complex to deal with. ANDavan tiruvaDit tAmaraiyil samarppikkiREn is still a common expression in vaishNavite Ashramams. If you happen to get hold of nrusimhapriya or any other vaishNavite publication, you will find such paribhAshai even today. Along with all the poems of Bharathi that she heard and sang, Yadugiri was also reciting nAlAyira divyap prabandham diligently. The influence of her vaishNAvite upbringing would have rubbed off on her, and when she went to her husband' s household as a teen bride to Mysore/Bangalore, it woud have become routine for her to lead the life of a typical vaishNavite homemaker and(mother of many children) of her days.
This book is ABOUT Bharathi. She wanted to dedicate it to her father whom she held in great regard. He was Bharathi's dear friend. She might have mentioned him because Bharathi is the subject matter of the book or, because she adored him, or both!
Seems as though we need to arm ourselves with a lot of research material before we continue with the book. Let me take a respite before I come back to this because every chapter will bring more questions to the fore, perhaps. This isn't a thesis which Yadugiri has written--nor are we it a court room for the evidence to be produced pronto! As I said, my age shows in some of my old ways--in this information thirsty world. Nothing personal :) It's a good idea to collect all information, read (and translate too) Chellamma and Thangamma's book.
I will continue with my translation at home and finish it. When you are all ready for more chapters, I will post them again. We can continue our discussions after that as well. By then, enough material outside of this book will be ours and the answers will be found there.


Rajesh,
Yadugiri is another name for MElkOTe aka ThirunArayaNapuram in Karnataka where the vaira muDi sEvai takes place--CheluvarAya giving darSan wearing the diamond studded crown.
Last edited by arasi on 13 Jul 2011, 09:20, edited 2 times in total.

smala
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Re: Oy BhAratiyArE!--A Child's Eye View of the Poet

Post by smala »

Please do post the translations as you work them - we are ready and waiting for the chapters - maybe skris could have made this a read only thread for everyone except you - maybe it can still be done? That way - you'll have no interruptions.. :)

vasanthakokilam
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Re: Oy BhAratiyArE!--A Child's Eye View of the Poet

Post by vasanthakokilam »

Yes, let us focus on the translation for now in this thread.

Nick H
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Re: Oy BhAratiyArE!--A Child's Eye View of the Poet

Post by Nick H »

smala and vk, I appreciate your point of view, but some of the snippets that have been added to this thread have added yet more light, and been very worthwhile to read. Some of us will probably cut&paste Arasis work into documents that we can keep as her uninterrupted work.

Arasi, I am glad you published the introduction. Some of us reading this thread (well, me for now, but the internet is a very public place; who can tell who will stroll by!) are not familiar with the history and times. I had not at all realised that these people were in Puducherri as refugees from my four-bears (shame upon their names). In some ways, the introduction/forward has been one of the most touching and emotional parts of your translation so far.
Yes, let us focus on the translation for now in this thread.
Just so long as we do not indulge in one our great digressions. This is not the place for it. Perhaps the moderation of this thread might be just a liiitle strict?

cmlover
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Re: Oy BhAratiyArE!--A Child's Eye View of the Poet

Post by cmlover »

In all this hubub let us not forget Dwaraki who is alive and well and who is a good friend of arasi! We may even get third-hand info from her which Yadugiri may have shared which were not put in print. Since arasi is also a seasoned journalist I suggest she does an interview with her on her next visit to B'lore and she can prepare the question-list with feedback from us on the basis of the translations!

Nothing special has appeared so far which we already do not know about Bharathy, but then we still have about ?140 more pages to go....

smala
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Re: Oy BhAratiyArE!--A Child's Eye View of the Poet

Post by smala »

Nick - did you see Arasi's post 93 - I guess she wanted to just post the translations in installments without interruptions... it is her thread, hence my suggestion maybe VK or srkris can make this thread Read Only for the rest of us.

vasanthakokilam
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Re: Oy BhAratiyArE!--A Child's Eye View of the Poet

Post by vasanthakokilam »

>Perhaps the moderation of this thread might be just a liiitle strict?
You mean, it can use a little bit more moderation to keep the focus or my statement you quoted is an indication of stricter moderation than usual? :)

On digression, Arasi has indicated in no uncertain terms above that she prefers all the 'extra information gathering' and other sundries to wait. 'Bharathi' is a huge topic and some restraint is needed otherwise the focus on the translation and the stories contained therein will not be optimum.

