OESAIGALIN NIRAMAALAI
- poems by G.KANNAN
(rendered in English by Latha Ramakrishnan)
OESAIGALIN NIRAMALAI
(INSIGHT is the title of my small
volume comprising the English translations of a few poems of five ‘visually challenged’
poets writing in Tamil. The English translations are mine and the original
poems in Tamil were also given. Here the poems of G.Kannan are
given)
Poems rendered in English by Latha Ramakrishnan
(writer-poet-translator)
1) The Cup of Friendship
a glass cup this is,
with the juice of ancience brimming…
be careful.
if the stone of discord
touches it slightly _
it would break.
if the hand of camaraderie
loosens its grip a little
it would go splinters
2) Imprints
Our predecessors had
penned Classics and became
immortal.
Our ancestors were
said to have exposed the emptiness
of that arrogant fellow
who treated us with abject indifference.
Our ‘spiritual guru’ fought for our
access to Education and Knowledge
for more than sixty years
in a non-violent manner,
turning victorious and world famous.
Despite having all the three doors shut
our beloved old lady
learnt the length and breadth of the world
with her fingers
proving the wonder of all wonders.
Today our brethren
leaving their imprints atop Mount Himalayas
undertake journey
through the Antarctic Land.
Though we sit on par with our fellow-men
we are still portrayed as
street-singers with begging-bowls.
We are still displayed as exhibits
in the show-rooms of the Society.
While this is going on
where to go seeking and retrieve
our own, real imprints and identity?
3) The Fragrance of Father
As like the ‘coat-of-mail’ and ‘ear-rings’
of the mythological Karna
it must’ve been born along with
my father.
Which cannot be washed away
even by the waters of Ganges
where we had our sacred dip.
And, my father has never polluted it
with artificial scents and perfumes.
Before the sound of father’s footsteps enter the ears
as like the elephant-bells
it would get into the nostrils
and stay on.
That which warms my heart-
the fragrance of my father is something
unique, noble,
having especial significance,
revealing the real meaning of labour
in any Thesaurus whatsoever.
With full of the smell of Earth,
immersed in soil, is the scent of my father.
4) The spectrum of sounds
Sounds are so full of illumination,
so they are pregnant with meaning.
Sounds are so full of characteristics,
so they lend flavour to Life
Sounds have their own fragrance,
so they are stylish and refined
Sounds have shades of colour
For Laughter that scatters – Green
For murmurs of love that makes one
quiver in ecstsy – Blue
For beauty that tires one out – dense Yellow
For the blabberings of a child – flowery White
For the sweet song of koel – Indigo
For raging roar – blood Red
For the sacred sound of bells – magical Violet
Sounds have shades of colours
for the thunder ,
rain-drop,
chirping of birds,
call of animals
There are visions anew
of Tongue incomprehensible.
The Spectrum of Silent Rainbow _
The Sounds.
5) queries that devovour answersTo Meera with Love _
Curse your Kannan…
Let me drop dead
at your feet.
You loathe as a jarring sound
the Music of my flute
that softly floats in the air.
Shut your ears tightly.
You try to extinguish the Music
by burning the Flute.
Can you?
5
All too strong an iron-wall
That cannot be shaken at all.
You are on the other side
Here, we are
As the bridge that connects –
Our autumnal dreams”_
POET. G. KANNAN:
Oesaigalin
Niramaalai ( The Spectrum of Sounds) is the first poem-collection of
Mr.G.Kannan who has a Doctorate to his credit. Despite losing his eye-sight
very early in life, he, with the help of his parents, acquired an M.A in Tamil
and went on to become the first ever visually handicapped person in the whole
of Dharmapuri District in Tamil Nadu, to get a Doctorate in Tamil. His P.hd
Dissertation was on the theme,The theme of Generation Gap in Contemporary Tamil
Novels (Thamizh Novelgalil Thalaimurai Idaiveli). It was published by one of
the reputed publishing houses of Tamil Nadu called Kaavya. In the foreword of
this book itself Mr.Kannan has highlighted the various problems and hurdles
that he had to face in collecting materials for his dissertation. Interested in
the contemporary literary trends of Tamil, especially Poetry, whenever he gets
a chance Mr.Kannan makes it a point to attend literary seminars and gatherings.
He, with the help of his friends read the various contemporary writings in Tamil on a regular basis . And, Mr.G.Kannan’s poems too deal with the conflicts, chaos, moments of
ecstasy and happiness, solitiude, alienation, anguish, composure of the inner
world and the problems that confront them in their day-to-day existence, both
as ordinary human beings and as visually handicapped. his second poem-collection was published by Navina Vrutcham(titled
‘Mazhaik-Kudai Naatkal( Rain_Umbrella Days) of Mr.G.Kannan which is receiving
good response. Poet G.Kannan’s address: Dr.G.Kannan, (earlier ) Senior Lecturer,
Department of Tamil, Government Arts College, Dharmapuri. Tamil Nadu. (*Now he could be the Principal)
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