Millions of thanks to you machines and instruments

Millions of thanks to you  machines and instruments

By

Rajagopal Srinivasan

Translated by

P.R.Ramachander

(I found this compilation  very interesting .There are many more   to be thanked which include  all transporting machines  ,Laboratory and medical instruments   which helps us to live , the  machines which helps us to guard our territory , the musical instruments which add zing to our life    etc etc.Okay let this be beginning. Please add  more and more machines which  we both have missed.)

I salute and thank  the scissors that  cut off the umbilical chord,

That made   me   free  to grow  in this world the way I want.

 I salute and thank   the sewing machine which  stitched cloths ,

Which made me pretty  as well as helped  me to hide my nudity.

Oh books which taught  me  all the  alphabets  and words of  language ,

Oh pencil   which   became a part of me  and became my  sixth finger,

Oh computer  which  gave me information , wealth   as well  as fame,

I bow my head  before  all of you  and want to say you a special thanks,

I thank my two wheeled  friend   which helped  me to travel fast  ,

I thank the farming tools  that gives me food to eat   and water to drink,

I thank the cooking machines   which help my mother and wife to cook,

I also thank   those  intelligent machines which helped  human being lead  a life of pleasure.

I also thank the  machine  in the electric crematorium  which turns to ashes,

The himan beings  endowed with   jealousy  selfishness   and egoism.

I also  would like to thank my friends  Whatsapp  ,  facebook as well  as the  cell phone  ,

Which brought out   the ideas and notions  that sprung up from millions  of friends to all of us.

Quo Vadis?- bride search among Brahmins.

Quo Vadis?- bride search among Brahmins.

by

P.R.Ramachander

(This is a  modified write up based on the  excellent face book posting of my friend sri Vasu  Iyengar.Thanks to him.This is only the tip of the  iceberg of the mega problem  of bride search among Brahmins)

One of my friends was searching   for a good groom to his daughter. They located one   and went and saw the boy and the family .Fortunately  the   family  of the Groom was related to me  and I knew them well .So I went and met the girl’s father   and asked  him about , what they decided  about the groom.

     The girl’s father  told ,”Is the groom   an idiot?”

I told him, “He is an intelligent person..He is a post graduate in computer science   from the University of Singapore.”

The Girl’s father  replied, “Ya. That is what he told but he was wearing religious mark in his forehead   and then we had a doubt   whether  he is a qualified idiot.”

I assured them that the boy was  sharp and intelligent.

The girl’s father   then said, “Yesterday we went to their home and were   shocked.”

I did not understand and blinked.

Then he continued. “The boy’s father  was wearing a Pancha  Kacham and was   sporting a tuft and his mother   was wearing a nine yards sari(madisar) and so we were scared.”

I was confused and in my confusion asked  “So what and why should you be scared ?”

Then he said, “Our daughter has been brought up in a modern way. She would wear only Chudidhar or skirt and blouse . So we feel that she cannot adjust with them. You please inform the family that my daughter wants to do Ph.D  in USA  and so  as of now  , we are not interested  in the alliance.”

  The boy’s father who  was a  very prominent official in a multinational company had decided to live a ritualistic life after  retirement . His wife who  was a  retired principal  in a famous college  , supported him in his idea. They never thought that  their following rituals would  bring their  son in to trouble. I phoned to them and told the view of the girl’s parents and he told, “Oh , this is the third time we are hearing the same excuse. Obviously they do not want  us to follow any rituals.or it may be that  all Brahmin girls in India are  doing Ph.D  in USA. Okay, if you come across any other alliance tell me.”

