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After Comparison And Warning Bells....

Discussion in 'Saturdays with Varalotti' started by varalotti, Dec 8, 2006.

  1. varalotti

    varalotti IL Hall of Fame

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    Most Gracious ILites,
    I have now started to think deeply about what I should post in my regular bi-weekly threads. With the increasing membership I feel my responsibilities have also increased. When there is a likelihood that some of the world’s finest 2000 plus ladies reading my posts, I need to be extra careful. It is more a question of time, of all the ladies who will read my thread. Even if 500 ladies spend 10 minutes reading my post, 5000 minutes or some 83 hours are spent for me. Should it not be made valuable? And about the valuable cyberspace I am occupying in this wonderful site. Should I not justify it?
    With these anxieties weighing down my mind I examined my database of my and others writings I have gathered. Believe me ladies, my dilemma is similar to that of a woman having a large wardrobe wanting to choose a dress for a grand party. Only in my case the party is there twice a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays. And I will have the dilemma of choice twice a week.
    I know you are all exhausted by Warning Bells, Risk and Comparison. It’s time to pray. Or more aptly to listen to the wonderful prayer of an Unknown Confederate Soldier. The author of this beautiful prayer is unknown. He was probably so overwhelmed by his love towards God that he simply forgot to append his autograph on this great work.
    I read this poem more than 20 years ago. I was so impressed by this poem that I wrote one having the same core idea but expressed in my own words, far less profound than the original. You will be surprised to know that Indian Express in its Youth Section published this poem on 5th September, 1986.
    I posted my poem in this site; but at that time we were a small site of a few hundreds of people. I am giving the link to that poem here
    http://www.indusladies.com/forums/showthread.php?t=792
    And now you have the original

    The Prayer of an Unknown Confederate Soldier

    I asked God for strength, that I might achieve;
    I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey.
    I asked for health, that I might do greater things;
    I was given infirmity that I might do better things.
    I asked for riches, that I might be happy;
    I was given poverty, that I might be wise.
    I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men;
    I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God.
    I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life;
    I was given life, that I might enjoy all things.
    I got nothing that I asked for-but everything I had hoped for.
    Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.
    I among all men, am most richly blessed.
     
    Last edited: Dec 8, 2006
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  2. Chitvish

    Chitvish Moderator IL Hall of Fame

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    A penny for your thoughts, Sridhar ?

    I asked God what is birth
    He made me experience life

    I asked what is affection
    He said live with others you will know

    I asked God what is love
    He said share with others you will know

    I asked God what is marriage
    He said get married you will know

    I asked God what is child
    He said beget a child you will know

    I asked God what is old age
    He said grow old you will know

    I asked God what is poverty
    He said when you have no money you will know

    I asked God what is death
    He said when you die you will know

    I asked God if I have to experience everything and learn why do I need you
    He came near me and said I am Experience !

    As you know, I am in noway, a literary person, but very much a layperson. But I am compelled to share my thoughts with you, when I read the poem you have posted.
    I thoroughly enjoyed your pensive poem ! It did make me reflect on life, no doubt !

    Love,
    Chithra.




     
  3. Varloo

    Varloo Gold IL'ite

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    Now you both have made me so very thoughful and serious, with your touching poems. I need to read them several times to get them deeply into me.
     
  4. safa

    safa Bronze IL'ite

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    Sridhar,
    These seems the basic rules of life, every one must learn and follow. Any way both the versions are excellent!
    No one would remain discontented if strictly obeying all these.
    Thanks for sharing such a brilliant bit of thought.
     
  5. varalotti

    varalotti IL Hall of Fame

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    It is Kannadaasan's Poem!

    Dear Chitra,
    What you have posted is actually built on one of the best poems of Kannadasan. For the benefit of the iLites I am reproducing the original poem in Tami.

    பிறத்தல் என்பது யாதெனக் கேட்டேன்
    பிறந்து பார் என ஆண்டவன் பணித்தான்

    இறத்தல் என்பது யாதெனக் கேட்டேன்
    இறந்து பார் என ஆண்டவன் பணித்தான்

    மனையாள் சுகமெனில் ஏதெனக் கேட்டேன்
    மண்ந்து பார் என ஆண்டவன் பணித்தான்

    அனுபவித்தே அறிவதுதான் வாழ்க்கையெனில்
    ஆண்டவனே நீ ஏன் எனக் கேட்டேன்

    ஆண்டவன் சற்றே அருகினில் வந்து
    அந்த அனுபவம் என்பதே நான் தான் என்றான்

    This is one of the immortal poems of Kaviarasu Kannadasan . Balakumaran had quoted this verse fully in his novel pachai vayal manathu.

