After nearly a month, here comes my 25th sketch
Small little milestone.. Long journey ahead! Glad I got into sketching

“Only Passion and Persistence can help you reach the top!”

From The Aha Moment of the Week

I found the tutorials at http://www.dianewrightfineart.com/ to be quite helpful. I started out with the tutorial as reference and took it from there for this sketch. Pencils used were 3H, 2B, 3B and 6B.

The entire collection of Aha Moments can be found here. Hope you guys also enjoyed the journey as much as I did

Stay tuned for more!

Its my parents wedding day today and I have written this poem for them.. I havent written in tamil yet.. I will write it and

upload it later.. For the time being.. I have just uploaded the english version..

VaazhthukkaL..

MaNandha naaLai..
Marakka mudiyaadha naaLaai.. kondada en vaazhthukaL..

INaindha naaLandru..
Idhaiyathin yellaivarai magizha.. nal vaazhthukaL..

Kaadhalin munnudharanam… kaatiyadharkku nandri..
Tamizhil kooda varthai yillai.. Ungal tyaagangalukku mikka nandri..

Kaalame.. Unnai kaiyeduthu vendugiren..
Daivame.. Unnai kandithu koorugiren..

Udalum Nizhalum serndhu nadakkum..
Ivar punidha payanam thodara..

ShrutilangayangaL onnu serndhu..
Sangeetha mazhai pozhiga..

Ivar iruvar kannil ini…
Anandha kanner mattrumae pozhiga..

Kalaikaadhalanin idhayapoorvamaana Nalvaazhtukkal..

The poem is called VaazhthuKKal.. which means.. Wishes!!

It is my best wishes that you celebrate your wedding day as an unforgettable day..
It is my good wishes that you enjoy the day on which you came together.. to your heart’s content..

MaNandha naaLai..
Marakka mudiyaadha naaLaai.. kondada en vaazhthukal..

INaindha naaLandru..
Idhaiyathin yellaivarai magizha.. nal vaazhthukal..

Special thanks to you for setting an example for true love..
There are no words even in tamil to thank you for your sacrifices for me..

Kaadhalin munnudharanam… kaatiyadharkku nandri..
Tamizhil kooda varthai yillai.. Ungal tyaagangalsukku mikka nandri..

O Time.. I beg you..
O God… I instruct you..

Kaalame.. Unnai kaiyeduthu vendugiren..
Daivame.. Unnai kandithu koorugiren..

Let the jouney started out by the togetheness of this body and shadow continue..
Let the showering of music.. which is merged with the togetherness of pitch and rhythm continue..
Let the eyes of these two people be filled with only tears of happiness..

Udalum Nizhalum serndhu nadakkum..
Ivar punidha payanam thodara..

ShrutilangayangaL onnu serndhu..
Sangeetha mazhai pozhiga..

Ivar iruvar kannil ini…
Anandha kanner mattrumae pozhiga..

Kalaikaadhalanin idhayapoorvamaana Nalvaazhtukkal..

Heartfelt wedding wishes from the lover of art!

While my 25th sketch is taking a while.. I was pleasantly surprised to  find out that the aha moments album on picassa web (24 aha moments) has received over 39,000 views. This excludes the views on facebook or the cws page views.

Thanks a lot for all the support. Stay tuned for the 25th Aha Moment! Taking a while.. But will be there soon.

This is my 12th poem.. And this time, I have written it in tamil.. I started learning to write tamil about a week back and I simply admired the beauty of the language.. In this poem.. I wonder if Tamil is indeed a women.. Please see the image below to read the script..

From Semmozhiyaana Tamizh Mozhiyaam

Here is the translation for the poem..

O dear Tamil, are you a lady? The language has so many twists and bends.. It is so curvy that it can make a poet go crazy..
Tamil is so beatiful that to describe her.. everyone would ideally crave to learn the language..
So Kalai Kaadhalan.. the lover of art wonders..Are you really a lady? Is learning tamil a barrier.. Who will not be able break that barrier if they get to know that they can describe you..

Tamizhae..
Nee oru peNNa?

Ethanai neLivugaL
Ethanai suzhivugaL
Kavigyanai mayakka vaikum..
Ethanai Ethanai vaLaivugaL..

Tamizhae..
Nee oru peNNa?
Unnai varnaikka tamizh mozhi oru thadaiya?

One thing that always fascinated me about the language is that it has beautiful names.. In this stanza.. I wonder what would the name of the lady if tamil was indeed a women.. at the same time.. describe I try to describe tamil.. so here goes the translation..

