Mahatma Kavidhaigal By Sirpi.

Selection
By Dr.N.Anuradha Dr.V.Valliammal.

Transliteration By S.Niranjana Devi M.A., M.Phil., DCA

Translation By Mrs. Saira Banu.M.A., M.Phil., Ph.D Assistant Professor Fatima College Madurai Edited by Dr.Mrs.S.Geetha Ravi

India-vin Soththu
Chettinaatin

Indias Wealth Chettinads Beautiful small town Is Siruvayal There a Gandhi Ashram Wonderful disciple, Its head Gandhiji, on his trip to Tamil Nadu Came to Siruvayal Service work made him Feel excited How come so many achievements He was eager to know Jeevanandham How much of wealth Do you Possess? - Asked Babuji Prompt came Jeevas reply India is my wealth Embracing the wonderful worker Babujis golden tongue Showered nectar No Jeevanandham You are Indias wealth

Azhagiya sitroor Siruvayal Ange oru Gandhi aashramam Arumai thondar Jeeva Adhan thalaivar Tamil naatu payanam Mrkonda adigal Siruvayadhil vandhaar Panigal avarai Paravasapaduthina Yeppadi ithanai saadhanai Yenbadhai ariya aaval poondaar Jeevaanandham Ungaluku Soththu yevalavu Irukum? - Annal Kttaar palichchena vandhadhu Jeevaavin badhil India dhaan Yen soththu... Arumai thondanai Katti pidithu Annalin thiruvaai Amudham pozhindhadhu: illai Jeevaanandham

Neengal dhaan Indiavin soththu!

Yedhu Kalai Staiku peyar pna Kurangu moondru Sevipoththi Vaai maraithu Kangal moodi Veetrirukum annalaar Msai meedhu Seyalaalar Desaiku China nanbar thandha Parisu bommaigal Kurangugal Yen Gurunaadhargal Yenbar annal Vaaipothum kurangu poi psaadha Pazhi kooraadh Yengiradhaam Sevi maraitha kurangu theeyavai kaadhil Theenda vidaadh Yenkiradhaan

Which is art? Notorious for their mischief The three monkey with Ears plugged Mouth shut Eyes closed Will be seated on Gandhijis Table Dolls gifted By a Chinese friend To secretary Desai Gandhiji would say Monkeys are My gurus Monkey with mouth shut Would say Dont lie Dont blame Monkey with closed eyes Would say Dont see outrageous evil If eyes are closed Peace and Power Will increase many fold Having said all these, Babu Would continue to say:

Kanmoodum kurangu kadum theemai paaraadh Yenkiradhaam Kannai moodinaal Amaidhium aatralum Panmadangu koodumaam... Ithanaium sonna aiyar Mlum solluvaar: Thathuvam illaadha kalai Payan tharaadhu Nanmai sollaadha kalai Maanburaadhu

Art with no philosophy Is useless Art that doesnt teach values Will never achieve greatness!

Pencil Siriyadhellaam siriyadhum illai Periyadhellaam periyadhum illai Mahatmakalukku * Andru Mumbaiyil Klaagalamaai Congree maanaadu Annalum Kalandhu kolkiraar Nramaanadhu Innum avar purapadavillai Kaathirukiraargal thalaivargal Dsapidhaavukaaga Vanangi dharisika Karaipuralum aavaldu Makkal vellam Araikul avar Athanaium marandhu Yedhaiy thdi kondu...

Pencil That which is small is not small That which is big is not big For great souls. * That day in Mumbai Congress conference With festivity Gandhiji Is participating It was time Still he did not start Leaders were waiting For the Father of the Nation To worship him With overflowing desire Flood of people Inside the room Oblivious to all He was searching something. Books are getting scattered Charka is getting rolled up Mat spread out seers who searched for God Got defeated