In Brahmin communities  it is extremely   difficult to get suitable brides   for their sons(A similar situation  for getting grooms was there about 60 years back) . The bride’s family ( we do not know whether  it is the bride)  put several conditions  like

1.It is better that grooms do not have living parents and if they are alive, they should  sign in a stamp paper  , that they would never live with their son after marriage and nor will they ask money from them.It is essential   that the groom should not be their only son.(once upon a time the groom use to ill treat  his in laws. They used to be scared  to visit their daughter)

2.The age difference between the groom and bride should not be more than two, because if it is more than that , good understanding would not be there  between them.(Even 40 years back the grooms of 25 used to insist on a bride not older than 18. The grooms used to give lot of emphasis on fair brides) )

3.The groom should be trained in all the household chores and also he  should like to take  hotel food off  and on . (The grooms considered cooking is a menial job    and never used to cook , even if  they  knew how to cook)

4.He should be  person habituated to go to party  and slight drinking and  non vegetarian food is Okay.(Grooms wanted their brides to be very religious and follow all  rituals strictly)

5.He should not do any rituals   but if he wants to go to temple  once in a while it is okay(The brides have  to know Rangoli  , pooja   and should be orthodox)

6.It would be better if he is a US green card holder  and best if he is a US citizen.(Brides should not be more than graduates.They should preferably not employed)

7.If the girl is  professional degree holder the  boy should at least be a Ph.D , either in a US university or  IIT preferably Madras or Mumbai 

8.If he is an MBA it should be from  Indian Institute of Management from Calcutta or Ahmedabad or Bangalore

9.He should own a house  in USA without any loans (The bride’s parents have to give huge dowry, vehicle , house etc)

10. After marriage  , he should visit his parents only once in four years(The wife was  rarely allowed to visit her parents but if they are in family way, they were  sent there)

11, It is the duty of his parents to take care  of their grand children  till they can be put in a crèche.(such things like crèche did not exist there  and the  grand parents used  to look after  their grand children very well)

               

   What a tragedy  ?  Where   are we all going? What should we do?

Is it just Oh Lord Shankara??

Is it just Oh Lord Shankara??

By
Mannargudi Sitaraman Srinivasan

Translated by
P.R.Ramachander

( I consider myself as a very ordinary person who is in love with God . I 100% believe that what all has been done by me is done by God not me. I consider that God is the computer operator and I am his key board. So when I read whatever has been written by Mannargudi Sitaraman Srinivasan , I felt the author has so correctly written the feelings towards God in my mind , I just translated it in to English(God made me do it) and every time I read it , I feel, how true it is? )

You are standing there as my mother ,
It is more than Suffecient oh Shankara.

After making me write about you meaningfully,
After making me who is nothing as a thing ,
And making others appreciate what I have written,
You are becoming happy, Is it Just Oh Lord Shankara?

After you your self completely doing ,
The creation, writing and giving it a form,
And seeing many appreciate me ,
Who is a but an actor moving his lips ,
You yourself are enjoying it ,Is it just , Oh Lord Shankara.?

When I was absoulutely useless and knew,
Nothing except you , after teaching me every thing,
One by one and not showing it outside,
You are seeing me from your hiding place , Is it just oh Lord Shankara?

After receiving all these from only you ,
When I have become a simple machine,
Transmitting to the world and seeing me ,
Blessed by everyone , you become happy, Is it just Oh Lord Shankara?.

You are the only one who can transform a twig of a grass.
In to a huge cyclone and after doing that ,
You are pretending that you have ,
Not done anything . is it just Oh Lord Shankara?.

Ahalya Got redemption only after Rama’s feet,
Touched her and just by the fall of your glance ,
On people , they have got salvation and you,
Are acting as if you have nothing ,
To do with it all, is it just Oh Lord Shankara?

After showering the rain of golden affection,
On me as if to prove that “Even for a crow,
Its child is a golden child “, you stand like a mother there,
Telling “Is there a devotee like mine?”, Is it just Oh Lord Shankara?.

Pleasant note from a careful wife to her dear husband

Pleasant note  from a careful wife to her dear husband

Translated from Tamil

By

P.R.Ramachander

(Many , many people have posted the same thing. My thanks to the original author)

One husband, one day reached home after office,late,

And he saw that  the  house   was empty  ,

But there   was a note  on his  dining   table  ,

And on it  , he saw that  it was   from his   wife.

“Dear darling  husband  , I am going  to my home,

Just for a change   along   with   our children, for ten days.

Please do not call  your friends home for spending time,

For last time  I recovered four bottles and a cigarette Packet from behind  the sofa.”