Nick H
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Re: Oy BhAratiyArE!--A Child's Eye View of the Poet

Post by Nick H »

OK, sorry: I'll shut up read.

Quite happy with that :D

arasi
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Re: Oy BhAratiyArE!--A Child's Eye View of the Poet

Post by arasi »

CML,
Fourty four pages of the book have been translated so far, out of the 152 pages. One third done. Yes, we can find out more things from Dwaraki.
Meanwhile, keep researching and we can make a book out of all that the eager and efficient researchers among us bring to us--sowing the seeds for a revival movement in knowing our beloved kavi AND HIS WORKS! Bharathi was as wrapped up in music as he was in his poetry. Thank goodness, we hear more of Bharathi's songs on stage now. All good signs...

arasi
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Re: Oy BhAratiyArE!--A Child's Eye View of the Poet

Post by arasi »

Nick,
VK words it in such a way, no wonder you feel intimidated ;) You know I'm not as severe as all that!

VK,
Thanks! You did the right thing, though ;) I'm working on a few more chapters. Then it's grandkids time. After a short break, I'll have another go and finish it, God willing...
Last edited by arasi on 14 Jul 2011, 17:38, edited 1 time in total.

smala
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Re: Oy BhAratiyArE!--A Child's Eye View of the Poet

Post by smala »

PBala has deleted all the very interesting useful info!!! from ALL his posts in this thread :( :( :(

arasi
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Re: Oy BhAratiyArE!--A Child's Eye View of the Poet

Post by arasi »

NINE

Enganam SenRirundIr?
(Where have you been?)


As days went by, police vigilance on Bharathi and other svadESis increased. Gradually, money orders and letters stopped coming and the letters they sent from Puduvai got burnt at Vizhuppuram--someone who worked in the post office informed us. During such difficult times, Bharathi wanted to send the first part of PAnjAli Sabadam to the press for a reprint. Copies of the first edition had either been sold or were given away by Bharathi as gifts. He could not locate the manuscript either. He came to our house to ask Aiyya (my father) and Iyer if they had a copy. They did not.

Iyer said, "Bharathi, how could you do this? Why didn't you save a copy for yourself?"

Bharathi: I thought I had one. Never mind. I will rewrite it. It may not turn out to be as good. Still, I can do it.

Aiyya: Let's ask the children. They sometimes save books because they find the cover illustrations attractive.

Bharathi called me and asked if I had a copy.

I said I did but was not sure if I should part with it. I added, "I once gave you Adi Parvam and you lent it to someone and it did'nt come back!"

"I will give you a new copy of Adi Parvam. I will give you a brand new copy of PAnjAli Sabadam too!", he pleaded.

I said I did not want a new one but wanted this one back. Bharathi agreed.

I did not get the book back. On the first page of the book, Bharathi had written: to SowbhAyavathi Yadugiri with affection--Subrahmanya Bharathi.

Bharathi gave me a copy of his books whenever they came out--even the ones he wrote in English. Va ve Su gave me Mangaiyarkkarasi, Chandra gupthan and other books but he did not autograph them.


I did not fully understand it then, but when I look back, I wonder how Bharathi's household could have survived in those hard times.

I asked my father why Bharathi was not writing anything now.

"He has other things on his mind", was his answer. When I at last heard Bharathi's voice in our house, I ran up the stairs like a SAtakA bird to see him. He was happy to see me and asked me to sit next to him. He said, "Look at her! She's more eager today to hear my verses than ever!"

Sri Sri said (Yadugiri refers to her father as Ayya (Dad) too at times--Arasi), "Yadugiri has been asking me why you don't write much poetry these days. I told her you are busy with other things."

