March 19th-POULTRY DAY

Great Saint Poet, author of the Tamil magnum opus Thirukkural
Two thousand years ago appealed to the people to shun and
Give up meat eating!
Chapter Twenty Six

BYE TO MEAT EATING

1.
How can be graceful
One who takes animal’s flesh
To keep his flesh fresh!                                      (251)

2.
For the meat eaters
No grace left; wealth of no use
Who cares not but fritters!                               (252)

3.
The one who takes flesh
Sees not the grace of life great
Killer minds his knife!                               (253)

4.Non-killing is grace
Killing graceless; eating meat
Sure a sin – disgrace!                                       (254)
5.
Bye to meat! Lives saved!
Hell welcomes the meat eaters
Path to hell well laid!                                      (255)
6.
Killing life for meat
Selling flesh for money – sin
No more flesh to eat!                                       (256)
7.
Flesh – another’s sore
Realized one avoids meat
The world can’t ask for more!                           (257)
8.
Free from ignorance
Will abstain from meat eating
Meat – another’s life!                                      (258)
9.
Better than penance
Is giving up meat – a life
Killed for our pleasure!                                    (259)
10.
Who abstain from meat
The world salutes with respect
They kill not and greet!                                     (260)

Here we have NATIONAL POULTRY DAY today Nineteenth March
Eggs and turkey bacon for breakfast, an open-faced turkey avocado sandwich for lunch and then perhaps a good, ol’ fashioned fried chicken dinner to finish off the day. Poultry is the theme for March 19th as it is National Poultry Day.
Poultry refers to domestic birds that are raised for meat and eggs. These birds include chicken, turkey, ducks, geese, quail, and pheasant.  Poultry is farmed in large numbers with chickens being the most numerous.
Poultry can be prepared in many different ways including roasting, baking, frying, grilling, sautéing, steaming and roasting.

Look at these ignorant and innocent looking hen and rooster
Not knowing its fate in a minutes few at the hands of the men
Great creation of the Almighty, my great Lord Omnipotent
To be at peace and harmony with all HIS creations!

Let us try  and make efforts to follow the Tamil Poet Valluvar
And take to vegetarianism in all spirit good and valuable
And spare the valuable lives of all birds and animals
Live to the traditions of India that is Bharath our homeland!

 

UNIQUE NELLORE

STPM GOVERNMENT IASE B Ed COLLEGE NELLORE-Photo Perugu Ramakrishna

My literary bonds are getting stronger of late with great Andhra Pradesh. It was Sulurpeta, Vijayawada, Guntur, three trips to Nellore!This Sunday story carries my happy recollections of my visit to Nellore on 19th instant to address the B.Ed students and staff of STPM Government IASE B Ed. college on “THE CLASSICAL LANGUAGE TAMIL in connection with the International Mother Language Day.

Proverbially it is often said :It is better to do ordinary things in an extraordinary manner than an extraordinary thing be done in an ordinary manner!
UNESCO in its own wisdom announcing certain special days to be observed all over the world and many following nicely with sensitivity and seriousness and some casually with insensitivity!
“UNESCO announced that February 21st will be observed as INTERNATIONAL MOTHER LANGUAGE DAY”
I have personally seen the arrangements being made by several organizations and today was UNIQUE NELLORE Day in this respect.
International Poet Perugu Ramakrishna-Ambassador WORLD UNION OF POETS = a brain behind many literary activities in Nellore- a popular District Head Quarters in Andhra Pradesh took the lead and arranged for great observation of the day with an Invitation shown at the top.

The day started in the B Ed. College in Nellore at 10.30 with an invocation song of VANDHE MATHARAM of Bankim Chandra Chatterji.
Dr. Y. Sailaja was the Master of Ceremony who conducted every aspect with alacrity and involvement. Sri Perugu Ramachandra presiding, a number of B.Ed students of the college expressed their thoughts in a beautiful, lucid and enlightened manner.
Totally during the proceedings 15 students participated and spoke on the significance of the day and greatness of Mother Language. I presented my paper on the topic CLASSICAL LANGUAGE TAMIL. Prominent Smskrit scholar Shri Allu Bhyaskar Reddy of Nellore spoke about the greatness of Samskrit as a language. Chief Guest of the Day Sri Mydavolu Venkata Sesha Sathyanarayana-Internationally Reputed English Classical Poet of Nellore suggested to the students to learn as many languages as possible along with Mother Language as every language has its own beauty and style resplendent with literary works.
Principal Dr. Ramesh explained various steps taken to foster and popularize other languages along with Telugu in the College and the State.
Perugu Ramakrishna-President of the Meeting in his own inimitable chaste Telugu interspersed with English, the significance of UNESCO decision in the larger interest of the development of the languages.
As the Ambassador of WUP, he offered Honorary Membership of the WORLD UNION OF POETS to all the students who did  a
great feat with their own thoughts on the theme of the day.

Thus an extraordinary natter was done in an extraordinary manner during UNIQUE NELLORE day in the B Ed. College.

I started my presentation after reciting the State Anthem on MOTHER TELUGU:

தெலுகு தல்லி!