Please take care of your cell phone   and do not phone to me ,

Asking me where it is  for last time it was in bathroom soap box,

Please keep spectacles in  its case  and not in fridge  like last time,

I have paid salary to our pretty maid  and so there is no need for you to be generous.

There is no need   for you to ask the  next door  lady with saucer eyes,

As to whether  newspaper has come , for our newspaper man is different,

There is no need for you   to enter the kitchen , for last time ,

I had a hell of time  to make our white sink  back to its white colour, from pink.

Do light a lamp before god  and if you  tell a  few prayers ,

Your tounge  would not get scalded and while  going for walk,

Wear only your t-shirt   and do not please  wear Jubba,

For I have a free size  top of the same  colour and my friends were laughing at you.

Do not search for food coupon or credit card    as they are  safely with me,

I have given rupees one hundred each to both watchmen,

Instructing them not to open the gate  if you come late

Your undergarments  are left side  of shelf   and those,

Of the children on right side and  Please do not wear wrong ones and complain.

As soon as you wake up do not clean   your teeth in the outside balcony,

And  if you want to do it  please do confirm whether   it is AM or  PM,

Your medical report  is perfect   and there is no need ,

For you to consult   that flirt  who calls herself as lady doctor

My younger sister’s birthday was last month  and  we did,

Personally attend it  and there is no need for you to wish  at midnight,

I  am  gone only approximately   for ten days and all my friends are out of station,

And please  do not do any intelligent tricks as I may return suddenly.

After reading the note  of hers  the husband  felt that,

Instead of marrying her, he could have  married a devil instead.

Prayer for getting sleep

Prayer for getting sleep

Those who struggle to get sleep  May chant this sloka

Valuable info given by  Charumathi Srinivas

Posted in face book by  Rajagopal Srinivasan

Posted in english    with meaning  By P.R.Ramachander

Take a small quantity of water , and chant the following sloka  10 times  and drink that   water.You will definitely get deep  sleep.

Sahasra behave  thubhyam, sahasra charanaaya cha,

Sahasra arka  prakasaya , sahasra ayudha   dharine

ஸஹஸ்ர பாஹவே துப்யம் ஸஹஸ்ரசரணாய ச !

ஸஹஸ்ரார்க்க ப்ரகாஸாய ஸஹஸ்ராயுத தாரிணே !!

Oh God with one thousand  hands and also one thousand legs,

Oh Lord who shines like one thousand suns and who holds thousand weapons.

Navarasa Navarathri

Navarasa Navarathri

By

P.R.Ramachander

THunderstuck I had long back  stood   as an audience,

Witnessing   the  navarasas   being portrayed,

By  a Kathakali artist, without movement of his body,

But only   by movement of his two eyes.

A few days back my  loving daughter  invited me,

With great  love to see   her   Navarathri doll  show,

Which she   preferred   to  be named   as,

The navarasa    show  of  Navarathri .

I was surprised   and told   her  that I would love to see it,

And I  was taken aback  to see  the good old Navarasa in front of me.

I saw  the horse  pulling   the minister’s beard  through the window,

And along with    jester  with a mission Tenali   Rama laughed.

My daughter  then showed me several paunched laughing budhas,

Carrying money bags    and laughing   to their fill  ,

And showed that  these  two represented  humour  rasa,

Without which life   is drab  and almost silly  and I did laugh

Then she told me , be ready   to get drowned  in Surprise Rasa,

By showing me   Alladdin  being   surprided  by the genie,

AS well as  the falling of   good   and pretty Alice ,

In to the pit with surprise  and I fell in Surprise  Rasa.

Then  though unwillingly  she dragged  me to see  ,

The great hero  Hercules   doing  his missions with courage ,

As also  the courage  of Hanuman   as well as Durga ,

In the battle field  and though Old   suddenly I was lifted in Courage Rasa.

Then she showed me the tiger Arbutha   taking  pity on  the Cow ,

Called Punya koti   and letting it go  to feed  its calf  ,

She also showed how  poor  karna who   lost everything due to pity,

And how Lord Rama  took pity on Ahalya  and I was deep inside Pity Rasa.