Bharathi: Fiddlesticks! Rajaraman (a friend of Bharathi in Puduvai. Editor's note says: look up the opening lines of the poem Guru darSanam in bhArathi aRubaththiARru) asked me to check his father's translation of the Upanishads.That took nearly three months! Well, I've composed a Sarasvathi stOTram today."

He sang to us "enganam SenRirundIr?" in the noNDich chindu mode. Va ve su arrived soon after. Bharathi sang it again for him.

Va ve su: Bharathi! Excellent! You have invested all the inspiration of the past few months in these fine verses!

Sri Sri: bharathi alone has the gift of implying a hundred meanings in a single word!

Bharathi: Let's see. The four of us make it all complete. You say I"m a good poet. I say you are an excellent writer, Iyer is the best translator there is and we know there is no equal to Babu (Arabindo) in translating the vEdAs.

Sri Sri: Bharathi, Good times are around the corner. Let's not get impatient. These are hard times.

Va ve su: When the celestials churned the milky ocean, it was poison that came out of it first. When we walk a new path, there will be obstacles. Our lot is a true example of that. Those who do not fall apart but put their minds to achieving their goal, are bound to attain AmrutA.

Bharathi: We do not get any letters from home. Chellamma wants to go back.

Sri Sri: I can understand her. Oh, you have sung Sarasvathi stOtram today. Just wait till tomorrow! You will get some news from swadESamitran.

The next day, Chellamma came to our house. She was in a happy mood. She said, "Glad news! We got a letter from SvadESamitran asking for another article. We also received all the money which was pending the past three months. Yadugiri, what your Aiyya said yesterday came true!''

I said, "Bharathi says you want to go back home. I was wondering. Are you expecting?"

Chellamma said, "No, I'm not. God doesn't test us to the extreme. Yadugiri, these two girls are more than enough. I don't need another child to add to the troubles."

"Don't you want a son?"

"What's a son going to do for me which the daughters won't? Look at him! He wears no pUNUl (holy thread), does not perform tharppaNam (rites for the departed parents) and with all this, I have the need for a son to do my last rites?"

"Why doesn't BharathiyAr wear a pUNUl?"

"He removed it after Thangamma was born. He contended that only those who do yAgams and yagnyams deserve to wear them! When the priest brought a new one, he gave it back to him!"

By then, BharathiyAr arrived. We walked together. Chellamma told him of the questions I had asked.

"A boy? It's said: puthrAt Sata guNam puthri. In English they say, a son is a son until he takes a wife but a daughter is a daughter for life. What have I done at all for my father? As if I need a son!"

Around eight, we returned home after talking about many things. There was a tinge of bitterness and indifference in all that Bharathi said that day.


* * * * *


Note: There are two words in the translation which I want to bring to your attention: 1. Song (and sing, too) which in Tamizh is pATTu (pADudal). We use the word both for a poem (and the recitation of one) and for a song (and for singing it). In Bharathi's case, he does both!

2. avar, ivar: a wife refers to her husband as avar and ivar, since women did not call their husbands or refer tothem by their names.
Last edited by arasi on 16 Jul 2011, 00:18, edited 6 times in total.

maduraimini
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Re: Oy BhAratiyArE!--A Child's Eye View of the Poet

Post by maduraimini »

Arasi,
Please don't stop your translation. We are all eagerly waiting to read the next chapter ( like waiting for Ananda Vikatan or Kalki Thodar kathai)! When you started this topic, you said you were just translating the book written by Yadugiri- her memories. And whatever Yadugiri wrote in Tamil, you are just translating into English for all of us to read. You are doing a wonderful job- please continue. So many people have written about the poet- but each person has his or her own idea of a person. This is what and how Yadugiri remembers Bharathi, her friend and mentor.

