03-BhArata dESam enRu peyar SolluvAr
- Get link
- Other Apps
https://www.rasikas.org/forums/viewtopic.php?p=201867#p201867
by arasi »
THREE
BhArata dESam enRu peyar SolluvAr
(This land called BhAratam)
On Sunday mornings, the 'svadESis' in Puduchery went for a dip in the ocean--leaving home for the beach at seven and returning by ten. My father, Bharathiyar, Iyer (Va Ve Su), Tirumalachari and Nagaswami (he worked at The India Weekly which was run by my father. He lived with the Iyer family at that time and moved to AravindAshram later).
BhArata dESam enRu peyar SolluvAr
(This land called BhAratam)
On Sunday mornings, the 'svadESis' in Puduchery went for a dip in the ocean--leaving home for the beach at seven and returning by ten. My father, Bharathiyar, Iyer (Va Ve Su), Tirumalachari and Nagaswami (he worked at The India Weekly which was run by my father. He lived with the Iyer family at that time and moved to AravindAshram later).
.
Four or five of us (children) were part of this Sunday ritual. Then there were the plain clothesmen from the police, keeping a distance of a furlong from us, but shadowing us.
Four or five of us (children) were part of this Sunday ritual. Then there were the plain clothesmen from the police, keeping a distance of a furlong from us, but shadowing us.
.
One Sunday, we were traversing Gowrla St where we saw a snake charmer in front of a house who was given a kAlaNA coin by the servant of the white man who lived there, asking him to move on.
One Sunday, we were traversing Gowrla St where we saw a snake charmer in front of a house who was given a kAlaNA coin by the servant of the white man who lived there, asking him to move on.
"kAlaNA is enough for me to buy milk for the snake. DoraiyE! (addressing the owner of the house), offer me a handful of rice, so that I can eat too!"
.
.
Then he saw us approaching and played his maguDi again. The snake started dancing. As we passed him, he called to us: generous ones! I'm shivering with cold. I haven't eaten in two days. May God bless you!
.
.
We knew from our mother that the sea is a king (samudra rAjan).You don't go empty-handed when you go to see him.
She usually gave us a quarter aNA piece and a little packet of turmeric powder before we left for the beach. The snake charmer saw the kAlaNA in my hand and pleaded: Amma, give me that money and I can buy some iDlis and not go hungry!
.
She usually gave us a quarter aNA piece and a little packet of turmeric powder before we left for the beach. The snake charmer saw the kAlaNA in my hand and pleaded: Amma, give me that money and I can buy some iDlis and not go hungry!
.
I held on to my kAlaNA and walked on saying that it was meant for the samudra rAjan. Bharathi who was walking ahead of me stopped in his track. He pulled his anga vastram (top cloth)from his shoulder, wrapped it round his waist, drew his new vEShTi away and gave it to the snake charmer who blessed him and praised his generosity with all his heart. The man was also cross with me for my miserliness, I could tell.
.
.
We walked on to the beach. I threw the kAlaNA into the sea and smeared myself with turmeric. The elders held on to our hands once we stepped into the sea. Bharathi was holding my hand this time.
Bharathi: Yadugiri, why did you throw the coin into the sea?
Me: Samudram is a king. You have to throw a coin or a lemon in it before you step into the water.Otherwise, he gets angry.
Bharathi: Who told you this?
Me: My mother who knows everything. My brother gave away his kAlaNA to the snake charmer. You better hold on to him in case the sea gets angry with him!
Bharathi: Iyer is holding his hand. As for you, are you going to listen to what I'm going to say?
Me: Tell me.
Bharathi: Had you given the kAlaNA to the poor man, he could have fed his children with it. What's the use for this coin which is going to be buried in the sand? Had you offered some food to the sea, the fish would have eaten it. What can they do with the money?
Me: You are right, but my mother told me to do this. Doesn't she know?
Bharathi: These are meaningless gestures. In old times they threw money into ponds and tanks so that the karaiyALars who cleaned them got the money. Your throwing the coin into the sea is of no avail. The sea cleans itself with its waves. It does not need your help.
Me: BharathiyArE! In that case, find that kAlaNA. We can give it to the man on our way back.
Bharathi: Never mind. Don't do this again, though.
Me: By the way, what have 'you' done, giving your brand new vEshTi away to the man? What's Chellmma going to say? You could have given him the worn upper cloth instead!
Bharathi: Others give me things. He has no such luck. I didn't mind giving it to him, why does it bother you?
I could not answer him.
Bharathi: Yadugiri, why did you throw the coin into the sea?
Me: Samudram is a king. You have to throw a coin or a lemon in it before you step into the water.Otherwise, he gets angry.
Bharathi: Who told you this?
Me: My mother who knows everything. My brother gave away his kAlaNA to the snake charmer. You better hold on to him in case the sea gets angry with him!
Bharathi: Iyer is holding his hand. As for you, are you going to listen to what I'm going to say?