மா தெலுகு தல்லிகீ மல்லபூதண்ட

மா கன்ன தல்லிகீ மங்களாருதுலு

 

கடுபுலோ பங்காரு கனுசூபுலோ கருண

சிருநவ்வுலோ ஸீருலு தொரலின்சு மாதல்லி

கல கலா கோதாரி கதலி போதுண்டேனு

பிர பிரா க்ருஷ்ணம்ம பருகுலிடுதுண்டேனு

பங்காரு பண்டலே பண்டுதாயி

முரிபால முத்யாலு தொரலுதாயி

அமராவதீ நகர அபுரூப சில்பாலு

த்யாகய்ய கொந்துலோ தாராடு நாதாலு

திக்கய்ய கலமுலோ திய்யந்தனாலு

நித்யமை, நிகிலமை நிலசியுண்டேதாக

ருத்ரம்ம புஜ ஸக்தி, மல்லம்ம பதி பக்தி

திம்மருசு தீயுக்தி, க்ருஷ்ணராயல கீர்த்தி

மா செவுலு ரிங்குமனி மாரும்ரோஜேதாக

நீ ஆடலே ஆடுதாம், நீ பாடலே பாடுதாம்

ஜய் தெலுகு தல்லீ,ஜய் தெலுகு தல்லீ!

Here ios the paper presented by me on the occasion:

INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES-ANCIENT LANGUAGE TAMIL

What is a language?
Language is basically a mode of communication among the members of a society. In the expression of culture, language is a fundamental aspect. It is the tool that conveys traditions and values related to group identity. The purpose of this paper is to bring out the evolution of language and the greatness of one of the ancient languages viz TAMIL.
Evolution of Language
For quite a few generations, there was no language at all other than body language! Only we the humans have the benefit of languages!
Evolution of language is the gradual change in human language over time. It involves the origin and divergence of languages and language families, and can be considered similar to biological evolution, although it occurs through different mechanisms.

How many languages are there in the world?
It is said that there are 7,097 spoken languages today in the world.
That number is constantly changing because we’re learning more about the world’s languages every day. And beyond that, the languages themselves do change. They’re living and dynamic, spoken by communities whose lives are shaped by our rapidly changing world. This is a fragile time: Roughly a third of languages are now endangered, often with less than 1,000 speakers remaining. Meanwhile, just 23 languages account for more than half the world’s population of 7.7 billions.
GREATNESS OF LANGUAGES
Any language is deemed to be great based on richness and splendor of its literature and grammar.

ANCIENT LANGUAGES

An ancient language is any language originating in times that may be referred to as ancient. There is no formal criterion for deeming a language ancient, but a convention is to demarcate as “ancient” those languages that existed prior to the 5th century. Linguist Roger Woodward has said that “perhaps, then, what makes an ancient language different is our awareness that it has outlived those for whom it was an intimate element of the psyche”. By this definition, the term includes languages attested from ancient times in the list of languages by first written accounts, and described in historical linguistics, and particularly the languages of classical antiquity, such as Tamil language, Ancient Greek, Hebrew language, Old Persian, Avestan, Middle Persian, Sanskrit language, Chinese language, Latin, Arabic language. The term may also encompass other classical languages and various extinct languages.

HOW ANCIENT IS TAMIL?
தமிழ் Tamil is a Dravidian language predominantly spoken by the Tamil people of India and Sri Lanka, and by the Tamil diaspora, Sri Lankan Moors, Douglas, and Chindians. Tamil is an official language of two countries: Sri Lanka and Singapore and official language of Tamil Nadu. It has official status in Tamilnadu and the Indian Union Territory of Puducherry. It is used as one of the languages of education in Malaysia, along with English, Malay and Mandarin. Tamil is spoken by significant minorities in the four other South Indian states of Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and the Union Territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It is one of the 22 scheduled languages of India.
Tamil is one of the longest-surviving classical languages in the world. Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions from 500 BC have been found on Adichanallur and 2,200-year-old Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions have been found on Samanamalai.
A. K. Ramanujan described it as “the only language of contemporary India which is recognizably continuous with a classical past.” The variety and quality of classical Tamil literature has led to it being described as “one of the great classical traditions and literature of the world”.
A recorded Tamil literature has been documented for over 2000 years. The earliest period of Tamil literature, Sangam literature, is dated from ca. 300 BC – AD 300. It has the oldest extant literature among Dravidian languages. The earliest epigraphic records found on rock edicts and ‘hero stones’ date from around the 3rd century BC. More than 55% of the epigraphical inscriptions (about 55,000) found by the Archaeological Survey of India are in the Tamil language. Tamil language inscriptions written in Brahmi script have been discovered in Sri Lanka and on trade goods in Thailand and Egypt. The two earliest manuscripts from India, acknowledged and registered by the UNESCO Memory of the World register in 1997 and 2005, were written in Tamil.
In 1578, Portuguese Christian missionaries published a Tamil prayer book in old Tamil script named Thambiran Vanakkam, thus making Tamil the first Indian language to be printed and published. The Tamil Lexicon, published by the University of Madras, was one of the earliest dictionaries published in the Indian languages. According to a 2001 survey, there were 1,863 newspapers published in Tamil, of which 353 were dailies.