Pratyaksham Bala
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Re: Oy BhAratiyArE!--A Child's Eye View of the Poet

Post by Pratyaksham Bala »

smala:
Just to help focus on the translation in this thread, I have removed the clutter. After the translation is complete, a new thread can be opened to discuss the details.

arasi:
Please continue your wonderful translation!

cmlover
Posts: 11498
Joined: 02 Feb 2010, 22:36

Re: Oy BhAratiyArE!--A Child's Eye View of the Poet

Post by cmlover »

Thanks PB
Do post all info collectively later...
Thanks Arasi
No more questions or digressions from me - I am all ears.
You keep going at your pace and we can start discussing issues (quite a few) later...

rshankar
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Re: Oy BhAratiyArE!--A Child's Eye View of the Poet

Post by rshankar »

Arasi - I know there is to be no interruption, but I think the saying (in English) that the mahAkavi refered to is: 'A son is a son until he takes a wife, but a daughter is a daughter for life!'
On another note, it is interesting that Chellamma thinks that the only 'service' from a son would be to perform (the) last rites!
Last edited by rshankar on 14 Jul 2011, 22:57, edited 1 time in total.

arasi
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Re: Oy BhAratiyArE!--A Child's Eye View of the Poet

Post by arasi »

Ravi,
Thanks! I'm in another world (of translating everything as if the original is in tamizh!) I couldn't remember the quote exactly, on top of it!
These are not interruptions. It's better to correct the text as we go along.
As Bala suggested, that discussions thread can be started even as I am posting. I have no problem with that.

CML,
Start one if you wish. You can take up a chapter at a time. Just a suggestion...
Last edited by arasi on 14 Jul 2011, 23:19, edited 1 time in total.

cmlover
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Re: Oy BhAratiyArE!--A Child's Eye View of the Poet

Post by cmlover »

No arasi!
I want your full attention on translations. Dicussions elsewhere will take your mind off!
Corrections are of course welcome...

smala
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Re: Oy BhAratiyArE!--A Child's Eye View of the Poet

Post by smala »

Good to see the translations back, Arasi. Waiting for the next installment.

sureshrtuticorin
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Re: Oy BhAratiyArE!--A Child's Eye View of the Poet

Post by sureshrtuticorin »

Ra. ki. Rangarajan has translated many English novels into Tamil, some of which were serialised in Kumudam. On reading them, I would be tempted to read the origina.Your translation is so excellent I don't want the original. I look forward to the next episode(Sunday to Saturday). Good work.
Thank you

Nick H
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Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 02:03

Re: Oy BhAratiyArE!--A Child's Eye View of the Poet

Post by Nick H »

Now I understand how people become addicted to serials.

Unfortunately, the book is finite, so Arasi's translation cannot run forever*.

Also looking forward to next episode...

I hope a few posts of appreciation between episodes is acceptable. I'm sure it is: most artists appreciate encouragement :)



*And, fortunately, Arasi's translation is not marred by dreadful bursts of bad music at every moment which is even vaguely dramatic ;)

arasi
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Re: Oy BhAratiyArE!--A Child's Eye View of the Poet

Post by arasi »

Thanks, smala, sureshrtutucorin and Nick for the encouragement!

Nick,
My namesake serial on the small screen may still be around with bursts of music, in reruns, I'm sure ;)
And to think that Charles Dickens brought all this to the magazine culture! Known for its richness in centuries of literature, tamizh language found the novel to be truly novel, and in the 20th century, it kept us waiting eagerly for the weeklies to arrive so that we could read the novels in episodes!The trend still continues, I think.
It's a good thing--because had I posted the bulk of the book on Rasikas, it would have been too much too read and you for one would not have gone near it! I'm happy you are getting a glimpse into this poet of poets. Now, when you hear songs of his, you can get a taste of his poetry in a more focused way.
Last edited by arasi on 15 Jul 2011, 19:28, edited 1 time in total.

cmlover
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Re: Oy BhAratiyArE!--A Child's Eye View of the Poet

Post by cmlover »

Let me remind that arasi in addition to being a vaggeyakara is a journalistic reporter. Her translations are unvarnished with just enough editorial comments (for the benefit of those without a background). Her english is just impeccable!

arasi
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Re: Oy BhAratiyArE!--A Child's Eye View of the Poet

Post by arasi »

Thanks CML, but you overstate! I have nibbled at different genres in writing (nunip pul mEidal) but haven't made a career out of any. I know only too well that my English is not impeccable!
Last edited by arasi on 16 Jul 2011, 00:11, edited 1 time in total.

