Poems of Love and War 17-4-2006

Title poems of Love and War, selections from Tamil "Ettuthogai and Pathu Paatu". Selected and translated by A.K. RAMANUJAM.

This is one of the two books by Ramanujam sent by Sarasvathy and received by Laxmi

a fortnight back. I have read about AKR in media articles as a famous scholar Tamil classicals and folk tales. I had a copy of his collection of Folk Tales which Bina used to read several times until the paper back got unhinged and torn. As expected this book is stellar in character and expositions. The poems are part of the famed sangam literature variously dated 100 BC - 200 AD. Compared to much of sanskrit literature, sangam works are more secular and earthly. No religion could be assigned to these authors other than just natural. I have very little idea of the location and society of sangam literature. Whatever I read in Malayalam did not elicit a full picture. There were some Keralite poets in the sangam. Some names of kings or heads seems to be Kerala origin. In those times there was no seperate Malayalam language. So Tamil is much older and matured. There is a big gap from sangam era to the time of later Tamil epics such as Kampa Ramayanam. The two known and popular epics are Chilappadikaram and Manimekhalai. They are the works when budhism was widespread in South. Jainism also was prevelant. Both Budhists and Jains must have written many works in Tamil as in the case of North where Pali and Prakrit works of both followers are in abundance. AKR mentions the Tamil Tatha U.V. Swaminatha Iyer not aware of the existence of Sangam and Jain Krities in Tamil. It seems that Sanskrit speaking Brahmins who came to south in the early common era overwhelmed the rulers and ruled with their vedic rites and practices occupied the cultural scene exterminating the indigenious one. Then it seems that we lost a good part of Tamil classics as it was with budhists texts in the north. But many of them were retreaved from their chinese and tibetan translations. No such luck to the Tamil.

With such historical back ground we should cherish what were left out from perishing and made known still some manuscripts might have been kept hidden. A concerted and dedicated efforts to find them is the need of times. Let us look at the newly found gospels from the dead sea scrolls to the latest Judas gospels. Unfortunately scholarship of such caliber nor the wherewithals are easily available in todays Tamil Nadu. A good lot of time, intellect and money wasted in futile and rediculous persuits petty and personal politics. So long this scene continues there is no hope for any cultural renewal except fundamentalism.

By,

K.N. KRISHNAN

Nana's e-mail to his younger grandson 'Ravi'.

Dear Ravikutty,

Your email set me thinking deep. I feel happy for your thoughts since, they are still in the process of evolving into set ideas. But I would say that one should avoid any set ideas. They enslave one’s mind and direct our behaviour. I would prefer my own ideas to be in flux, always ready to think differently. I fully agree with your favourite MURPHY LAW, something wrong somewhere imperceptible to many. It is also my view that thinking should be open not confined to self. In today’s technically advanced atmosphere, it is possible to convey thoughts to many others even unknown thru media. People have varied experiences they formulate their thoughts from different view points. Sometime our ill thought ideas get clarified in others thoughts. They might fill up the gaps that occur in the process. We also might think and act differently on getting fill up from these responses.

What you pointed as intentions of people that they either try to negotiate, reject, ignore or try to impose ideas. “How true”. Still there will be few who both receive and give. In the process they themselves change. It is possible to spot personal or self interest while mingling and interacting with like or unlike minded. We should leave them there to sense and realise their flaws.

Some of these thoughts came to me after ruminating on points brought out in your e-mail. They might have been in my subconcience , but they got words after you stimulated it. I am trying to fathom the full and complete meaning of your expressed thoughts. I very much appreciate your perseverance to find meaning in life. I won’t go too deep. Hundreads nay thousands got into a mire and established a cults that goes on increasing the mindless faithfuls. Take life as it is. Enjoy it without getting polluted. What I mean is that don’t get attached to any firmed ideology. Picasso’s Guernica might be ambiguous as you say but thousands got inspired thru this painting and they found solace in overcoming fascist scourge in the European Scene. Others realised the enormity of hate and violence perpetrated on common people. That is for the time being.

Yours very affectionately,

Nana.

Untouchables from Tehelka: 25.07.2005

Daddy’s article on Untouchables from Tehelka: 25.07.2005

TO AKHIL,
AFTER READING THE TAHELKA ARTICLE I TRIED TO REMEMBER. THERE IS NOTHING IN MY READING AND OR EXPERIENCE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE TOPIC IN TEHELKA. IN MY VILLAGE DAYS THERE USED TO COME A VANNAN(WASHERMAN) EVERY FORTNIGHT. THEY WERE UNTOUCHABLES BUT STILL THEY CAME TO OUR HOUSE TO COLLECT THE LAUNDRY. THEY WILL STAND OUTSIDE AND MOVE 10 TO 15 FEET FROM US. CLOTHS ARE COUNTED AND BUNDLED BY THEM AND TAKEN TO WASH. THE CLOTHS ARE WASHED IN HEATED LIME BHATTIES, STARCHED AND IRONED AND BROUGHT BACK IN 2 WEEKS. AGAIN THE CLOTHS ARE COUNTED AND KEPT IN A NICHE IN HOUSE. ONE HAS TO DO A WET WASH AND TAKE BATH BEFORE USING THE CLOTH FOR DAILY WEAR. THIS WAS TRUE IN KIZHAKHANCHERI AND NEMMARE. A CHANGE CAME IN BOMBAY. THE SERVICE OF A WASHERMAN WAS AVAILABLE FOR MANY YEARS AT CHEMBUR ALSO. I DON’T REMEMBER AS TO WHEN THE SERVICE WAS DISCONTINUED. MAY BE WE STARTED WEARING POLYSTER.
I AM NOT SURPRISED TO READ THE TAHELKA ARTICLE. THE MEDIA DID MENTION ABOUT SUCH PRACTICES ON TAMIL NADU AFTER THE TSUNAMI DISASTER. VIDEO CLIPS WERE IN THE CHANNELS. THE REPORT WAS SOMETHING SIMILAR. CERTAIN CASTES THOUGH VERY LOW IN THE LADDER DID OBJECT TO BE PUTUP IN THE SAME PLACE OF REFUGE WITH FAMILIES OF LOWER STATUS. THEY PUSHED THE LATTER FORCIBLY TO OPEN ROADS. THERE WERE ALSO REPORTS OF THE LOWESTS RATIONS CONFISCATED BY THE CASTE CONCIOUSE AND FORMER WERE ALLOWED TO SCAVENGE FROM THE WASTE.
I HAVE A BOOK TITLED “SANGATI” MEANING NEWS, INFORMATION OR OCCURANCES. THE NARRATIVE IS ABOUT THE MODES AND MOVES OF THE LOWEST CASTE PARAYAR IN TAMIL NADU. NEWS FROM LONDON IS NOT VERY ASSURING. PLEASE KEEP CONTACT WITH JAI AND RAVI ABOUT THEIR WELBEINGS. MORE IN NEXT.

Daddy