With the creation in October 2004 of a legal status for classical languages by the Government of India and following a political campaign supported by several Tamil associations, Tamil became the first legally recognized Classical language of India. The recognition was announced by the then President of India, Abdul Kalam, in a joint sitting of both houses of the Indian Parliament on 6th June 2004.
The world’s top 20 languages.
Information from Ethnologue, Encarta and Nicholas Ostler’s Empires of the Word: a Language History of the World.
1. Mandarin Chinese. 2. English. 3. Hindi. 4. Spanish. 5. Russian.
6. Portugese. 7. Arabic. 8. French. 9. Bengali 10. German 11. Japanese.
12. Wu Chinese. 13. Korean. 14. Javanese. 15. Telugu. 16. Tamil.
17. Marathi. 18. Cantonese. 19. Vietnamese. 20. Turkish.
BHARATHI ON TAMIL
Tamil patriotic Poet Mahakavi Subramaniya Bharathiyar – one of the three of my mentors from his heavenly abode has got this to say about greatness of this ancient language TAMIL:

யாமறிந்த மொழிகளிலே தமிழ்மொழி போல்
இனிதாவது எங்கும் காணோம்;
பாமரராய் விலங்குகளாய் உலகனைத்தும்
இகழ்ச்சி சொலப் பான்மை கெட்டு,
நாமமது தமிழரெனக் கொண்டு இங்கு
வாழ்ந்திடுதல் நன்றோ? சொல்லீர்
தேமதுரத் தமிழோசை உலகமெலாம்
பரவும் வகை செய்தல் வேண்டும். 1

யாமறிந்த புலவரிலே கம்பனைப் போல்
வள்ளுவர்போல் இளங்கோ வைப்போல்,
பூமிதனில் யாங்கணுமே பிறந்ததில்லை;
உண்மை, வெறும் புகழ்ச்சியில்லை;
ஊமையராய்ச் செவிடர்களாய்க் குருடர்களாய்
வாழ்கின்றோம் ஒரு சொற் கேளீர்
சேமமுற வேண்டுமெனில் தெருவெல்லாம்
தமிழ் முழக்கம் செழிக்கச் செய்வீர்! 2

பிறநாட்டு நல்லறிஞர் சாத்திரங்கள்
தமிழ்மொழியிற் பெயர்த்தல் வேண்டும்
இறவாத புகழுடைய புதுநூல்கள்
தமிழ்மொழியில் இயற்றல் வேண்டும்;
மறைவாக நமக்குள்ளே பழங் கதைகள்
சொல்வதிலோர் மகிமை இல்லை;
திறமான புலமையெனில் வெளி நாட்டோர்
அதைவணக்கஞ் செய்தல் வேண்டும். 3

உள்ளத்தில் உண்மையொளி யுண்டாயின்
வாக்கினிலே ஒளி யுண்டாகும்
வெள்ளத்தின் பெருக்கைப்போல் கலைப்பெருக்கும்
கவிப்பெருக்கும் மேவு மாயின்
பள்ளத்தில் வீழ்ந்திருக்கும் குருடரெல்லாம்
விழிபெற்றுப் பதவி கொள்வார்;
தெள்ளுற்ற தமிழமுதின் சுவைகண்டார்
இங்கமரர் சிறப்புக் கண்டார்! 4

Yes, in English
TAMIL
1
Of all the tongues that I have sampled,
For sweetness Tamil’s unexampled:
But now become illiterate mutes
Our lives are worse than those of brutes;
Grown recreant to our ancient trust
Our treasures in a heap have gone to rust.
Tamil’s mellifluous sounds
Must reach the world’s utmost bounds,
If we are to li9ft our heads again,
Instead of wasting our time in vain.
2
Of all the bards I have explored
None in the world are richer-ored
Than Kamban, Valluvar, Ilankovan,-
Immortal trinity – our own
This is the truth unvarnished, plain
Free from all vainglorious strain.
Deaf, dumb and blind wretches we live,
We can’t our greatness e’er revive
So long as our native virile speech
Is not allowed much wider reach.
3
To enrich, refine and modernize
Our tongue, new writers must arise;
Translations too we must produce
From foreign classics for our use.
What boots it if we idly prate
Of our glorious past in our present state?
The world will recognice our worth
If genius amidst us gain takes birth.
4
Unless our hearts by truth are lighted,
Our speech with wings will not be flighted.
Self-purified we then may strive
Our arts and poetry to revive.
Then our renascence in a flood,
Will lead us to a world of good.
The blind long fallen in the ditch
Will be blessed with vision strange and rich,
And rise with the rise of Tamil strains
Chronicling our varied gains.
Like Gods assuming human birth
We’d then live glorious on earth.

Thus by all means Tamil is rightly treated/respected as an ANCIENT LANGUAGE – in legal parlance” CLASSICAL LANGUAGE”!.

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With this we end this Sunday Story on UNIQUE NELLORE and we shall continue tomorrow with our regular Envius Thoughts. Till then GOOD BYE!

IN AND OUT OF THE NOBLE CIRCLE!

Chennai Poets’ Circle is not new to my esteemed viewers as several references have been made earlier in this Blog ENVIUS THOUGHTS in https://nvsr.wordpress.com – an elite group of poets budding and renowned and I must admit it is purely HIS will that I have been a part of this set up for quite a few years. This Sunday story is an attempt to give a fair report on the CPC’s ANNUAL SEMINAR on ENGLISH POETRY IN INDIA nicely organized and well attended by poets from West Bengal, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Pondicherry and Tamil Nadu.on 20th January at the World University Service Center in Chetpat, Chennai.
Let me share with my viewers with the feedback received by some of the poets who participated in the Seminar on their getting back to their places.

Padmaja Iyengar-Paddy, Vijayawada
Sun, Jan 20, 8:19 PM (3 days ago)
Respected Dr. Kannan,
Thank you so much for your mail CPC is one of the most looked-forward-to event for me as it so well and seamlessly organized by you and the CPC team, packing in a highly enlightening guest lectures in the inaugural session, illuminating paper readings and truly engaging poetry readings from CPC’s excellently put together annual poetry anthology Efflorescence by poets from across India and overseas! For me, as I keep saying CPC is second home.