O Tamil.. The one with 1000 names..
Are you the one who is extremely beautiful and the one with a beautiful name.. (paerazhagi)

You seem to be the princess of the Chola Dynasty..
You are so beautiful.. are you aptly named the glowing moon or a growing moon (Vaan mathi? or Vazharmathi?)

You seem to be the queen of all literatures..
Are you aptly named the flower eyed beauty or fish eyed beauty.. (Malarvizhi? or Kayalvizhi?)

You seem to be the talking parrot with melodius voice..
Are you aptly named the sweet language or the honey language? (Thaenmozhi or Kanimozhi)

You seem to be the flower which decorates the god..
Are you aptly named the beauty.. and the brainy? (Sundhari or Maadavi)

What is your name dear tamiL..

Tamizhae..
Ayirum paeruLavale..
Nee enna paerazhagiya?

Chola naatu iLavarisiye..
Nee Vaanmathiya? VaLarmathiya?

IlakiyyangaLin paerarasiyae..
Nee Malarvizhi-ya? Kayalvizhi-ya?

Konji konji paesum sellakili-ye..
Nee Thaenmozhi-ya Kanimozhi-ya?

Kadavulai alangarikkum malarae..
Nee Sundhari-ya Maadhaviya?

Having convinced that Tamil is indeed a women.. Kalai Kaadhalan.. the lover of art wondered what would Tamils name.. Now he invokes the dazzling beauty of the language to come down to planet earth.. from where ever she resides..

Come down to planet earth O Tamil..
Wake up from the mother of tamil grammer.. Tolkaapiyum defines the rules of the language..
Come out of the tamil dictionary and show your skills..

Come down..
Fly from Tanjore and come.. Tanjore was once the capital of tamil dynasty called the cholas..
Come alive and Call out for me from the Tirukkural.. TirukkuraL is one of the legendary works in tamil literature.. Come out of that old book and shout out for me..

Come down..
Make this planet earth a land of holy activity..
Are you worried that Subramania Bharathi’s words that.. tamil would slowly die one day.. would come true?
If that is the case.. I will put my life at stake and give you a second life.. please come down to planet earth..

Vaa..
Tolkapiyyathilirundhu.. yezhundhu vaa..
Agaraadhiyilirundhu.. vidhdhai kaata vaa…

Vaa..
Thanjai nagarathilirundhu.. parandhuva..
KuraL-irundhu.. kural kodukkava..

Vaa..
Indha bhoolagathaiyae punyabhoomiyaaga maatriamaikka vaa..
Tamizh ini mella saagum endral..
En uyirai panayavaithu.. Marupiravi tharuvaen vaa..

Unnai rasithu rasithae.. uyir vaazhvadhil…
Paravasam aidaivaan indha kalai kaadhalan..

O dear Tamil.. This Kalai Kaadhalan… the lover of art.. would live a life of ecstacy.. just by appreciating you and relishing you over and over again..

Tamizhae..
Nee oru peNNa?

Ethanai neLivugaL
Ethanai suzhivugaL
Kavigyanai mayakka vaikum..
Ethanai Ethanai vaLaivugaL..

Tamizhae..
Nee oru peNNa?
Unnai varnaikka tamizh mozhi oru thadaiya?

Tamizhae..
Ayirum paeruLavale..
Nee enna paerazhagiya?

Chola naatu iLavarisiye..
Nee Vaanmathiya? VaLarmathiya?

IlakiyyangaLin paerarasiyae..
Nee Malarvizhi-ya? Kayalvizhi-ya?

Konji konji paesum sellakili-ye..
Nee Thaenmozhi-ya Kanimozhi-ya?

Kadavulai alangarikkum malarae..
Nee Sundhari-ya Maadhaviya?

Vaa..
Tolkapiyyathilirundhu.. yezhundhu vaa..
Agaraadhiyilirundhu.. vidhdhai kaata vaa…

Vaa..
Thanjai nagarathilirundhu.. parandhuva..
KuraL-irundhu.. kural kodukkava..

Vaa..
Indha bhoolagathaiyae punyabhoomiyaaga maatriamaikka vaa..
Tamizh ini mella saagum endral..
En uyirai panayavaithu.. Marupiravi tharuvaen vaa..

Unnai rasithu rasithae.. uyir vaazhvadhil…
Paravasam aidaivaan indha kalai kaadhalan..

Today we are having the part 2 of the interview with Usha Rai Maam. Please find the part 1 here.