She then took me to scene  of the devoted   Gajendra  got scared,

Of the crocodile   and called  Lord Vishnu for help  and to save him

And then he showed me  the Chinese monster  called  NIan ,

Getting scared  by a person wearing red tunic  and I was deep in scare  Rasa.

Seeing me being disturbed by all these  Rasas , she showed by

The peace that emanated from the girl Sadako  when she made paper cranes,

The peace  shining from the face of Raghavendra  doing penance in Manthralata,

And also  the abode  of peace   Adhi SAnkara  and I fell in the  peace Rasa.

My daughter then told me  that   she is going  to give me a jolt,

And showed me the anger  in the face  of Lord  Narasimha ,

When he came  to kill  Hiranya   for tormenting  his devotee

 And how  Shiva killed  god of love in great anger and I fell in anger rasa.

I was  shocked   by it and   she said  she is going to shock me further

And showed me Lord Vishnu as Mohini dancing  for killing Basmasura,

And also the scene  of snowhite  getting disgusted by her step mother ,

And mother Sita getting disgusted  by being in Asoka vana  and I was in disgust rasa.

I was then really disgusted and she said , no that is not how I want to end,

The interplay  of the nine rasas  and said the last one would thrill me,

And showed me  Lord Krishna   dancing with his beloved and pretty Radha,

As well the  wonderful story of Beauty and the beast and I was in Beauty Rasa.

After getting   drenched  in these   portrayal   of the nine Rasas,

From the   Navarathri   doll  display   of my daughter ,

I went back to my  garden of dreams , thinking   about,

Those portrayals   and felt that  this play  of emotions  were indeed great.

Whatsapp Upanishad

Whatsapp Upanishad

Translated  from Tamil by

P.R.Ramachander( i found it interesting , as I do not own it )

1.What has come to you , has not come only to you

2.Anything   whichj comes to you, does not belong   to you

3. Send everything  in the same route by which it has come

4.Do your duty without expecting any recognition.

5.Dedicate  all the good  and all the bad  to Whatsapp

6.AS soon as you send it, what had been yours would  belong to some one else

7.Everything in whatsapp   originates  from face book or another Whatsapp  group

7.You have not  thought anything new, and so do the work  without any expectation

They stood like a rock and were not upset

They stood like a rock   and were not upset

Translated by

P.R.Ramachander

(This is the translation in my own words of a great  posting by  Smt Meena Rajan , who  is a  school teacher  and has chosen  transfer of knowledge  to tiny kids as  a chosen duty. Though  much younger to me, my pranams to her for this  great mega thought process. She and me   graduated from Annamalai university)

Even when his   father   ordered his killing .

His son Prahladha   was not upset,

Even when he  became a slave  to owner,

Of cremation ground , King Harischandra  was not upset,

Even when her   own son Bharatha  abused  her,

Queen Kaikeyi was   not upset,

Even when  he was insulted before his near and dear,

The scholar   Vidhura   was not upset,

Even when he   fell on the   arrow of bids,

Grandpa  Bheeshma   was not upset,

Even when she   became a young widow ,

With five children  Queen Kunthi  was not upset,

Though  he was a scholar when he became penniless,

And forced to beg , Kuchela   was not upset,

Even though   he knew   that he  was going to die,

Sage Markandeya   was not upset

Even when he was devoid  of limbs,

Kurma dasa    was not upset,

Though he was  blind from birth  ,

Saint Sur das was not upset,

Even when his wife  insulted him,

Saint Thukaram was not upset,

Even  when  her husband   troubled her,

Gunavathi bai was not upset,

Even when his   two hands were cut,

Charu   dasa   was not  upset,

Even when his legs and hands were cut,

And he was pushed in well , Saint Jayadeva was not upset,

Even  when SAnjaya   was made to work ,

With a  sinner king, he was not upset,

Even when his  one year baby   fell in ,

Boiling water and died , Poonthanam did not get upset,

Even when his own brother  ill treated him,

Saint Thyagaraja was not upset,

When Jesus   was crucified  unjustly ,

He also was   not upset

Jain monks   who  fast unto death,

Willingly never get upset.