SARANYA FRANCIS, Bangalore
Dear Mr Kannan
I truly appreciate your leadership and vision for CPC. The annual seminar is an exclusive event that focuses on poetry alone and avoids unnecessary frills. The event was well organised. Kudos to all your efforts. Hema, Jairam, Dr. Tirumeni, and rest of CPC core members. May your tribe increase.
Regards
Thank you all, Dr Tirumeni Sir, Hema, Jairam and you Dr Kannan Sir and Team CPC, for providing a memorable and poetically enriching experience every year!
Warm and respectful regards.

Vidya Shankar
Sun, Jan 20, 10:14 PM (3 days ago)
Dear Mr Kannan,
What I truly loved about today’s meet was the genuineness of the platform. It was authentic poetry in all its humility and grace. My husband and I feel so privileged to have been a part of it. Thank you for giving both of us the opportunity.
Please find below the google drive link to download the photos of the CPC meet held on 20-01-2019 at WUSC, Chennai.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1erLSjGIfIKQeS3_pUYLiun73RhhEXAar?usp=sharing
Thanks once again,
Vidya Shankar

Kannan Srinivas
Sun, Jan 20, 10:27 PM (3 days ago)
Dear Madam Vidya Shankar,
Greetings.
Mr.Shankar has done a highly commendable and selfless service in covering the entire proceedings of the Seminar.
He took countless photos with a smiling face and cheerful gentleness.
Our grateful thanks are due to him.
We at CPC are very much delighted to see both of you so much involved and dedicated towards the cause of Poetry .
With renewed thanks and kind regards
Dr S Kannan

Ravi Ranganathan
Mon, Jan 21, 10:46 AM (2 days ago)
Dear Dr.Kannan,
As you rightly mentioned the function yesterday was truly a remarkable national event of which all of us can be really proud of. I liked your significant remark about presentation of more papers as was done in earlier years. I am sure in future, a great deal of thought would be given to this aspect.This would really set us apart .
I went back with happy memories of the event. Thank you and all in the team who made it happen.
Regard

Madhu mathi
Jan 21, 2019, 5:41 PM (2 days ago)
Dear Mr.Kannan,
It was a fruitful experience, taking part in the CPC event, and meeting many beautiful creative minds. Felt very happy, and blessed to be a part of it.
Much grateful to you, Jairam Seshadri Sir, Hema Ravi Ma’m, and to the entire team for organising and making this event a memorable one for all.
Being my first time at the CPC event, felt very happy to meet so many poets; inspired by the Kaleidoscope of thoughts and emotions flowing through words from each one of them.
The chief guests’ speech too were interesting, and thought-provoking.
Wishing each and everyone in the CPC family, many many journeys of sowing poetry in the universe…
Warm regards,
Madhumathi.H

Given below is the newspaper coverage of the event as an example:
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Anthology ‘Efflorescence 2018′ released at Chennai Poets’ Circle seminar
Posted on January 21, 2019 by NT Bureau

Chennai: Age is no bar for creativity: You would not think this is a tired cliche if you had attended the annual seminar of Chennai Poets’ Circle (CPC) on Sunday, 20 January, at the World University Service Centre, Chetpet. The highlight of this year’s seminar was the contribution of poets aged 11 years to 87 years.
The CPC is a non-profit, non-sectarian, literary body of academicians, professionals, students and homemakers interested in poetry writing in English, and sharing such creativity with like-minded personalities; over the years, the CPC has spread its wings nationally and internationally.
The local members of CPC meet once a month to recite and discuss poetic views. At the annual seminar, distinguished guest speakers share their views on poetry, member-poets present academic papers on Indian English writing and recite their poems in front of a distinguished gathering of poets, special invitees and the public. Amateur guest poets are encouraged to recite their poems.
During the seminar on Sunday, the anthology ‘Efflorescence 2018’, a collection of poems written by its members, was released.
The chief guest on the occasion was Dr C N Srinath, director, Dhvanyaloka Centre for Indian Studies, Mysuru, and the guest of honour was Dr V Rajagopalan, retired HOD, English, MCC College, Chennai.
Dr Thirumeni, chairman, welcomed the gathering, and Dr Kannan traced the achievements of the CPC in the last few years. Hema Ravi, secretary, anchored the poetry reading session in the forenoon, while Jairam Seshadri compered the proceedings in the afternoon session.
The paper presentations were chaired by Dr T V Reddy, Dr Biplab Chakraborty and Dr Kannan. Sharing their erudition with the audience, the speakers spoke about the contribution of great poets, emphasising that the poet is a ‘seer’ and poetry is the encounter with the impossible.
Quoting a renowned poet, one of the speakers said, “Like a piece of ice on a hot stove, the poem must ride on its own melting.” The role of poets in ‘digital detoxification’ was also stressed upon.
The highlight of this year’s seminar was the contribution of poets aged 11 years to 87 years and paper presentations by academicians from Sastra University. Eminent writer, poet and media personality, Andal Priyadarshini, who has been awarded the Kalaimamani award by the Tamilnadu government, was among the audience as a contributing poet.
Poets had come from Tirupati, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Puducherry and Tiruchi. Two budding poets, aged seven and ten, wards of member-poets recited their verses confidently in front of the gathering.
For details, contact secretary, Hema Ravi, at 9841003201.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I am sure my esteemed viewers have received a fairly a good report on the event.

