Tryst(?) With Languages

Learning new languages isn't exactly one of my strengths, probably because I have till now never been keen on it. I can speak fluent, good English and Tamil, with the latter being my mother-tongue. If you have been following my blog, I am an enthusiast of the intricate beauties in the languages I already know, and even have put up a couple of posts on my stark admiration for Tamil poetry. English has always been a language that I grew up to be comfortable with, thanks to the many wonderful books that I got to read since my childhood (you can find a list here, if you want). 

In English, I always knew what's the right way to say a phrase, or use a term, in the apt sense without knowing any grammar behind it. I may not be a wizard when it comes to defining the grammar of this language, but I am extremely comfortable with any level of writing or vocabulary- because years of reading have given me that confidence to understand in practice what the structure of the language is, and hence I can make out context pretty easily when I read something. And, if you keep reading then what was just a contextual understanding becomes concrete in your mind. So, that is how English primarily works for me. I may not be able to tell you why something is correct or wrong, but I can sure well tell whether it is right or not. To me, this language is highly instinctive. 

Tamil is a natural confidence for me, because it is my mother-tongue. I studied Tamil as my second language in school for ten years, and that exposed me to a lot of prose, poetry, grammar, and all the lovable intricacies of this language. I can obviously speak fluently, but I don't think I can ever be a graceful Tamil reader, though I can read and comprehend the language. I have never, and probably would never, picked a full-length Tamil book to read. 

I learnt French through a course in school, and I learnt quite a bit. You can see my learning here, if you are interested. I was doing well, and was really interested, but unfortunately I couldn't do the second level of the course. So, I just ended up learning a wide base of fundamentals of the language, enough to understand and relate to a lot of the French expressions in English novels! I hope I pick it up again some day. Poirot's mon ami was a constant bait for me to study this language. 

I had Spanish in college during my first three semesters. I learnt something in the first semester. But, the other two were a wash out. This was the most useless of all the attempts I have ever made to learn a language. Probably a law school is not the best place to have a compulsory language class. Neither were the faculty interested, nor were the students, so there was 0 learning. Or, maybe 0.00001% learning. Basically, the same. So, my Spanish is just as good as me catching the meaning of viva la vida. 

The final one, of course, is Hindi. This is the funniest. I wrote these Hindi exams that happen in Tamil Nadu by Dakshin Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha. But, due to a clear lack of interest I left it after the first two levels. I had Hindi as my third language in school, but that was absolutely no use again. As Calvin would put it, it just taught us how to manipulate through an exam without any substantial knowledge building. Every student just hated the Hindi third-language classes, and none of us ever understood it anyway. However, one good that came out of these two experiences was that I could read and write Hindi. I just couldn't speak, because I didn't really know Hindi. 

I was unnecessarily nonchalant, so I didn't pick up this language initially. But, when I had to go to a University where nine out of my ten friends spoke in Hindi for casual conversation, I was forced to pick it up, at least in bits and pieces throughout the last three years, to make sure I understood what the hell they were talking about when I was chilling with them. Necessity can make you learn, and that's how I picked up this language. Today, I can understand Hindi perfectly well, and I can manage a conversation in Hindi, too. But, I wonder whether I would have ever picked up this language if the circumstances didn't really force me to. 

Even now, though I can understand and reasonably speak Hindi, I almost never do unless it is absolutely necessary. I get away happily with English, as almost everyone can speak English today. But, learning this language, this way, has opened up my thoughts about unnecessary nonchalance.

I think about it, and  I hope to do something about it next time it comes in the way!

A Slice Of Poetry And Life

My second language in school was always Tamizh- from class one to ten. Ten years of exposure into the language, and we still used to make so many spelling errors, and read a little slowly, at least most of us. Though hours on end was spent memorizing for my Tamizh exams, the classes and the learning were always fun.

I really enjoyed many of the pieces of poetry that we read through our syllabus in school. Tamizh is a beautiful language, and there have been stalwarts who played with its beauty in the most mesmerizing, meaningful manner. One of my most favourite poems is a poem written by Andagakavi Veeraraghavar which is a standing example of the beauty and richness of the language.