Even when  sacred water mixed with poison  was given,

King Swathi Thirunal was  not upset,

Even when his    two eyes were blinded,

Koorathazhvar was  not upset,

All this was possible ,  because  they all strongly believed ,

That come what may, God was  always with them,

How do we   get   that  strong faith ?

WE can get that faith by  believing ,understanding and praying

This will lead your mind   in the right path,

And  make you mentally and physically strong,

Prayer  of any religion  to any god or to any saint,

It Could be meditation, chant  or singing,

But done with faith  and following right conduct,

Would help you cross any  problem   easily,

And grant you   great power of the soul.

All these  people    did that,

Why don’t you start?

Let us develop unshakable faith in God ,

Let us decide  that pure  love is God,

Let us with stability  lead  a life of truth,

Hawk, God and work

Hawk, God   and work

Rewritten by

P.R.Ramachander

(Based on a facebook post by my friend  Dinakar Raj.My thanks to him)

There was   a hawk  living  on a barren stone,

Which was   a fanatic devotee   god and ,

It used to meditate  on god daily  but one day,

It suddenly got a doubt “ Does God  know that,

I am meditating on him “ and ten it  consoled itself,

Since God is everywhere , he does know  this also.

One day while meditating  the hawk  became  very hungry,

And it wanted   to know  whether  the  God would feed him,

And then it heard God’s voice, “  I will give you food today.”

And happily the   hawk  went on meditating  on the rock,

Slowly its   hunger  troubled   him too much  ,

But its faith in God  , assured him that  God will feed him,

But till evening nothing happened   and the poor hungry hawk,

Was about  to get down from the rock   and suddenly God asked him,

“I have provided  food for you  ,  did you eat it, is it sufficient?”

The hawk shook  its head to say no, and god told   him.,

“Turn back and see”  and the Hawk saw a huge dead rat there,

And it asked God, “Thanks  but you delayed it too much,”

And then God said, “without  even an effort  to turn back and see,

How do you expect   to get your food , Without doing work,

You would never  be able to get   my grace.”

Hawk from that day   worked   as well as meditated,

Understanding that  without the   worship called Work,

No  God   would give   him anything  ,

And to  those devotees who work, there would be no wants.

God is beginning less and endless principle

Bhagawan  is an anadhi anantha thathwam

(God is beginning less  and endless principle)

Rewritten by

P.Ramachander

( an atheist finds a concept  of  endless and beginning less   truth laughable .Rajagopal Srinivasan has posted  in face book , that  even in science  such concepts  are there. Thanks to him)

One atheist approached     a saint and asked,

“Please tell me   who is God and how he would look like?”

The said told “He is   the  universal  divine lustre,

Which does not have end or beginning.”

The  Atheist asked “How can there  be anything,

Which does  not have  beginning   or end.

What you say is against   the tenets  of science,

Which tells exactly even the distance between earth and sun”

The saint asked the atheist , “What   is the basis of science?’
And he  replied  , “The basis of all science  is mathematics”

And the saint asked “What is the basis  of mathematics?’

And the  atheist   replied “ It is    the numbers”

The saint asked  , “Can you please  tell me the  highest number?”

And the atheist told some number   and saint told a  bigger number,

And later   the  Saint requested the atheist  to tell the  smallest number,

And here   again  the atheist   failed   miserably.

Then the Atheist told “Ah, I know it , it is the infinity”,

And saint said , “infinity  is a symbol representing ,

A concept   and is not a number and do you not know ,

That the largest  as well as smallest number is represented by that symbol?

Then the saint  further  told “ You said   that science,

Is something    which had beginning   as well as end  ,

And you now   agree  that only a symbol represents its ends,

And  cannot you  agree with me that , my concept of  endless God is Okay.”

Five senses are greater

The heart of the poet cries that man with six senses is inferior to  the animal with five senses

Five senses  are greater 

By

Poet  Vairamuthu

Translation by

P.R.Ramachander

Are the  five senses   greater,

Than    the    six senses.

No animal   grows a paunch over its stomach,

Have you heard of  bird  with a paunch,

Or even a rabbit   with a paunch

Do you know no animal gets  diabetes,

That no bird   sweats or  that,

No  bird  builds a nest  and leases out.

Or no bird steals another bird’s land.