The said Anthology carries the following Poems by me and Miss. S Nivetha one of the EIGHT young poets who contributed their creations to the Anthology.
Dr. V. Rajagopalan, Guest of Honor who was the Principal and Head of the English Department quoted a few lines from the Book FLY,FLY,FLY published by S > NIVETHA (released in the last Seminar in 2018) and commended the imagination and expression of the young poet and wished her every success.
Following is Nivetha’s poem in the Anthology released on this occasion:
CHENNAI POETS’ CIRCLE

Chennai Chennai Poets’ Circle my literary home
Heartily I pray for its noble service-dome!
Elder poets are there to guide me ever nice
Naturally it is my literary home twice
Never can I leave my noble home I enjoy
Advising me how to write poetry with joy
Influenced me a lot in my thoughts and words!

Poetry, the soul of my family members
Offers opportunities for the young ones too
Ever I will remain grateful to my elders
Thanking them for all their kindness shown to me
Several great minds and hearts are there to help and guide!

Circle with long radius has lot of members
In Chennai and outside-deem it as a prestige
Reading and writing poems of their choice willing
Caring the young ones like me giving good training
Lot of opportunities to present in meets
Every month which I am not able to avail.

Members discuss art and science of writing poems
Young ones can learn a lot from the experienced.

Literary talents I would like to develop
Inside my home with others to guide
Trained poet can be more effective than others
Enthusiasm injected by all members
Remember I will- all through my life happily
Along with others I also write usefully
Rectification of any error-I get
Yearly once the Anthology blossoms bright!

Home is where I get food for literary thought
Opportunities provided by my beloved home
Many more I have to try and create shortly
Ever increasing thirst I have for poetry!

An acrostic poem –“CHENNAI POETS’ CIRCLE –MY LITERARY HOME”.

S.Nivetha an upcoming young poet aged 19, is studying in the second
year of Degree course in Chennai. India. She was the youngest poet
delegate in the International Multilingual Poets Meet held in
Vijayawada on 13 and14th November in 2016 and again the youngest delegate inthe Annual Poetry Seminar organized by Chennai Poets’ Circle in January 2017. She is well anthologized. She writes prose and verse, a good painter and cartoonist. Nivetha finds a place of pride in the INDIAN BOOK OF RECORDS FOR CHILDREN for having participated in the Vijayawada Meet as the youngest poet.
S.Nivetha.
12/2045,Jeevan Bima Nagar,
Chennai, Tamilnadu, India
Phone: +919840477552, 044-26544950

My poem published in the EFFLORESCENCE 2018

TIRUKKURAL
GLORY OF GOD

1. “A” leads the language
The Lord Almighty protects
Like peacock’s plumage!
2. Learning lacks meaning
If the learner believes not
In Him – protecting!
3 He surely lives long
Who seeks the feet of the Lord
To whom the noble throng!
4. To the one who clings
To HIM beyond likes-dislikes
No woes the life brings!
5. Who sings in HIS praise
Seeking HIS love and grace
Freed from the sins nice!
6. For long he lives for sure
Who treads HIS path sans desires
In this world – pure!
7. Who seeks not HIM whose
Compassion beyond compare
Never free from worry’s woes!
8. He can’t cross the sea
Of sins if he thinks not HIM
Indeed Virtues Sea!
9. Those heads that pray not
The God of eight virtues sure
Have eyes and ears just dot(s)!
10. Those who pray the Lord
Nicely cross the sea of birth
Others don’t – face woes!

These ten couplets are my translation of the Magnum Opus Thirukkural by Thiruvalluvar written about 2000 years ago in Tamil into English. The chapter 1 of the 133, speaks about the Glory of God.

N V Subbaraman, a bilingual poet is the Asia -Pacific Book of Records holder for his Blog ENVIUS THOUGHTS n https://nvsr.wordpress.com.
He has participated in many poetry festivals of which he holds International Multilingual Poets Meet held in November 2016 at Vijayawada and the Seminar organized by Chennai Poet’s Circle in January 2018 high in his mind. He is a haikuist with more than 1000 haiku to his credit and he is a Member of the American Haiku Society. He has published 38 books in English and Tamil. He is retired Deputy Zonal Manager of Life insurance Corporation of India.
N V Subbaraman
12/1045, Jeevan Bima Nagar,
Chennai 600101.
044/26544950;9840477552
nvsubbaraman@gmail.com

Indeed the day was a very memorable one for all the poets present in the Seminar.
Dr.C. Thirumeni, Chairman of CPS extended a very warm welcome which was very chill outside due to mid-winter season, Dr.S.Kannan President of CPC, delivered his Presidential Address, followed by the launch of the Anthology by Dr. Prof. C N Srinath, Chairman, Bhavanyaloka Center for Indian Studies, Mysore..Dr. V.Rajagopalan addressed the gathering of Poets. Annual Report was presented by Shri Jairam Seshadri, Treasurer. Poetry presentation first session started.
After delicious lunch, poetry session continued and two papers were presented by two academicians. Vote of thanks was proposed by Mrs.Hema Ravi. After National Anthem, poet delegates returned carrying the great memories “IN AND OUT OF THE NOBLE CIRCLE”.
Thus we end our this week’s Sunday story and the week to follow as usual. Till then GOOD BYE!

FARMERS’ DAY January 17th.