UR: Very nice to remember such things. I wrote my first novel in 1972-73 but I did not show it to any one. In 1974 I came to Bangalore to join Vijaya Bank. At that time, I gave the manuscript to my childhood friend to read. She liked it and through her husband she sent it to Prajamatha office which was close to her house, without telling me. I was working at K.G.Road branch at that time as a trainee. One day the editor of the magazine Shri M.N Murthy came to that office and was enquiring about me at the counter. One of my colleagues came and told me some old man is asking for you. I thought there must be some mistake in his account and expecting some shoutings when I went to the counter. He introduced himself and told me that he liked my novel and wanted to publish it in their magazine! I was dumbfounded. I was very happy, I was excited and what not? He asked me to give my photo and bio-data. What was there in my bio-data at that time? I told him I will come to Prajamatha Office and give. I remembered my father who was no more. My mother was very happy. That excitement I can never forget.

I had written an article on ‘how to be successful in life’ which was published in Sudha weekly, somewhere in 1992-93. At that time there were not many books in kannada on the power of mind and how to channelize it. The response I got from the youngsters for that article was very interesting. Some took address my from Sudha office and came home asking me to help them. Some office invited me to talk about this for their staff! Very interesting thing was 6-7 years after publishing that article one day I got a call from a youngster telling me ‘madam, I was keeping your article with me all these years and used to read every now and then to get inspiration. After reading that article I finished my engineering and now I am searching for a job. Suddenly I lost that article. I want it very badly. Can you give me a copy of that?’ What does a writer wants more than this? The boy got my phone no. from the Bunts Sangha Office, Bangalore. I was very happy and I wanted to see that boy. I told him to come home to collect the copy. He came and narrated how that article helped him during his student days and how he could finish his engineering. It was very interesting and I gave him the collection of essays where that article is also included. I never thought writing has such an effect on minds!

I have to tell one more interesting thing. I had written a novel about a girl who became a successful police officer by her own efforts. I got a letter from a girl from a remote village asking me for guidance to appear for the exams. She wanted to become a police officer! If any body is influenced by what you have written that is a great feeling. Nothing can beat that pleasure. There are many more incidents. When you get such responses, you really feel satisfied being a writer.

Me: Wow, they are really inspiring stories. It is indeed satisfying to hear such responses as a writer. So what are the challenges you faced in writing? How did you over come the same?

UR: I have faced the same usual challenges every other woman writer was facing. Like getting publishers, attitude of male critiques etc, etc. 0therwise it was a smooth going. I always wrote without expecting anything. That made me stronger.

Me: Sure, How do you promote your literary work?

UR: Promote? There is nothing like promotion. After the book is published the readers promote it if they like the book. The publishers will see that the books are reached all the libraries. Book releasing function is a sort of promotion.

Me: Can you speak about some of your literary achievements Which has been closest to your heart?

UR: Being able to write and be recognized as a good writer is the greatest achievement. When it reached the readers, success came after me. When I got some awards I was happy. They are all encouraging factors in the journey as a writer. My books are closest to my heart. But, I know my best is yet to come. When and how I don’t know.

I became the president of Karnataka Lekhakiyara Sangha (a State level women writers’ association) after I left the Bank. During that 5 years (2000-2005) I worked for the Sangha, sometimes even forgetting my home. Because of the good work I was able to do during that period, I got lot of name and fame. Still people recognize that period as the best period of Karnataka Lekakiyara sangha. That gives me great satisfaction. Instead of being ‘only writer’, I was able to become a good organizer too because of that position.

Me: So, When did you switch from writing to painting?

Switching over to painting is much unexpected. I never thought I will become an artist one day that too after becoming a senior citizen. I had a flare for drawing when I was in the school. But it was all forgotten while running the race of life. Marriage, bank job and house work kept me busy. Children and their education was my priority. In between that busy life I was writing. I took voluntary retirement and soon I became the president of Karnataka Lekhakiyara sangha. That kept me occupied and very busy. In July, 2005 we met with a serious near fatal road accident. Both I and my husband were almost crippled. We were confined to bed for more than 6 months. That was the period I took up painting. My friend and an art teacher Nimi Ravidranath helped me to brush up my hidden talent. When I was able to sit I started painting mainly to overcome that trauma and pain. It acted like a therapy and I got back my confidence and within 2 years i.e. In 2007 I was able to have an exhibition. I myself can’t believe how I did it. That was a surprise to everyone in the literary field. Now painting has become my passion. I write and paint. It is really satisfying. I should say that this is the bonus gift I got from the almighty in my bonus period of life!

Me: Painting as a therapy? I have never heard that painting could be used as a therapy. Can you explain a little more about it.

UR: Any form of art can be used to boost a person’s mental status. For example soothing music is used to calm down people when they are upset. Even in the treatment of depression, music is used to make them feel happy and to activate their mind cells to come out of depression. Now a days many counselors use music as a therapy to cure depression. Soothing music is an excellent stress reliever. Some well sung shlokas are very effective. If you listen to them daily they will have positive effect on your mind.