Oh man , please   listen ,

Joint   family   system ,

Has not got broken only  in  the forest,

Please   receive   this in your mind.

No bull  goes near a  cow with ,

The scent  of pregnancy ,

One wife   for one man, a motto for you,

But life   for a  dove for no dove,

Touches the  mate of another dove.

When there are   tremours in the earth ,

The birds fly , flap their wings , and  join together

Oh Man now  tell me,

Whether  Six senses  is better  ,

In wisdom , than five senses.

You sit on the hide of a dead deer ,

You fan yourself with a peacock fan,

You decorate yourself with elephant’s tusk,

And also    the bones   of a camel,

Oh Man, if one day you die,

Since some times even earth will  refuse you,

WE started   cremating you  in fire,

Tamil original

 ஐந்து அறிவு  பெரிது

ஆறு  அறிவு சிறிது

கவிஞர் வைரமுத்து

எந்த விலங்கும்

இரைப்பைக்கு மேலே

இன்னொரு வயிறு வளர்ப்பதில்லை

🐇🕊எங்கேனும்

தொப்பைக் கிளியோ

தொப்பை முயலோ

பார்த்ததுண்டா ?

**

எந்த விலங்குக்கும்

சர்க்கரை வியாதியில்லை தெரியுமோ?

**

இன்னொன்று :

பறவைக்கு வேர்ப்பதில்லை

**

🏢எந்த பறவையும்

கூடுகட்டி

வாடகைக்கு விடுவதில்லை

**

எந்த விலங்கும்

தேவையற்ற நிலம்

திருடுவதில்லை

**

கவனி மனிதனே

🐅🐆🐘🐃கூட்டு வாழ்க்கை இன்னும்

குலையாதிருப்பது

காட்டுக்குள்தான்

**

👨🏻மனிதா

இதை

மனங்கொள்

🐂🐄கர்ப்பவாசனை

கண்டு கொண்டால்

காளை பசுவைச்

சேர்வதில்லை

**

💑ஒருவனுக்கொருத்தி

உனக்கு வார்த்தை

🕊புறாவுக்கு வாழ்க்கை

🕊எந்த புறாவும்

தன் ஜோடியன்றி

பிறஜோடி தொடுவதில்லை

**

🐅🐘🐆பூகம்பம் வருகுது எனில்

அலைபாயும் விலங்குகள்

🕊அடிவயிற்றில் சிறகடிக்கும்

பறவைகள் அங்கிங்கும் அலை மோதும்

மானிடா. இப்போது சொல்

அறிவில்

ஆறு பெரிதா ?

ஐந்து பெரிதா ?

**

மாண்டால் -

🐲மானின் தோல் ஆசனம்

🌳மயிலின் தோகை விசிறி

🐘யானையின் பல் அலங்காரம்

🐫ஒட்டகத்தின் எலும்பு ஆபாரணம்

**

👇

மானிடா

         நீ மாண்டால் …

சிலரை

மண் கூட  நிராகரிக்கும்

என்பதால் தானே

நெருப்பில் போட பழகினோம்

**

What does “Narayana “ mean?

What does “Narayana “ mean?

By

P.R,Ramachander

(This is an old folk tale. I remembered it after  reading  the face book post of Kumar Ramanathan

 . Thanks to him)  

Sage Narada   who keeps on chanting “Narayana”

Suddenly    had a doubt-“What does “Narayana “ mean?”

One great scholar whom he   approached told him,

“Naara” means water and “ayana” , means abode ,

And so  “Narayana “ means “He whose  abode is water”

Another scholar  greatly differed    and he said  ,

“Nara” means  man  and “Ayana” means abode ,

And so “Narayana” means “Man’s final abode”,

Another  devotee shook   his head  vigourously,

“Ayana “ means “goal”  and so “Narayana” means “goal of man”.

Not at all  said another “It means “ Shelter of the universe”

Another scholar laughed “It means, ”He who resides in everything he creates”

And poor sage   got   terribly confused ,

And decided  to ask “Lord Narayana  himself”.

