Lets Relax! And Stay Mentally Young! Happy Pongal!

ambika ananth · Jan 14, 2007

Kudos to you..

Thanks Sridhar for the beautiful post. Nature truly wears her best attire during Pongal and the poem with your lovely translation says it all..
you are leaving me more and more in awe of you with your ability to translate so lucidly...how aptly you said 'fieldward- bound', instead of using some dry expression like' on the way to his field'...oh very very effortless translation ( I am envying you a wee bit, I must say sir..)

One small doubt though about the line break-up here

"And she makes my eye stop in the matured
Green of the fully grown crops!"

Why are the words 'matured green' separated'? even if the original has it that way, with the translator's freedom, one can say

" and she makes my eye stop
in the matured green of the fully grown crops'...

What do you say expert..???

May the Sun God whom we especially pray to during Pongal, bring in sunshine and warmth in our hearts and souls and the Rangolis ( Kolams) fill our lives with vivid colours of joy and happiness...A very happy and generous Pongal to all of us...

best regards
ambika

( Sridhar, due to some technical glitches, I couldn't use my comp for a while...I am yet to respond to your mental aging thread...will do so surely, because I am a victim of that condition...I feel too old and archaic in my mind...no hope in sight)

Vidya24 · Jan 14, 2007

and we smile back!

Dear Sridhar,

You have given us a nice Pongal gift. Persons like me,rarely read (or know what to read) in Tamil literature. With yr Abdul Rahman and Bharatidasan poems, you are giving us a good insight. I liked this poem, enjoyed even more yr rewritten version of the original in English. You have written the original in your own words, at the same time retaining the identity of the poet. That is fabulous. May beauty smile at you from Indhu and Preethi's faces, and in everything you see.Happy Pongal!

Dear Ambika,

I enjoyed your appreciation of the translation. One needs a poet's heart and eye for that. Happy Makar Sankaranti to you and yours.

affly
Vidya

varalotti · Jan 14, 2007

Corrected, Ambika!

Dear Ambika,
Bowing to your words of poetic wisdom have corrected my translation as suggested by you.
Will start replying to the posts in order from tomorrow.
regards,
sridhar

vidhyalakshmid · Jan 15, 2007

Hello Sridhar,
Thanks for Bharathidasan`s poem. I always love to read and memorize
Tamil poems especially Bharathiar`s and Bharathidasan`s. You brought back
my school day memories. Thanks again and wish you a very happy pongal!

Surya · Jan 15, 2007

Dear Sridhar,

Thanks for this pongal special wonderful post. In between your heavy posts, sharing this kind of literature pieces makes ILites feel refreshed. Your translation is so nice. After reading your post, the joy of beauty entered in to our heart too.

Wishing all ILites a very happy pongal.

regards,
kodi.

varalotti · Jan 15, 2007

Nice to have made a young lady, younger!

Dear Vandhana,

It was your first response to my mental ageing thread that started a flurry of activity on the IL site. I was surprised to see a full-fledged games and puzzles thread.

Happy to know that you enjoyed this beautiful poem. Thanks for the nice words on my translation.
Have a great pongal and Kaanum Pongal.
regards,
sridhar

varalotti · Jan 15, 2007

Have a Great Pongal, Kamla!

Dear Kamla,

I am very happy to see that the poem has been of delight to you. This is Tamil poetry in its pure form, before it was vulgarised by the movies.

To be honest, Kamla, this is not similar to Kalangalil Aval Vasantham. In fact Kalangalil Vasantham, as its author Kannadasan has admitted, an inspiration from Bhagavad Gita. The chapter is Viboothi Yoga, where Krishna says that he is the best of whatever is there.
Krishna prefers this Tamil month margazhi. And says in Gita,
"Maasanam Aham maargaseershanam"
The Tamil months got their names from the stars that fall on the Pournami day in that month. Thus the star mrugasheersham falls on pournami in that month. From maargasheersham came the Tamil word maarkazhi.

So Kannadasan literally translated the line,
maadhangalil aval maarkazhi...

Sorry, for suddenly entering into the preaching mode. Reference to songs, poems and literature makes that mode irresisitable for me.
Love,
sridhar

varalotti · Jan 15, 2007

Thanks, Purnima!

Thanks a ton Purnima for your kind wishes and the kind words you have for my poem.
regards,
Varalotti

varalotti · Jan 15, 2007

That was a poetical response, Meena!

Hello Meena,

Somebody said that the hallmark of a good poem is to induce an urge in the reader to create some poetry. In that way Bharatidasan's poem is pure gold with the Hallmark stamping.

My God, if this poem is going to change your moods......... well.....

Have a great time,
Happy Pongal to you, Dr.Prakash and Deepthi. (and of course to dana too)
sridhar

varalotti · Jan 15, 2007

You should be ready not only for Bhogi.... Meenu

Dear Meenu,
Not only for the Bhogi but the next heavy thread in this series. So be prepared. Open up your minds and steel your nerves.
Thanks for the nice Pongal wishes and wish you the same.
regards,
sridhar