Nick H
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Re: Oy BhAratiyArE!--A Child's Eye View of the Poet

Post by Nick H »

You only misused one word, so far, by count. That's pretty close to impeccable :D

(Oh... the word was "fret")

arasi
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Re: Oy BhAratiyArE!--A Child's Eye View of the Poet

Post by arasi »

So long as the native speaker did not get 'annoy'ed over it!

Nick H
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Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 02:03

Re: Oy BhAratiyArE!--A Child's Eye View of the Poet

Post by Nick H »

Sorry, the word was "fretted". I think. I'll check it out and let you know.

Enough of this banter... get on with your translation! :lol:

srkris
Site Admin
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Re: Oy BhAratiyArE!--A Child's Eye View of the Poet

Post by srkris »

arasi wrote:I know only too well that my English is not impeccable!
It's not peccable.

arasi
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Joined: 22 Jun 2006, 09:30

Re: Oy BhAratiyArE!--A Child's Eye View of the Poet

Post by arasi »

:)
I thought it had a peck of mistakes (no editors as in a publishing house to go through what I type before publishing it).

Nick H
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Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 02:03

Re: Oy BhAratiyArE!--A Child's Eye View of the Poet

Post by Nick H »

tut tut, arasi, leave Peter Piper to worry about the pecks, and give us the next instalment, lest we heap pickled peppers upon you!

(methinks you are taking a necessary break to tune up the brain with trivia...)

arasi
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Re: Oy BhAratiyArE!--A Child's Eye View of the Poet

Post by arasi »

TEN


PArukkuLLE Nalla NADu
(Ours, A Great Land in the World!)



A friend called Balu came home and told us that Chellamma was upset and was crying all the time. "She did not eat all day yesterday," he added.
Bharathi was nowhere to be seen.
My father took me to see Chellamma. Bharathi got fed up with Puduvai. Wanderlust had grabbed him. Chellamma did not know. My father might have.
Bharathi got clean-shaven, and in disguise, had left home. Chellamma waited all day for him. Balu happened to go to their house the next day and he came to tell us.
I asked Chellamma to come and stay with us.

"I'm not afraid of staying alone at home but I'm worried sick about him, Yadugiri! You know how bold he is! What if the police catch him? Doesn't he know I'm dependent on him? Shouldn't he let me know before he goes away?"

My father was very shy to speak to women. "Yadugiri, ask her not to be afraid. Bharathi is very smart. He won't get caught easily. Tell her she needn't stay here alone. She can come and stay with us. We have plenty of room."

"Oh no! It's no trouble at all, our being here. The neighbors are all very kind. It's just that I'm worried about him. I will write to my father and brother. I can at least go home. Without him, what's the point of my being here?"

My father told me to stay with her. He gave me ten rupees and asked me to give it to Chellamma who had started cooking for me. Shakunthala ate at ANNiamma's house.Thangammal at that time was in kASi with her aunt.I ended up spending the whole day with Chellamma.
I again asked her go with me to our house.

Chellamma said, "No, Yadugiri. There is plenty to be done at home. This isn't something new. My family has been pleading with him not to get active in the svadESi movement. He was adamant.That's how we ended up here, leaving our home and family. When the spies are giving us enough trouble, is there any sense in placing himself in danger like this? What if they send him to Andaman Islands? If they do, how can he ever return? Who will help us?"

I said, "Chellamma, don't fear. Bharathi will come back soon!"

"You know he can't keep a low profile. As my father says, Kumarak kaDavuL (Murugan) will dispel mountains of troubles and make them disappear like dew in the morning sun (malai pOl varum kaSHTangaLaip pani pOl nIkkuvAr). He alone can help us!"

When I said I was going home, she asked me to stay on. "I will come with you in the evening. Until then, it'll be nice to have you around."

