Poetry

Mahakavi Bharathiyar on his “Firmness Needs”

By N.V.Subbaraman from Chennai, India

Mahakavi Bharathiyar, great  patriot, national Poet Subramaniya Bharathi with his sterling songs in Tamil, roused the peoples conscience towards, Motherland, its freedom, Mother Tongue, its greatness,  Woman’s lib, its need and sanctity, social evils, need to eradicate and so on during the short span of 39 years of his life (11-12-1882 to 11 -9   -1921).

He was proud of his Motherland-India that is Bharath- its hoary culture and civilization, achievements of the ancient land and sang in praise that made everyone take pride and serve the nation. He is equally conscious of the essential needs of the human beings physically, mentally, intellectually,spiritually and so on. Here is a beautiful poem praying  for “FIRMNESS NEED” and others in his original Tamil, its transliteration and translation into English and a comment.

 

Original in Tamil:

உறுதி வேண்டும்

மனதி லுறுதி வேண்டும்,

வாக்கினி லேயினிமை வேண்டும்;

நினைவு நல்லது வேண்டும்,

நெருங்கின பொருள் கைப்பட வேண்டும்;;

கனவு மெய்ப்பட வேண்டும்

கைவசமாவது விரைவில் வேண்டும்

தனமும் இன்பமும் வேண்டும்;

தரணியிலே பெருமை வேண்டும்.       (1)

கண் திறந்திட வேண்டும்,

காரியத்தி லுறுதி வேண்டும்;.

பெண் விடுதலை வேண்டும்;

பெரிய கடவுள் காக்க வேண்டும்;

மண் பயனுற வேண்டும்.

வானகமிங்கு தென்பட வேண்டும்;

உண்மை நின்றிட வேண்டும்.

ஓம், ஓம், ஓம், ஓம்.    *(2)

.

TRANSLITERATION:

URUDHI VAENDUM

Manadhi lurudhi vaeNdum,

Vaakkini laeyinimai vaeNdum

Ninaivu nalladhu vaeNdum

Nerungina poruL kaippada vaeNdum;

Kanavu meyppada vaeNdum

Kaivasamaavadhu viraivil vaeNdum

Dhanamum inbamum vaeNdum

TharaNiyilae perumai vaeNdum.       (1)

KaN thirandhida vaeNdum

Kaariyaththi lurudhi vaeNdum

PeN vidudhalai vaeNdum

Periya kadavuL kaakka vaeNdum

MaN payanura vaeNdum

Vaanagamingu thenpada vaeNdum

UNmai ninrida vaeNdum

Om, Om, Om, Om.       (2)

 

TRANSLATION

Firmness of the mind is the need

Sweetness of the words is the need

Noble thoughts are the need

Things that come near be with us is the need

Realizing the dream is the need

Dream to reality the urgent need

Plenty and the joy are the need

Honor in the earth is the need!     (1)

Our eyes opened is the need

Firmness in action is the need

Women’s’ lib is the need

Almighty’s grace is the need

Benefit to the World is the need

Citing of the heaven is the need

Truth to prevail is the need

Om, Om, Om, Om.       (2)

 With the grace and compassion of the Lord Almighty, if these needs are fulfilled, what else are required to turn this earth into heaven!

(To be continued)

 

7 Comments

  1. NVS is a doyen in Bharathy’s works!
    Dr.M.G.Bhaskar

  2. wonderful translation. The trsln also with its powerful words stir our minds& lead too vairagyam as Bharathiyar inferred. Kudos to N V S our friend!,
    yogiyar

  3. Sri NVSubbaraman is great poet in English as well as Tamil.
    Many a book were printedover a period of years.
    He worked as a very senior officer in Life Insurance Corporation of India and retired in the cadre of Zonal Manager.
    His write-ups are very educative and people world over nearly ONE LAKH are the regular readers of his literature .

    His articles are worthy and highly qualitative for printing as a BOOK.

  4. O K R Sivagnanam

    Reasonable needs to be fulfilled!
    The poet rightly anticicipates them for the well being of the people on this earth!
    No exaggeration is found therein, and legitimate are his ambitions meant for his motherland!
    And a firmness in our mind and thought is bound to attain these goals, as desired by him for the humanity!
    And the translationn readily conveys the contents in a lucid manner!

  5. Thanks DR. Bhaskar, Kaviyogiyar, Nadan Poet Hena and Raju for your inspiring response.

  6. ENRICHED WITH ENGLISH WORDS WHICH DELIGHT US.
    FOR A MOMENT “BHARATHIAR STOOD IN FRONT OF ME”
    LONG LIVE YOUR LOVE FOR LITERATURE !!