* Kalaikindra puthahangal Sarihindrana kaahidhakattugal Charka kavizhhiradhu Viritha paai surulkiradhu Aandavanai thdum Dhavasigal thtraargal Annal mugathil Kavalaikdu Vatta kannaadikul Melliya sgam poosiya kangal * Kaathirundhu kaathirundhu Aluthupna kaakaa Kallkar Araikul vandhadhaium Avar paarkavillai Thdal... Thdal... Thdal. Babuji kadigaarathai Marandhu viteergalaa? illai Kallkar Oru pencil kaanavillai Thdukirn... yenna Babuji... ivvalavu dhaan Nramaakiradhu appuram thdalaam Indhaarungal innoru pencil adhu pencil mattumillai Kallkar Chennai G.A Nadsan magan Chinnapillai thandha parisu Adhai yeppadi naan Thavaraviduvadhu? Porupillaamal tholaipadhu Sariyaa? naanum thdukirn Babuji Kallkarum ippdhu Thdum paniyil. Viyarthu nanaindhu Ven kadharaadai Arai akkanathil

On his face Streaks of sorrow Within the round pair of spectacles? Eyes moistened with sorrow He hardly noticed The wearied Kaka Kalelkar Entering the room After endless waiting Quest. Quest. Quest. Babuji have you forgotton The watch? No Kalelkar A pencil is missing I am searching What Babuji just that It is late. Shall search later Here, another pencil It is not just a pencil Kalelkar Gift given by Chennai G.A.Natesons Son Chinnapillai, How can I Misplace it? Is it right To lose it carelessly Ill also look for it Babuji Kalelkar also now Joins the search Got drenched in sweat The white kadhar clothes Room at that moment A nonviolent battlefield Acha said Bapus voice Standing upright, Kalelkar Happened to witness a divine spectacle. A radiant smile That could discern the world Permeated his face. In his hands A blunt Short pencil Just an inch and a half That which is small is not small That which is big is not big

Agimsai prkalam achchaa yendradhu Annalin kural Nimirndhu Kallkar Nrndhadhu oru kadavukaatchi Vaiyathai vasamizhaka vaikum Punnagai vilaasam Podhindhirundhadhu adigal mugathai Avar karathil Ondrai angulathil Mazhungi pna Kuttai pencil! * Siridhu yellaam siridhum alla Peridhu yellaam peridhum alla Mahatmaakaluku * Pagai Naduvinil Adigalai muzhuvadhaai India Ariyaadha kaalam Neela saayam seiya udhavum Avuri pairidum Bihar uzhavarai Vayitril adithu Laabam kuvithanar vellayar Sirai, kasaiyadi, Vari... yena Vellam aadhikam Vilayaadi theerthadhu... Sudhandhira prin Mudhal oththigaiyaai Sambraanil praatam Adigal thalaimaiyil Vilaivu? Vellayar saayam veluthu Uzhavaruku kidaithadhu Vidivu. *

For great souls.

Amidst Enmity The days when India Had not known Gandhiji fully For profit the Whites Exploiting Bihar farmers Who plant indigo That help in making blue dye Prison, whipping, Tax-thus White mans regime Played havoc As freedom struggles First rehearsal Revolt in sambran Led by Gandhi Consequence? Whites true colours revealed Farmers found Salvation. * A spiteful snake A white landowner

Kankoththi paambaana Oru vellai mudhalaali Adiyaal vaithaan Adigalai kolla... Nalliravu vlai Vellai mudhalaali Veetukadhavu thattapattadhu Gandhi tholaindha Narseidhi ktka Kadhavu thirandhavan adhirndhaan Vaasalil Nindravar Gandhi... ing yedharku vandhaai? -iraindhaan avan Sandhiyin thirukvil Gandhi sonnaar: thdikondirukiraargalaam Ungal aatkal Yennai kolla. Siramam yedhaku? Naan vandhuvittn Seiya vndiyadhai Seidhu kollalaam.. Mannipukri Annalai anupivaithaan Manidha mirugam. Adutha vinaadi Adiyaatkaluku sdhi parandhadhu thappi thavari Kai vaithu vidaadheergal Gandhiyin meedhu... *

Hired a murderer To kill Gandhiji; Midnight A white lords door Was knocked at To hear the good news Of Gandhis death He who opened the door, was shocked At the doorstep Stood Gandhi. Why did you come here? He yelled The temple of peace Gandhi said: It seems you men Are looking for me To kill me Why give them trouble? I have come myself Whatever you want to do You may do. Seeking pardon Sent back Gandhiji That human beast. Next second Message flew to the hires men even by mistake Dont lay hands On Gandhi.