After lunch, Bhagyalakshmi Ammal (Va Ve Su's wife) came.

Bhagyalakshmi: Chellamma, You don't have to be alone. Come to our house. It will be a pleasant diversion for me to have your company.

Chellamma: I'm not worried about myself. ANNiammal is right next door. Her children are here around me most of the time. Shakunthala virtually lives in their house like another child of theirs. My thoughts are all with him. He's much too reckless, that's what I'd say.

Bhagyalakshmi: You can imagine how I felt when mine (Iyer) was abroad, so far away!

Chellamma: If Bharathi were as calm and collected as Iyer, I wouldn't worry. What if he starts singing in spite of himself?

Bhagylakshmi: What you say is true. Iyer would just quietly see the sights wherever he went, and that was all.

Chellamma: What's the use in my worrying at this point? Dr. Nanjunda Rao in Chennai is his close friend. When it came to matters of SvadESi, Bharathi ignored his dear friend's pleas. I don't know how much more misery is in store for me!"

Yadugiri: Let's only talk about positive things. God will not let us down. If we do good deeds, the results will not turn out be otherwise.

When we were at home that evening, Chellamma spent her time talking to my mother.

Ten or fifteen days went by without Bharathi showing up.
I went upstairs one day and found my father talking to a stranger. I started doing my homework at my desk and the stranger asked me: where's your usual offering (of a little pot of water, betel leaves and areca nut)? I was shocked.

"Yadugiri! Even you could not recognize me!," he said.

Yadygiri: Is it really you, Bharathiyare? Do you know how much agony Chellamma is in? How could you do a thing like that?

Bharathi: What did I do? Even you, who would come running on seeing me, couldn't recognize me. How could those CID fellows spot me!

I gave him water and the betel leaves and then asked him, "Where all did you go? What all did you see?"

"How can I answer you if you ask about it all in one breath? I hear that you consoled Chellamma no end."

"I didn't do anything. I couldn't help much. She wouldn't eat, wouldn't stay with us."

"There was nothing I could have done about it either. I went away knowing that you were all there for her. Supposing I had told her, she would have stopped me."

"Any new songs?", I asked.

"I composed one on the train. I had to restrain myself often from singing it aloud. I will sing it tomorrow. I have a cold and my voice is not good today."

As he promised, Bharathi sang it the next day. It was the patriotic song beginning with the words--pArukkuLLE nalla nADu, engaL bhAratha nADu. He said a beggar woman sang a hindusthAni song and he set the song to that tune.

After Bharathi's agnyAta vAsam (living incognito), Chellamma had lost weight because she was not eating properly. Her father came to Puduvai and took his daughter and Shakunthala away with him saying that Chellamma had anna dvEsham (lack of appetite) and that she would not survive if she stayed on in Puduvai.
Bharathi did not mind. He would eat wherever he was invited.
When Chellamma came back after two months, she said: why should he care? He has all townsmen for his relatives. I came back because I was concerned about him and listen to what he says-- "Chellamma, I like to see you happy. You didn't have to hurry back for my sake!" Now, how do you like that?"

Chellamma had brought Thangamma along with her who was growing up in her aunt's family which was steeped in orthodoxy. Often, there were arguments between her and Bharathi. He would prevail in the end. Thangamma gave in because he was after all her father.


* * * * *
Last edited by arasi on 16 Jul 2011, 18:39, edited 2 times in total.

arasi
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Re: Oy BhAratiyArE!--A Child's Eye View of the Poet

Post by arasi »

Nick,
You are partially right--a bit of diversion is good when you are occupied with something, but it was worse--just as I was uploading, there was a spam/virus--or whatever attack and it caused some trouble and a gobble-up of part of my typing :(
Hope Peter Piper isn't around looking for typos and boo boos!

cmlover
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Joined: 02 Feb 2010, 22:36

Re: Oy BhAratiyArE!--A Child's Eye View of the Poet

Post by cmlover »

The raga set for ParukkuLLE by Bharathy was Hindusthani TODi though DKP tuned it in Jonpuri...

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