Lord Narayana   requested Sage Narada ,

To go to banks of river Narmada  and ask a bee there,

And sage Narada   went to the bee and said,

“Narayana , means  what?” but as soon as,

He said  “Narayana that   bee  died,

Sage Narada  went back   to is lord  , perplexed ,

And Lord Narayana then sent him   to approach  a parrot,

And as soon as he started” Narayana”, that  parrot died,

And Lord Vishnu    sent him to a  just born calf,

And it also   died  as soon as it hear , “Narayana”,

And without hesitation  Lord Narayana ,

Sent Narada   to the  just born  prince of Benares,

And with great reluctance   the sage approached  the prince,

And the prince replied,”I was the bee , the parrot and the calf”

And till you told    them   those being had not heard “Narayana”

And as soon they heard , they died  and got rebirth  as higher being,

And since there  is no other   higher birth , I will keep on chanting,

The word “Narayana” that you taught me and attain salvation,

Please know “Narayana” means, “He who gives prosperity while alive”

And “He who   cures   the disease of Samsara” in this earth.

Grand parent express flights

Grand parent express  flights

By

P.R.Ramachander

(Based on a write posted in face book in Tamil .Thanks to the author)

There are  special grand  parents flights  most of the week days,

Flying to USA  or England  or  Australia   or Germany,

Whose  tickets   would be blocked  by young parents,

Who are  living  in those countries and struggling to look after their kids.

Most of the passenger couples  or some times  old ladies,

Would never have   seen the  inside of any flight   anywhere,

And their preparation to   this awesome journey  would start,

On the day  when their kids inform them  they are  expecting.

They would start  immediately  the job of VISA  application,

By going to a good studio   to take  Visa   photographs ,

And either their children  or their friends or some agents ,

Would  help them    to apply   fondly for the VISA.

All  the  members of foreign returned   grand parents  association,

Would scare  them to death, by telling them , how on the appointed day,

They have to go very early  to the  embassy   to stand in the Queue,

And they would also tell them  that , if they say  the truth their VISA  would be refused,

The same association members   would teach them how to dress  up,

For the VISA  interview and  take lessons on how  to face the interview,

How to dress properly   for the purpose, though   the people who take the interview ,

Would really not bothered. How they talk   or how they dress.  Or how confused they look.

Ultimately these two oldies would be asked  some  silly simple questions,

And would get   multiple   entry  VISA   though  they  do not need it  ,

And then the travel agent would    give them the ticket   for USA,

And their relations will take them to airport   and leave them at the gate.

Though these two old ones would be  expecting   hundreds of problems,

Nothing at all    would happen  and after  a comfortable    travel,

Being fed with their own food   almost   every  two hours  , they would reach,

That air port  where   they need to change   the plane within two hours.

Though they are tense  nothing  terrible would happen   and helpers,

Would put them   on wheel chairs    and see to is they catch their next flight.

And then they would start  feeling nervous about the  custotms and immigration,

As they would have packed  big pickle jars and several  packets  of several eatables.

Though they expect   that  all that they   are carrying    would be thrown in a dust bin,

Nothing like that   would happen 99 % of the times   , because the immigration  officers there,

Know what   goods to expect to be carried  by oldy passengers of the grand parent express from India,

And once they come out they would see  their children and grand children and jump with joy.

Once they reach their children’s home , they are  all sure to be disappointed,

At not being able to see  the USA  that  they have seen  in Tamil and Hindi movies,

They would live comfortably there    after  a few more months  attending several  birthday parties,

Visiting several   great zoos, parks, cruises  and malls  and leave USA  without wanting to return.

Those wingless unfulfilled dreams

Those  wingless unfulfilled   dreams

By

Na.Muthukumar

Translated by

P.R.Ramachander

(Sri Na. Muthukumar (12 July 1975 – 14 August 2016) was an Indian poet, lyricist, and author. Best known for his Tamil language  film songs, he received the most number of Filmfare Awards for Best Lyricist in Tamil  and was a two-time recipient of the National Film Award for Best Lyrics .

This poem of his  shakes  us with great emotion and brings tears in to our eyes,making us recall   those unfulfilled dreams of ours)

மழை பெய்யா நாட்களிலும் 

மஞ்சள் குடையோடு வரும்
ரோஜாப்பூ மிஸ் வகுப்பின்
முதல் நாளன்று
முன்பொரு முறை எங்களிடம் கேட்டார்
"படிச்சு முடிச்சதும் என்ன ஆகப் போறங்க?"