    My rendering of this verse in English:

    One fine morning I confronted God
    And asked him about many a word!

    What is birth, I did ask.
    'Be born and only then you will know'

    Then how would I know death?
    'Only by dying yourself' answered God.

    Atleast explain marital bliss, I prayed.
    Get yourself a wife, so He said.

    If I have to do everything to know,
    Why the hell you exist, I don't know.

    God came near and whispered in my ear
    I am the doing and the experience, my dear.

    Thanks for the response, Chitra.
    Varalotti



     
  6. Chitvish

    Chitvish Moderator IL Hall of Fame

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    My dear Sridhar !

    Without realising it is Kannadasan's, I had it, copied from a magazine long back. The full poem is

    நீ மணி நான் ஒலி

    பிறப்பின் வருவது யாதெனக் கேட்டேன்
    பிறந்து பாரென இறைவன் பணித்தான்
    படிப்பெனச் சொல்வது யாதெனக் கேட்டேன்
    படித்துப்பாரென இறைவன் பணித்தான்

    அறிவெனச்சொல்வது யாதெனக் கேட்டேன்
    அறிந்து பாரென இறைவன் பணித்தான்
    அன்பெனப்பாடுவது யாதெனக் கேட்டேன்
    அளித்துப் பாரென இறைவன் பணித்தான்

    பாசம் என்பது யாதெனக் கேட்டேன்
    பகிர்ந்து பாரென இறைவன் பணித்தான்
    மனையாள் சுகமென யாதெனக் கேட்டேன்
    மணந்து பாரென இறைவன் பணித்தான்

    பிள்ளை என்பது யாதெனக் கேட்டேன்
    பெற்றுப் பாரென இறைவன் பணித்தான்
    முதுமை என்பது யாதெனக் கேட்டேன்
    முதிர்ந்து பாரென இறைவன் பணித்தான்

    வறுமை என்பது என்னெனக் கேட்டேன்
    வாடிப்பாரென இறைவன் பணித்தான்
    இறப்பின் பின்னது ஏதெனக் கேட்டேன்
    இறந்து பாரென இறைவன் பணித்தான்

    "அனுபவித்தே தான் அறிவது வாழ்வெனில்
    ஆண்டவனே நீ ஏன்" எனக் கேட்டேன்
    ஆண்டவன் சற்றே அருகி நெருங்கி
    "அனுபவம் என்பதே நான் தான்" என்றான் !

    You may please translate it in your inimitable style for the benefit of everybody. Alaso, please go to the following link, which I posted in my culture thread.
    http://www.indusladies.com/forums/showpost.php?p=18825&postcount=1
    That was given to me in one of my energy classes.
    Thanks for introducing a thought provoking topic, this week, Sridhar.
    Love,
    Chithra.
     
  7. Kamla

    Kamla IL Hall of Fame

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    Beautiful words...

    Dear Varalotti and Chitra...

    Thanks for bringing these words to our attention. All of them are beautiful poems. I have come across the confederate soldier's words, but they are faded in my memory. Those words are refreshing and so true.
    The saying goes..Great minds think alike....:)
    No wonder the similarities in the poems written by those poets and today, our own IL poets!!
    This is an energising thread!

    L, Kamla
     
  8. Varloo

    Varloo Gold IL'ite

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    hello thilakams,
    we are all so lucky to get the 'rasam' or essence of best things without hardwork from you both. I can't thank you enough. All the poems, translations are excellent.
     
  9. sudhavnarasimhan

    sudhavnarasimhan Silver IL'ite

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    Dear Sridhar,

    That was a great poem , which you have posted and your version posted long ago was really good! And of course the Kannadasan version and our own Chitra's version and both your translations were really enjoyable. A similar thought and a profound one at that seems to be the core material in all these poems. Thanks for sharing these wonderful immortal poems with us! A great saturday treat for all of us!
     
  10. varalotti

    varalotti IL Hall of Fame

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    Thaks All

    Dear All,
    Please forgive my rudeness in making a common reply to you all. I am very happy that you enjoyed the poem. Chitra, I am doubly happy that you have come out with the full version of Kannadasans poem which I have been looking for quite some time.
    And all of you, my dear ladies, please pardon me for the common reply. I dont want to do that. But I am not well, and my health wont allow me to anything more.
    I need to conserve strength for a complex tax hearing tomorrow and post a new thread tomorrow night.
    Thanks once again,
    sridhar
     

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