Vaadiya Nenjam

Drooped Heart At wee hours of dawn In Erawada prison Wherever Gandhi is That was Ashram for all Spinning wheels span Cotton got grounded Spinning wheels were set Yaga of spinning continued The wire Of the Spinning Jenny Could be overhauled With extracts from green leaves Khaka Kalelkar Bent A neem tree branch Broke it Plucked one bunch Like a victorious soldier With neem branch Stood before Gandhi Tensed seeing that: Gaandhi said: Khaka Kalelkar1 You are educated A scholar (Pundit) Tree is also a life Have you forgotten that? Lifes pain Dont you feel?

Ilangkaalai pozhudhu Erawada sirai saalai Annal irukumidamdhaan Yellaarkum aacharyam Raataigal suzhandrana Panju araikapattadhu Pattai pdapattadhu Noorpu vlvi thodarndhu Kondirundhadhu Panjadikum villin Narambai Pakkuvam seiya Pachilai saaru nalladhu Kaakaa Kallkar Vpa marakilaiyai Valaithaar Odithaar Oru koththai parithaar Vetri veeraraai Vppang kilaiydu Annal mun nindraar: Paarthu padhaipadhaithu Annal pagarndhaar: Kaakaa Kallkar! Padikaadhavar neengal Pandidhar neengal

Maramum r uyir Marandhuvitteeraa? Uyirin vdhanai Theriyavillaiyaa Ungalukku? Thvaiyaanadhai Alavaaga Nkaamal Parithu varalaagaadhaa? Nammai pl undu Nammai pl neerarundhi Nammai pl moochuvidum Marathukku.. Nammaipl thuyarathai solla theriyaadhu Marangalai nsiyungal Kallkar... Payan Therivaar

Couldnt you Have plucked And brought Just what was needed? Though eating like us Drinking like us Breathing like us Tree Cant express Sorrow like us Love tress Kalelkar.

Silently looking at The sea Stretching to the horizon On the ships deck Buried in thoughts Stood Gandhiji For the Round table conference Towards London ship on its voyage In the yellow light Of the evening sun The deck was bathing Turning when the shadow was on him Stood there A white man. Pipe between his lips Sarcasm in his eyes.

Adivaanam varai neenda Kadalai Amaidhiyaai paarthapadi Kappal ml thalathil Sindhanaikul thamai podhindhu Nindraar annal Vattamsai maanaatukku London sellum kappal Payanam. Maalai veyilil Manjal kulithu kondirundhadhu

so, arent it you Our Englands Enemy Gandhi? Gandhi remined silent He continued: take here This poem You read, And enjoy. A bundle of papers He thrust into Gandhis hands

Ml thalam. Nizhal padara thirumbinaar Nindriundhaan Oru vellaikaaran Udhatil pugaikuzhaai Kangalil elanam adad, needhaanaa Yengal England-in Yedhri Gandhi? Adigal mownithrika Avan thodarndhaan: pidi, indhaa Indha kavidhaiyai Padi, padi Padithu magizh Oru katrai kaakidhathai Thinithaan avan Adigalai kurithu Athanaium vasaimozhigal Ylanangal, kindalgal yeppadi Yendravan yekkalikka Kuthiyirundha gundusiyai mattum Viralil pidithapadi Veesum kadarkaatril Kaakidhangkal parakkavittaar Vellaiyan padhaipadhaika Gunduseeyai kaati Kurunagai thavazha Adigal sonnaar; nee koduthadhil Payanulladhai yeduthukondn
Acknowledgement: Sirpi. Mahatma Kavidhaigal. Chennai: NCBH, 2010.

All about Gandhiji Abuses, Ridicules, mockery. How is it He chuckled In his fingers Holding just the plain pin That secured that papers He let the papers fly In the sea breeze that blew The white man got tensed. Showing the pin With a gentle smile Gandhi said: from what you gave I have retained Just the useful thing!