The  teacher   who was  like rose  ,

Who used to  come   with an yellow  umbrella,

Even on the days   when there   was no rain,

On the first day of our class  once  asked,

“What are you going to become after studies?”

முதல் பெஞ்சை யாருக்கும் விட்டுத் தராத
கவிதாவும் வனிதாவும்
"டாக்டர்" என்றார்கள் கோரஸாக
இன்று கல்யாணம் முடிந்து
குழந்தைகள் பெற்று
ரேஷன் கடை வரிசையில்
கவிதாவையும்; கூந்தலில் செருகிய சீப்புடன்
குழந்தைகளை பள்ளிக்கு வழியனுப்பும்
வனிதாவையும் எப்போதாவது பார்க்க நேர்கிறது.

Vanitha and kavitha   who never  vacated ,

Their seats in the first bench  in a chorus said , “Doctor”,

Once in a while  I see Kavitha , who got married,

Standing in the ration shop queue ,

And Vanitha , with a comb tucked in her hair,

Bidding bye to her children going to school.

"இன்ஜினியர் ஆகப்போகிறேன்" என்ற
எல்.சுரேஷ்குமார் பாதியில் கோட்டடித்து
பட்டுத் தறி நெய்யப் போய்விட்டான்.

Sureshkumar  who said , “I am going to become an engineer,

Failed in a claa in between and had gone  to  weave silk yarn.

"எங்க அப்பாவுடைய
இரும்புக் கடையைப் பாத்துப்பேன்"
கடைசி பென்ச் சி.என்.ராஜேஷ் சொன்னபோது
எல்லோரும் சிரித்தார்கள்.
இன்றவன் நியூஜெர்சியில்
மருத்துவராகப் பணியாற்றிக்கொண்டே
நுண் உயிரியலை ஆராய்கிறான்.

When C.N.Rajesh told  , “I would look after  ,

The steel shop of my father”, every one laughed,

But he is now a doctor   in New Jersey ,

Who also does  research in microbiology.

"பிளைட் ஓட்டுவேன்" என்று சொல்லி
ஆச்சரியங்களில் எங்களைத் தள்ளிய
அகஸ்டின் செல்லபாபு டி.ன்.பி.ஸ்.சி. எழுதி
கடைநிலை ஊழியனானான்.

Auastine Chella Babu, who made us all surprised,

By saying  “AS  a pilot I would drive a plane”

But he passed out   state public service commission,

And is employed   as the last grade  government servant.

"அணுசக்தி விஞ்ஞானியாவேன்" என்ற நான்
திரைப் பாடல்கள் எழுதிக் கொண்டிருக்கிறேன்.

I who told that  I would become a nuclear scientist,

Am today writing    songs    for Tamil Films.

வாழ்க்கையின் காற்று எல்லாரையும்
திசைமாற்றிப் போட,

"வாத்தியாராவேன்" என்று சொன்ன
குண்டு சுரேஷ் மட்டும் நாங்கள் படித்த
அதே பள்ளியில் ஆசிரியராகப் பணியாற்றுகிறான்.

"நெனைச்ச வேலையே செய்யற, எப்படியிருக்கு மாப்ளே?" என்றேன்.

Though the storm of life  has  pushed us   to a scattered destiny.

In different directions , away from our aim,

The Stout  Suresh   who told , “I would become a teacher”

Is working in the same school as teacher ,

And I asked him, “Friend , you realised  your dream.”

சாக்பீஸ் துகள் படிந்த விரல்களால்
என் கையைப் பிடித்துக்கொண்டு
"படிச்சு முடிச்சதும் என்ன ஆகப் போறீங்க?
என்று மட்டும் என் மாணவர்களிடம் நான் கேட்பதே இல்லை! " என்றான்.

- ®நா. முத்துக்குமார்💯

He held my hand   with his chalk quoted fingers,

And said ,” I never ever   ask the students of my class,

“What are you going to become after studies?”