 

“UZHAVAR THIRU NAAL”-Farmers’ Day is today the seventeenth January
To think and be grateful to the great FARMERS who feed the country.
None could have paid greater tributes to the farmers and their noble profession Of FARMING/AGRICULTURE than SAINT POET THIRUVALLUVARWhose day was observed yesterday
Here is what he says on this.
அதிகாரம் 104
உழவு
Chapter 104
FARMING

Original
1
சுழன்றும்ஏர்ப் பின்னது உலகம் ; அதனால்
உழந்தும் உழவே தலை.                                    (குறள் 1031
Transliteration

Suzhanrumaer pinnadhu ulagam; adhanaal
Uzhandhum uzhavae thalai.

Translation:

Farming though hard is foremost trade
Men play at will but ploughman lead.                       (kuraL 1031)

Comment:

Though the world revolves round many trades all of them depend on farmers and farming and hence prime work is farming and prime workers are farmers.

Original
2
உழுவார் உலகத்தார்க்கு  ஆணி அஃது ஆற்றாது
எழுவாரை எல்லாம் பொறுத்து.                    (குறள் 1032)

Transliteration:

Uzhuvaar ulagaththaarkku aaNi ahdhu aatraadhu
Ezhuvaarai ellaam  poruththu.

Translation:

Tillers are linch-pin of mankind
Bearing the rest who cannot tend.                             (KuraL 1032)

Comment:

Farmers are the people who cultivate food; farmers supporting the world, is the linch pin for the vehicle called society.

Original
3

உழுதுஉண்டு வாழ்வாரே வாழ்வார்; மற்று எல்லாம்
தொழுது உண்டு பின்செல் பவர்.                   (குறள் 1033)

Transliteration:
Uzhudhu uNdu vaazhvaarae vaazvaar matru ellaam
Thozhudhu uNdu pinsel pavar.

Translation:

They live who live to plough and eat
The rest behind them bow and eat.                                    (KuraL 1033)

Comment:

Those who plough, cultivate and eat are those who can be supposed to live with honor and dignity. The rest are to bow before and take their food.

Original.
4

பலகுடை நீழலும் தம்குடைக்கீழ் காண்பர்
அலகுஉடை நீழ லவர்.                           (குறள் 1034)

Transliteration:
Palakudai neezhalum thamkudaikkeezh kaaNbar
Alagu udai neezha lavar.

Translation:

Who have the shade of cornful crest
Under their umbra umbrellas rest.                            (KuraL 1034)

Comment:

Farmers enjoy providing food for all; hence they are capable of bringing all the citizens under a king, under their (farmers’) umbrellas.

Original.
5

இரவார் இரப்பார்க்குஒன்று ஈவர் கரவாது
கைசெய்துஊண் மாலை யவர்.                    (குறள் 1035)

Transliteration:

Iravaar irappaarkkuonru eevar karavaadhu
Kaiseydhu ooN maalai yavar.

Translation:

Who till and eat, beg not; naught hide
But give to those who are in need.                            (KuraL 1035)

Comment:

Those farmers who do their work with heart and soul will have no need to go to others and beg for food; they find pleasure in helping those who come to them and request.

Original:
6
உழவினார் கைமடங்கின் இல்லை விழைவதூஉம்
விட்டேம்என் பார்க்கும் நிலை.                    (குறள் 1036)

Transliteration:

Uzhavinaar kaimadangin illai vizhaivadhoom
Vittaemen baarkkum nilai.

Translation:

Should ploughmen sit  folding their hands
Desire-free monks too suffer wants.                       (KuraL 1036)

Comments:

If the farmers refuse to work and keep quiet, even the saints and sages cannot continue with their prayers and penance.

Original:
7

தொடிப்புழுதி கஃசா உணக்கின் பிடித்துஎருவும்
வேண்டாது சாலப் படும்.                         (குறள் 1037)

Transliteration:

Thodippuzhudhi kasha uNakkin pidiththueruvum
VaeNdaadhu saalappadum.

Translation:
Moulds dried to quarter-dust ensure
Rich crops without handful manure.                         (KuraL 1037)

Comment:

If one unit of moulds are dried to one fourth and agricultural operations are taken care of, not even a handful of manure will not be required for plentiful produce..

Original:
8

ஏரினும் நன்றால் எருஇடுதல்; கட்டபின்
நீரினும் நன்றுஅதன் காப்பு.                       (குறள் 1038)

Transliteration:

Aerinum nanraal eru idudhal kattapin
Neerinum nanru adhan kaappu.

Translation:
Better manure than plough ; then weed;
Than irrigating, better guard.                                     (KuraL 1038)

Comment:

Manuring is more important than ploughing; after weeding, guarding from the pest is more important than irrigating.

Original:
9

செல்லான் கிழவன் இருப்பின் நிலம்புலந்து
இல்லாளின் ஊடி விடும்.                         (குறள் 1039)

Transliteration:

Sellaan kizhavan iruppin nilampulandhu
IllaaLin oodi vidum.

Translation:

If landsmen sit sans moving about
The field like wife will sulk and pout.                   (KuraL 1039)

Comment:

If the land owner keeps idle without attending to his agricultural work, even the wife-like field will get angry with him.

Original:
10

இலம்என்று அசைஇ இருப்பாரைக் காணின்
நிலம்என்னும் நல்லாள் நகும்.                          (குறள் 1040)

Transliteration:

Ilamenru asaii iruppaaraik kaaNin
Nilam ennum nallaaL nagum.

Translation:

Fair good earth will laugh to see
Idlers pleading poverty.                                         (KuraL 1040)

Comment:

Mother earth and fields will laugh at the idle persons who sit quiet pleading that they have no money to spend for various operations connected with agriculture.