When I was in class nine, we were given an assignment to portray a personality through a recital of something famous they did or any characteristic dialogues by them. I had chosen Bharatiyar, or fondly Bharati, who was also known as 'Mahakavi' for being the torch bearing pioneer of modern Tamil poetry. I recited the poem below for my project. This is one of his most classic, famous poems, and I have attempted to translate the broad meaning for those who do not know Tamizh- though my translation does no justice to the poem. 

தேடிச் சோறுநிதந் தின்று - பல

சின்னஞ் சிறுகதைகள் பேசி - மனம்

வாடித் துன்பமிக உழன்று - பிறர்

வாடப் பலசெயல்கள் செய்து - நரை

கூடிக் கிழப்பருவ மெய்தி - கொடுங்

கூற்றுக் கிரையெனப்பின் மாயும் - பல

வேடிக்கை மனிதரைப் போலே - நான்

வீழ்வே னென்று நினைத் தாயோ?

Scavenging for food and feeding yourself every day, chit-chatting around and gossiping through many stories, getting disappointed and tossing over a plethora of troubles that come on the way, also acting in ways that disappoint others, hairs graying slowly and growing old, dying after a spell of life with much slandering, like so many men who live their lives this way- did you think that I'd fall prey to their ways?

The word "kootru" on the third last line has two meanings- one, slanders or utterances, and two, the death God Yama in Hindu mythology. So, Bharati plays with the language and talks of a death after a life harsh utterances and the death after the arrival of the fearful death God Yama.

Back in 2004, my father and his friend, both ardent fans of Bharati, were discussing this very poem, and as my father fondly recalls, their friendship "blossomed over this conservation". My dad's friend, Rakesh Vaidyanathan uncle, went back after the conversation only to unleash his strand of creativity- with a simple and yet very beautiful translation of this poem by Bharati that you can read here.

Search in despair for their daily bread,
gossip trivials and rumors spread,
sad in mind and suffer much pain,
inflict suffering on others in vain,
grow old and feeble, wrinkled and grey,
die and dis-appear, as destiny's prey
funny men, so silly and ill,
fall like them, you fancied, I will?

Bharati was a man way ahead of his time- someone bold enough to not change his ways for others, unabashed to talk truth, and a great visionary and reformer. The teacher liked my recital a lot, and I was one of the people who got shortlisted through the class activity to see a live Tamizh stage play. Later on, I went to write a review of it in Tamizh, and also was one of the five winners of the best reviews. 

It is a sweet memory. Tamizh teachers in school are some of my favourite! And I will forever remember our fun during Tamizh classes in school!

Vatha kuzhambu

Image from ticklingpalates.com

After living two and a half years in college with a friend circle that predominantly consists of people who are not from the South, I got a fair insight into what they actually know about Tamil food. Idli, dosa, sambar, uttappam and medu vada seem to be widely popular. But, others like paruppu vada, masal vada, keerai vada, bonda seems to be in the shadow. Some people know of rasam. One day they made aviyal in college, and I was so excited. It was made nicely and a lot of my friends really enjoyed it.

Every time, I hear one of them talk about Tamil food, I feel really tempted to not only tell them how many beautiful dishes they have no clue about, but also make them taste it. However, it's very difficult to find good South Indian places around my College, and even if we do find one I'm always skeptical about making them try the pongal or rasam or adai, in the fear that they would consider that to be the standard of the dish.

My love for thayir sadham (curd rice), or generally most South Indians', is something unheard of there. How would I ever make them understand the happiness that a "thalicha thayir sadham" can give? It is an experience that needs to be had. And, my favourite side to have with curd rice is the vatha kuzhambu. 

There are many south Indian dishes like sambar and rasam. But only one dish can make a cup of curd rice disappear instantaneously. This one dish is the golden drop Vatha Kuzhambu. Vatha Kuzhambu is a broth made with thick tamarind pulp. The best way to eat it (obviously, according to me) is to take a handful of curd rice and top it up with a couple of drops. The subtle taste of seasoned curd rice topped by a drop of the spicy and tangy vatha kozhambu is so soothing and tasty that we wouldn’t mind another cup of curd rice for it.