Me: Tell me.
Bharathi: Had you given the kAlaNA to the poor man, he could have fed his children with it. What's the use for this coin which is going to be buried in the sand? Had you offered some food to the sea, the fish would have eaten it. What can they do with the money?
Me: You are right, but my mother told me to do this. Doesn't she know?
Bharathi: These are meaningless gestures. In old times they threw money into ponds and tanks so that the karaiyALars who cleaned them got the money. Your throwing the coin into the sea is of no avail. The sea cleans itself with its waves. It does not need your help.
Me: BharathiyArE! In that case, find that kAlaNA. We can give it to the man on our way back.
Bharathi: Never mind. Don't do this again, though.
Me: By the way, what have 'you' done, giving your brand new vEshTi away to the man? What's Chellmma going to say? You could have given him the worn upper cloth instead!
Bharathi: Others give me things. He has no such luck. I didn't mind giving it to him, why does it bother you?
I could not answer him.
We went further into the ocean, up to our chests, holding on securely to the hands of the elders.
When we were home, the children went to the back courtyard (muTRam)to bathe in warmed up water which awaited us. Bharathi, AiyyA (my father) and others drew water from the big toTTi (rectangular tub where drawn water gets stored) in the front courtyard and bathed.
They were putting on dry clothes when we were back.
When we were home, the children went to the back courtyard (muTRam)to bathe in warmed up water which awaited us. Bharathi, AiyyA (my father) and others drew water from the big toTTi (rectangular tub where drawn water gets stored) in the front courtyard and bathed.
They were putting on dry clothes when we were back.
Bharathi: AnnA! Yadugiri was upset that I gave away the vEshTi to the pAmbATTi. (turning to me) Yadugiri, I gave away one and got two back from your AiyyA! Now, tell me who is the generous one among us?
Me: Fine! Bharathiyare!I loved the tune which the pAmbATTi played. If only you can sing in that rAgam!
Bharathi: I will teach you one tomorrow. Once again, tell me. Who's the most generous among us all?
Me: Aren't you all one? So, both of you are generous! I'm sorry I threw away the coin. I will not do it again.
Bharathi was very happy to hear this. He started relating what transpired that morning to others--in English.
He came the next evening and we assembled upstairs and heard him sing vandE mAtaram first. Then,
Me: Fine! Bharathiyare!I loved the tune which the pAmbATTi played. If only you can sing in that rAgam!
Bharathi: I will teach you one tomorrow. Once again, tell me. Who's the most generous among us all?
Me: Aren't you all one? So, both of you are generous! I'm sorry I threw away the coin. I will not do it again.
Bharathi was very happy to hear this. He started relating what transpired that morning to others--in English.
He came the next evening and we assembled upstairs and heard him sing vandE mAtaram first. Then,
bhArata dESam enRu peyar SolluvAr--miDip,
payam kolluvAr tuyar pagai velluvAr
bhAratap pOr venRa kaNNanaruLAl--tuyar
bhAramaRuvar Selva bhAramuRuvAr.
He sang fourteen stanzas of this song.
I'm known for asking questions all the time. Iyer and Bharathi answered me with patience every time. I asked a few questions now: This is fine, but when will all this happen? Do we really need machines for making needles and nails? I think arms are important (Ayudam) and you make only a fleeting reference to them in this song!
Bharathi: The child raises tough questions. Let me think. How can we sew without a needle? Clothing is as essential as food for the people. You need nails to make boxes, hang pictures...
I notice that in the printed versions of Bharathi's verses, four of the following lines have been omitted:
bhAratap pOr venRa kaNNAnaruLAl--tuyar
bhAramaRuvAr, Selva bhAramuRuvAr
and later on in the poem,
bhArata rANiyin, kaNNanaruLAl--tuyar
bhAramaRuvAr, Selva bhAramuRuvAr
* * * * *
payam kolluvAr tuyar pagai velluvAr
bhAratap pOr venRa kaNNanaruLAl--tuyar
bhAramaRuvar Selva bhAramuRuvAr.
He sang fourteen stanzas of this song.
I'm known for asking questions all the time. Iyer and Bharathi answered me with patience every time. I asked a few questions now: This is fine, but when will all this happen? Do we really need machines for making needles and nails? I think arms are important (Ayudam) and you make only a fleeting reference to them in this song!
Bharathi: The child raises tough questions. Let me think. How can we sew without a needle? Clothing is as essential as food for the people. You need nails to make boxes, hang pictures...
I notice that in the printed versions of Bharathi's verses, four of the following lines have been omitted:
bhAratap pOr venRa kaNNAnaruLAl--tuyar
bhAramaRuvAr, Selva bhAramuRuvAr
and later on in the poem,
bhArata rANiyin, kaNNanaruLAl--tuyar
bhAramaRuvAr, Selva bhAramuRuvAr
* * * * *
continued at
- Get link
- Other Apps