Thiruvalluvar Day-January 16th

Mentors three I have all in their heavenly abode watching me
Thiruvalluvar, Mahakavi Bharathiyar and Mahatma Gandhi.
January Sixteenth -Thiruvalluvar Day a holy day!
Authored Magnum Opus THIRUKKURAL years two thousand ago!

Thirukkural- collection of couplets on ethics, political
And economical matters, and love. finest work in Tamil.
Valluvar influenced every scholar down the ages.
It has every thing impacting human beings and none left!

Maxims and dictum -not bookish- to read and research get phd
But to be practiced in day today life-practical code of life
Translated worldwide in languages ninety and more-great record
Let  us resolve to read and practice and contribute to the world!

Valluvar statue in Kanyakumari -southern most point of India.

Thiruvalluvar statue in London.

Thiruvalluvar statue in New York

THIRUKKURAL Chapter 5

 

Chapter Five
அதிகாரம் 5
MARRIED LIFE – ITS GLORY
இல்வாழ்க்கை
1. இல்வாழ்வான் என்பான் இயல்புடைய மூவர்க்கும்
நல்லாற்றின் நின்ற துணை.
Ilvaazvaan enbaan iyalbudaiya moovarkkum
Nallaatrin ninra thuNai.
A man with his wife
Helps friends, relatives, the poor
Holds as goal of life!
He is a good husband who takes care of his parents, wife and children and along with them helps others as his goal. (41)

2 துறந்தார்க்கும் துவ்வா தவர்க்கும் இறந்தார்க்கும்
இல்வாழ்வான் என்பான் துணை.
Thurandhaarkkum thuvvaadhavarkkum irandhaarkkum
Ilvaazvaan enbaan thuNai.
Married man in life
Helps the old, needy, helpless
As mission so nice!
Head of the family should take care of the old, needy, helpless and mendicants who seek his help. (42)

3 தென்புலத்தார் தெய்வம் விருந்துஒக்கல் தான் என்றாங்கு
ஐம்புலத்தாறு ஓம்பல் தலை.
Thenpulaththaar dheyvam virundhu okkal than enraangu
Aimpulaththaar oambal thalai.
As foremost duty
Serves the old, God, guests, kin and self
Self – the man holy!
An important duty of a head of the family is to take care in a virtuous manner the old, God, guests, his people and his own self. (43)

4 பழியஞ்சிப் பாத்தூண் உடைத்தாயின் வாழ்க்கை
வழியெஞ்சல் எஞ்ஞான்றும் இல்.
PaziyanjippaaththuuN uudaiththaayin vaazkkai
Vaziyenjal engngaanrum il.
His tribe prospers sure
When sins shunned, food and love shared
Leading his life pure!
Leading life according to the dictates of virtues, not committing any sins, sharing the available food with others, will make the life of the head of the family noble and his tribe will also prosper. (44)

5 அன்பும் அறனும் உடைத்தாயின் இல்வாழ்க்கை
பண்பும் பயனும் அது.
Anbum aranum udaiththaayin ilvaazkkai
PaNbum payanum adhu.
That is life divine
Wherein love and virtue reign
Purpose of life fun!
The married life in fact will be fun and joy filled if the couple keep love and virtues as cardinal and indeed their life will be a life Divine. (45)

6 அறத்தாற்றின் இல்வாழ்க்கை ஆற்றின் புறத்தாற்றின்
போஒய்ப் பெறுவது எவன்?
Araththaatrin ilvaazkkai aatrin puraththaatrin
Poayp peruvadhu evan?
Married life well led
In the virtuous way right
No better course found!
What else can be better if the married life is led in a virtuous and noble way? Nothing else is there to aspire for. (46)

7 இயல்பினான் இல்வாழ்க்கை வாழ்பவன் என்பான்
முயல்வாருள் எல்லாம் தலை.
Iyalbinaan ilvaazkkai vaazbavan enbaan
MuyalvaaruL ellaam thalai.
Indeed he is great
Who leads a nice married life
Among all we meet!
One who leads the married life in a virtuous life and the one who tries to is great and is hailed. (47)

8 ஆற்றின் ஒழுக்கி அறனிழுக்கா இல்வாழ்க்கை
நோற்பாரின் நோன்மை உடைத்து.
Aatrin ozukki aranizukkaa ilvaazkkai
Noarparin noanmai udaiththu.
Stronger than the strong
Is the noble householder
Among saints who throng!
The one who leads his married life in a virtuous manner and make others to be so, he is much better than a saint and his life nobler and stronger. (48)

9 அறன்எனப் பட்டதே இல்வாழ்க்கை; அஃதும்
பிறன்பழிப்பது இல்லாயின் நன்று.
Aranenap pattathae ilvaazkkai ahudhum
Piranpazippadhu illaayin nanru.
Married life noble
When all virtues well practiced
Sans world’s curse – feeble!
A properly led wedded life indeed is a noble one and it will add to glory if he is not cursed for anything by any body. (49)

10 வையத்துள் வாழ்வாங்கு வாழ்பவன் வான் உறையும்
தெய்வத்துள் வைக்கப் படும்.
VaiyaththuL vaazvaanggu vaazbavan vaan uraiyum
DeyvaththuL vaikkap padum.
Perfect life on earth
Finds one’s place high in heaven
Among Gods in mirth!
The wedded man who leads his life in a virtuous way is held in heaven in great respect along with the divine beings. (50)

 

TIRUKKURAL Chapter 4

Chapter Four
VIRTUE-ITS POWER
அதிகாரம் 4
அறன் வலியுறுத்தல்

31 சிறப்பீனும், செல்வமும் ஈனும்;, அறத்தினூங்கு
ஆக்கம் எவனோ உயிர்க்கு.