None of the other side dishes can match the home-made Vatha Kuzhambu which tickles the taste buds and leaves you wanting for more. Vatha Kuzhambu can be used as a side-dish or can be mixed with rice and eaten. There are two reasons for it to be called the golden drop. One, it has a deep, slightly brownish colour of gold. Second, it is supremely favoured by all tamil foodies. A drop of this dish takes you to the seventh heaven.

And, there are so many more dishes I would want to make them eat- idiappam, set dosa, adai, morkozhambu, all our karis and kootus, and so on. I hope one day they get to taste it all, for it is an experience in itself!

Parthiban Kanavu (Dream of Parthiban)

Title: Parthiban Kanavu (Dream of Parthiban)

Author: Kalki. R. Krishnamurthy

Translated By: Dr. M. S.Venkatraman

Main Characters: Ponnan, Valli, Vikraman, Arul Mozhi Devi, King Parthiban, Veerabadra Aachaari, Sivanadiyar, Narasimha Pavallan, Kundavi Devi and Marappa Bhupathi.

Description of one of the main character: King Parthiban was the king of the Chola Nadu before Narasimha Pallavan, the ruler of Pallavas won it in the battle. King Parthiban has a son named Vikraman. He had many dreams such as capturing many northern states and to capture islands far away. He was a brave king.

Setting/theme of the story: King Parthiban died in the war between the Chola Nadu and the Pallavas. The war was held because King Parthiban refused to pay tributes to Narasimha Pallavan. After the war, King Parthiban's son, Vikraman launched an attack on Narasimha Pallavan with the help of his uncle Marappa Bhupathi. Half-way through the attack, Marappa Bhupathi betrayed Vikraman by leaving the boy fight on his own. So, Vikraman was captured and was brought to the Pallava king's palace in Kanchi. He was exiled. The young prince went to Shanbagam Island while his mother lived in Casanthe Theevu. Vikraman started ruling Shanbagam Island. He came back to Chola Nadu to see his mother. He was disguised as a gem trader He fell ill and the Princess Kundavi rescued him. When Narasimha Pallavan found out that Vikraman had come to Chola Nadu disguised as a gem  trader, knowing that he would be punished if found out, was surprised by the bravery of the prince. He married his young daughter Kundavi to Vikraman and gave the Chola Nadu to him as an independent state which need not pay tributes. Slowly Parthiban's dream got fulfilled when Vikraman and his successors conquered many places. The Chola warriors hoisted the Tiger flag, near the Ganges in the north, and beyond the seas in the east on the Kaadaaram Island. Parhiban's dream was to become reality 300 after Parthiban's death in the battlefield.

Kalki Selected Stories

Kalki Krishnamurthy (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Title: Kalki Selected Stories

Author: Kalki.R.Krishnamurthy

TRANSLATED BY: GOWRI RAMNARAYAN, GRAND DAUGHTER OF KALKI.

THE STORIES I LIKED:

v  THE TIGER KING

Prince Jung Jung Bahadur was born and the astrologers predicted that the child will grow to become a warrior. They also said that the 100th tiger will kill him. The crown Prince, Jung Jung Bahadur grew up and started killing all the tigers. He had killed all the tigers in his kingdom but he had to kill 30 more. He married a young princess of a state with large tiger population. He had killed all the tigers there. He had killed 99 tigers. If he killed 1 more, he could prove that the astrologers were wrong. One day his soldiers got him an old tiger. He aimed a shot at the tiger and the tiger fell to the ground. He went to celebrate. Later, the soldiers found it was not dead and killed it instead of saying it to the king. Soon Jung Jung Bhadur son's birthday arrived. The king presented his son a toy tiger. While playing with his son, the steel went inside the king's hand. Best surgeons from Madras were called but the surgery failed and the king died. The 100th tiger had killed the king.

 v  THE POISON CURE:

This story is about Narayana Iyer, who thinks that untouchables are not equal to his Bhramin caste. He has the skill to draw the poison from snakebites and scorpion stings. He believes that when he says the mantra to draw the poison from the person, the mantra will not work if an untouchable is near him. One day an Inspector sat near him while he drew poison away from a person. After completing his mantra and after the patient was recovered, he told the inspector that the manta wouldn't have worked if an untouchable was near him. The inspector started laughing and replied when he was asked why he was laughing that he himself was an untouchable and the mantra had worked. From then on Narayana Iyer did not mind an untouchable near him.

 v  THE RURAL FANTASY:

This story is about a woman named Sakunthala who made the young women of the Kanaiyazhi educated and asked them to be brave and daring. She made the Kanaiyazhi people clean their village and asked them to keep it clean. She taught them now to read and sing songs. But when Sakunthala returns to Kolkata, they all start littering again. But the women of Kanaiyazhi still follow Sakuthala's advice.

The other stories are:

The letter, Rebirth of Srikanthan, The Governor's visit, The Big swelling sea, S.S.Menaka, Ruined Fort, Veenai Bhavani and Madatevan's spring.

It was an interesting book with nice stories. I enjoyed reading it. It is a must read for people who want to read good books.

Ponniyin Selvan: The Crown

The first three parts of the story Ponniyin Selvan are  The First Floods, The Cyclone and The Killer Sword. Now to the 4th part The Crown.

Title: Ponniyin Selvan: The Crown

Author: Kalki R. Krishnamurthy

Main Characters: VallvarayanVandiyathevan, Poonkuzhali, Parthibendran, Adhitha Karikalar, ArulmozhiVarman(Ponniyin Selvan), ParanthakaSundaraChozhar, KundavaiDevi(IlayaPirati), MadhuranthakaDevar, Kandaradithar, Nandini(PazhuvoorRani), ChinnaPazhuvetaraiyar, PeriyaPazhuvetaraiyar, KudanthaiJosiyar, Malayaman, SendhanAmuthan, KandanMaran, Manimekhalai, AzhvarkadiyanNambi(Thirumalai), EasanaBhattar, Vanathi, Aniruddha Bhramarayar and Sambuvaraiyar

Setting/Theme of the story: As Aditha Karikalan does not turn back, Vandiyathevan goes to Sambuvaraiyar's palace to ensure that the prince is safe. The prince and Vandiyathevan enjoy themselves by going out for hunting and boating. Meanwhile, Adithan's best friend Parthibendran,  KandanMaran and Sambuvaraiyar plan to kill the Crown prince. Prince Arulmozhi Varmar is still in Anuradhapuram. This is the end of the fourth part. 

Stay tuned for the last part, Part 5.

Pun in a Tamizh Poem

Work at tamizh (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

There is a poem written in Tamizh by AndagakKavi Veeraraghavar which shows the richness of Tamizh.

The Tamizh Poem goes like this:

இம்பர்வான் எல்லை இராமனையே பாடி
என்கொணர்ந்தாய் பாணாநீ என்றாள் பாணி
வம்பதாம்க ளபமேன்றேன் பூசும் என்றாள்
மாதங்கம் என்றேன் யாம் வாழ்ந்தே மென்றாள்
பம்பு சீர் வேழமென்றேன் தின்னுமென்றாள்
பகடென்றேன் உழுமென்றாள் பழனந் தன்னை
கம்பமா என்றேன் நற்களியாம் என்றாள்
கைமா என்றேன் சும்மா கலங்கினாளே.-----அந்தகக்கவி வீரராகவர் 

A poet sings in the court of a king and comes back home with an elephant. His wife asks him what he had brought back. He replies that he had brought "kalabam" which means elephant. "kalabam" also means "Sandalwood". So his wife takes it as Sandalwood and asks him to apply it.

Next he says that he had got "Maadhangam" which means elephant. But his wife takes it as "gold" which is another meaning of Maadhangam and replies that they can live happily ever after.

Next he uses the word "Vezham" which also means elephant. His wife takes it as "sugarcane" the other meaning of Vezham. She tells him to eat it.

When he tells her that he had got back with "Pagadu" which means elephant, she takes it to be "Plough" the other meaning of it and asks him to plough the field.

When he tells her, he has got "Kambama" which means elephant, she thinks he has brought the flour "kambu maavu" which is denoted as "kamba ma" and tells him it would be enough for their supper.