அறம் கொடுக்கும் சிறப்பையும் செல்வத்தையும் காட்டிலும் ஆக்கம் எதுவும் இல்லை.

Cirappeenum celvamum eenum araththinoongu
Aakkam evano uyirkku.

What else one requires
Other than heaven and wealth
That virtue provides?
Nothing is greater in life than that greatness and wealth provided the virtue . (31)
32 அறத்தினூங்கு ஆக்கமும் இல்லை; அதனை
மறத்தலின் ஊங்கில்லை கேடு.

அறத்தைக் காட்டிலும் உயர்ந்த செல்வம் இல்லை; அதைத் தவிர்த்தால் கேடே.

Araththinoongu aakkamum illai; adhanai
Maraththalin oongillai kedu.
None beyond virtue
That sure brings one all glory
One has to pursue!
No wealth more valuable than virtue. ; when avoided, sorrow will be the result. (32)

33 ஒல்லும் வகையான் அறிவினை ஓவாதே
செல்லும் வாய் எல்lலாம் செயல்.

அறச்செயலை எங்கு சென்றாலும் இயன்றவரை விடாது செய்ய வேண்டும்.

Ollum vagaiyaan arivinai oavaadhe
Cellum vaay ellaam ceyal.

Great virtuous deeds
One has to try for ever
To help the world’s needs!
Wherever one goes, he should continue to do virtuous acts to the extent possible. (33)
34 மனத்துக்கண் மாசிலன் ஆதல்; அனைத்தறன்
ஆகுல நீர பிற.

மனத்தளவில் கூட குற்றமில்லாமல் இருப்பதே அறம்; குற்றத்துடன் சேர்ந்த அறம் வீண்.

Manaththukkan maasilan aathal; anaiththaran
Aakula neerapira.
A blemish less mind
Pillar of life virtuous
The rest useless kind!
Virtue lies in keeping even the mind without blemish; virtue with a blemish is a waste. (34)

35 அழுக்காறு அவாவெகுளி இன்னாச்சொல்; நான்கும்
இழுக்கா இயன்றது அறம்.
பொறாமை, பேராசை, கோபம், கடும்சொல் நீக்குதலே சிறந்த அறம்.
Azukkaaru avaa vekuli innaachchol; naangum
Izukkaa iyanrathu aram.

Virtue is an act
Sans envy, greed, wrath, harsh words
Sure is noble tract!

Virtue is the avoidance of jealousy, avariciousness, anger and harsh words (35)

36 அன்றரிவாம் என்னாது அறம்செய்க; மற்றது
பொன்றுங்கால் போன்றாத் துணை.

அறம் செய்தலை ஒத்திப் போட வேண்டாம்; இறக்கும் தறுவாயில் அதுவே துணை

Anrarivaam ennaadhu aram ceyga; matradhu
Pondrungkaal poandraath thunai.

Wait not till old age
To perform deeds of virtue
That will help as sage!
To do acts of virtue, don’t postpone it to old age; earlier acts of virtue are indeed the help at the time of death. (36)

37 அறத்தாறு இதுஎன வேண்டா; சிவிகை
பொறுத்தானோடு ஊர்ந்தான் இடை.

அறத்தின் பயனைக் காண பல்லக்கில் உட்கார்ந்திருப்பவரையும், சுமப்பவரையும் பார்க்கவும்.

Araththaaru idhuena vaendaa; civigai
Poruththaanoadu oorndhaan idai.

Virtue makes one great
He sits in the palanquin
The rest carry neat!
To see the benefit of virtuous deeds , look at the person who sits in the palanquin and those who carry the same. (37)
38 வீழ்நாள் படாமை நன்றாற்றின் அஃதொருவன்
வாழ்நாள் வழியடைக்கும் கல்

தினமும் அறம் செய்ய வேண்டும்; மீண்டும் பிறவாமை கிடைக்கும்.
Veezh naal padaamai nandraatrin ahudhoruvan
Vaazh naal vaziyadaikkum kal.

Doing good all days
Keep as a goal for ever
Free the soul – it pays!
Do virtuous acts every day; you will be free from next birth. (38)
39 அறத்தான் வருவதே இன்பம்; மற் றெல்லாம்
புறத்த புகழும் இல.

அறவழியில் பெரும் இன்பமே உயர்ந்த இன்பம்; அல்லாதது துன்பமும் புகழின்மையும் ஆகும்.

Araththaan varuvathe inbam; matrellaam
Puraththa pukazum ila.
Noble deeds bring joy
That is pure and last ever
Ignoble brings shame!
Joy that you derive out of virtuous deeds alone is the joy of highest order. Others are simply sorrows and lack of grace. (39)
40 செயற்பலது ஓரும் அறனே; ஒருவற்கு
உயற்பாலது ஓரும் பழி.

செய்ய வேண்டுவது அறமே; நீக்க வேண்டியது பழியே.

Ceyarpaalathu oarum aranae; oruvarkku
Uyarpaalathu oarum pazhi.
Deeds of virtue – goal
That brings you peace and glory
Vice indeed a mole!
All one has to do is act of virtue; to be avoided is disgraceful acts. (40)