Finally he uses the word "Kaima" which only means elephant, she stood speechless.

Do you see the richness of Tamizh and the proficiency of the Tamizh poet, his wife and their pun in the conversation?

Ponniyin Selvan: The Killer Sword

The first two parts of the story Ponniyin Selvan are The First Floods and The Cyclone. Now to the 3rd part The Killer Sword.


Title: Ponniyin Selvan: The Killer Sword


Author: Kalki R. Krishnamurthy


Main Characters: VallvarayanVandiyathevan, Poonkuzhali, Parthibendran, Adhitha Karikalar, ArulmozhiVarman(Ponniyin Selvan), ParanthakaSundaraChozhar, KundavaiDevi(IlayaPirati), MadhuranthakaDevar, Kandaradithar, Nandini(PazhuvoorRani), ChinnaPazhuvetaraiyar, PeriyaPazhuvetaraiyar, KudanthaiJosiyar, Malayaman, SendhanAmuthan, KandanMaran, Manimekhalai, AzhvarkadiyanNambi(Thirumalai), EasanaBhattar, Vanathi and Sambuvaraiyar


Setting/Theme of the story: Vandiyathevan leaves ArulmozhiVarmar with Poonkuzhali and her cousin SendhanAmuthan. SendhanAmuthan brings an information that the PazhayaraiPirati(KundavaiDevi) wants her brother to stay in the Buddhist viharam at Nagapattinam. Vandiyathevan goes back to IlayaPirati to tell her that the prince is safe. Meanwhile, Nandini, the PazhuvoorRani, invites Karikalan to Sambuvaraiyar's palace. So, when Vandiyathevan meets IlayaPirati, she asks him to stop AdithaKarikalan from going to Sambuvaraiyar's palace. Once AdithaKarikalan takes a step forward, he never turns back. When Vandiyathevan tries to stop Karikalan, he was in vain. By the time, KundavaiDevi brings ArulmozhiVarmar to Anuradhapuram. This is the end of Part 3. 


Stay tuned for Part 4.

Ponniyin Selvan: The Cyclone

Image by mlanghans via Flickr

Title: Ponniyin Selvan: The Cyclone

Author: Kalki R. Krishnamurthy

Main Characters: VallvarayanVandiyathevan, Poonkuzhali, Parthibendran, Adhitha Karikalar, ArulmozhiVarman(Ponniyin Selvan), ParanthakaSundaraChozhar, KundavaiDevi(IlayaPirati), MadhuranthakaDevar, Kandaradithar, Nandini(PazhuvoorRani), ChinnaPazhuvetaraiyar, PeriyaPazhuvetaraiyar, KudanthaiJosiyar, Malayaman, SendhanAmuthan, KandanMaran, Manimekhalai, AzhvarkadiyanNambi(Thirumalai), EasanaBhattar and Sambuvaraiyar


Whom I like and why: I like Vallavarayan Vandiyathevan very much. He is a warrior from the royal but impoverished Vana clan. His ancestors had ruled TamilNadu for 300 years. Vandiyathevan serves the Chozha empire now. He is a friend and emissary of the crown prince Adhitha Karikalan. Vandiyathevan is famous for his valour. He brings back Arulmozhivarmar from Eezham to Nagapattinam as instructed by the IlayaPirati.


Whom I dislike and why: I dislike Nandini, the Pazhuvoor rani. As KundavaiDevi says Nandini is a venomous she-devil, an enchantress and a poisonous cobra. She wants to marry Adhitha Karikalan so that she can become the Empress of Chozha kingdom. She asks Adhithan to imprison his father SundaraChozhar and make her the Empress. She tries to separate Vandiyathevan from Adhithan.


Setting/Theme of the story: Vandiyathevan goes across the sea to Eezham with the help of a boat-girl named Poonkuzhali. She also helps him escape many dangers. She once saves him from getting caught in the Pazhuvettaraiyars' hands again. Vandiyathevan finds Prince Arulmozhivarmar in Eezham and hands over the scroll addressed to the prince from KundavaiDevi. At the same time, AzhvarKadiyanNambi delivers a scroll to the Prince from AniruddhaBhramayar of Anbil. After a few days, Parthibendra Pallavan also gives a scroll to Ponniyin Selvan from Adhitha Karikalan. The Prince becomes confused. Kundavai has asked Arulmozhivarman to come to Pazhayarai at once. The Prime Minister has asked Ponniyin Selvan to stay at Eezham for some more time. Prince's brother Karikalan has asked him to come to Kanchi at once. While the Prince is thinking whom he should listen to there is news that the Emperor wants Ponniyin Selvan arrested. Ponniyin Selvan thinks he has to follow his father's orders and goes in the ship of Parthibendran. Meanwhile Vandiyathevan gets caught in the ship of a few Arabs. He pushes the Arabs into the sea. While they are all travelling a cyclone hits and Vandiyathevan's ship catches fire. Ponniyin Selvan jumps into the sea from the other ship in order to save Vandiyathevan. Vandiyathevan is rescued from the burning ship but both the Prince and Vandiyathevan get caught in the cyclone. When Ponniyin Selvan and Vandiyathevan start to loose hope in surviving the cyclone, Poonkuzhali rows to them and saves them in her boat. She takes them back to safety. 


This is the end of part 2. Stay tuned.

Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1: The First Floods

Image via Wikipedia

I am currently reading the English version of Kalki R. Krishnamurthy's Ponniyin Selvan translated by C. V. Karthik Narayanan and published by MACMILLAN India Ltd.

The original was first serialised in Tamizh 1950-54 in the magazine Kalki.

The First Floods is the first part of Ponniyin Selvan series.

Main Characters: VallvarayanVandiyathevan, Parthibendran, Adhitha Karikalar, ArulmozhiVarman(Ponniyin Selvan), ParanthakaSundaraChozhar, KundavaiDevi(IlayaPirati), MadhuranthakaDevar, Kandaradithar, Nandini(PazhuvoorRani), ChinnaPazhuvetaraiyar, PeriyaPazhuvetaraiyar, KudanthaiJosiyar, Malayaman, SendhanAmuthan, KandanMaran, Manimekhalai, AzhvarkadiyanNambi(Thirumalai), EasanaBhattar and Sambuvaraiyar

Story: VallavarayanVandiyathevan of the Vana clan who serves AdithaKarikalan, the crown prince goes to deliver two important scrolls from Adithan. One is addressed to ParanthakaSundaraChozhar who is the ruling emperor and the other is to KundavaiDevi, daughter of the emperor and also called as the IlayaPirati. On his way to SundaraChozhar's palace at Thanjavur, he settles the disputes between AzhvarkadiyanNambi and EasanaBhattar on whether Vishnu or Shiva is supreme. Then Vandhiyathevan gets trapped in PeriyaPazhuvetaraiyar's, the prince of Pazhuvoor, hands. He somehow gives the scroll to SundaraChozhar. The scroll invites SundaraChozhar, Adithan's father, who lives under the influence of the Pazhuvetraiyars' to come and live in the golden palace built by Adithan for his father. Then Vandiyathevan escapes from Thanjavur and goes to meet IlayaPirati in Pazhayarai. He delivers the message safely to KundavaiDevi. KundavaiDevi gives him another message to be taken to prince ArulmozhiVarman in Eezham(Lanka). This is the end of first part.

Parthibendran is a friend of AdithaKarikalan. MadhuranthakaThevar is the son of Kandaradithar. Kandaradithar and SundaraChozhar are brothers. Nandini is PeriyaPazhuvetaraiyar's wife and doesnt like KundavaiDevi, the IlayaPirati because she is SundaraChozhar's daughter and adored more. KundanthaiJosiyar predicts that ArulmozhiVarman will rule all the three worlds as per his horoscope. SendhanAmuthan helps VandiyaThevan during his journey to Pazhayarai. KandanMaran is a friend of VandiyaThevan. Manimekhalai is KandanMaran's sister. Sambuvaraiyar is father of KandanMaran and Manimekhalai.

I like the setting and theme of the story. I like the story and continuing reading other parts of Ponniyin Selvan. Stay tuned for the rest.