Like wise colours also have that effect. They can also activate the mind and make you to forget the ills and pains. When a creative person becomes inactive by sickness or injury, if he sulks and confine himself to the bed or to one corner he will definitely become depressed. A creative mind always needs some outlet for their feelings.

We were very active till we (both me and my husband) met with a near fatal road accident. As the president of Karnataka Lekhakiyara Sangha, I was always on the run – attending meetings, organizing literary programs, attending literary functions, writing etc. The accident suddenly changed my life. We were in the hospital for nearly 2 months taking treatments. We had strong support from our sons Subhash and Sathwik. They both attended to us ignoring their work. We had a strong family support also. My sisters stayed with us at Coimbatore hospital forgetting their family. When we were brought home we could not even sit on the bed. Doctors had a doubt whether I will be able to walk. But after prolonged physiotherapy we started walking slowly inside the house. I was little depressed since all my activities were stopped. At that time I took to painting seriously.

My artist friend Ms Nimi Ravidranath guided me. When I started playing with brushes and colours I realised that I am forgetting the pains and the trauma of the accident and I am gaining confidence. Soon I was the same person as before smiling over my pains and more confident than before. Painting acted as a therapy in my case. Everybody can watch the difference between me and my husband who was also a very active person before the accident. He was not ready to take up some hobby. He was a writer earlier. That also he did not want to pursue despite persuasion. He could never come out of the trauma of the accident. Physically he is fitter than me but mentally I became more fit. That is because of my hobby. I could forget everything at least when am sitting in front of the canvas. I never bothered about the pains. That became the habit. Except going out, in other respects I became like before. Is it not a therapy? Painting has made me a strong person mentally. Now whenever I feel low I sit in front of the canvas with colours and brushes. It gives lot of relief!

Me: Wow! That is one of the most amazing anecdotes I have heard!

Happy Weekend!

This my 11th poem – Kaatru, which means The Wind.. I was hit by a strong wind when I was walking near Thames a few weeks back.. From that time.. I wanted to write something describing the various forms of wind.. When I sat out to write this.. I just had two words in my mind.. Thaendral (Breeze) and Puyal (Strom).. But eventually I thought of various forms of wind.. Here comes my poem.. I am extremely satisfied with this one.. Hope you enjoy it as well..

Kaatru

Koondhalil sikkal uruvaakum Naradhana nee?
Jhannalai padapadakka vaikkum mandiravaadhiya nee?
Kannil maNN thoovaraye.. Maha asurana nee?
Oyaalmal sutthugiraaye.. kaLaippadaivaaya nee?
Adey.. Yaarada Nee?

MalargaL malarvadhu yennale..
Thaeniyai yeriyuvaen.. adhan munnale..
Parakkum vaNNa paravaigal yennale..
PattangaL parakkudhu un kann munnale..

Naan Thunbam!
Nooru paerai kollavandha puyal kaatrum naan..
ANu aNuvaai niruthi kollum suruttin pugaiyum naan..

Naan Inbam!
Un mudhal irukkathil avaL vidum perumoochum naan..
ViLaiyaadum kannanin Kuzhal paechum naan..

YiLam thaendral kondu varum.. thaai maNNin vaasam..
Paruva kaatrai yedhirthu nikkum.. viLainilathil eeram..
kadal karaiyin sangil ketkum.. en thai mozhiyil paatu..
Marainthu maraindhu viLayaaduvaen.. Kanna muchi viLayaatu..

Kalai kaadhalanin pudhirukkinnum viDai theriyalaiya?
Vaayu bhagavan endru sonnal magizhchi adaivaiya?

Here is the translation.. There will be a lot of translation loss..

Kalai Kaadhala.. The lover of art.. is wondering who is this guy?

You seem to be introducing knots in hair.. just like how Naradha introduces knots and problems.. You seem to be a magician.. who is vociferously shaking the windows with black magic.. You also seem to be a deamon.. throwing mud into everyone’s eyes.. And you just dont seem to be stopping.. dont ever get tired.. Who are you?

Koondhalil sikkal uruvaakum Naradhana nee?
Jhannalai padapadakka vaikkum mandiravaadhiya nee?
Kannil maNN thoovaraye.. Maha asurana nee?
Oyaalmal sutthugiraaye.. kaLaippadaivaaya nee?
Adey.. Yaarada Nee?

Flowers are glowing because of me..
I am the one.. who throws the honey bees before the flowers..
The colourful birds are flying because of me..
Check out the the kites in front of your eyes..

MalargaL malarvadhu yennale..
Thaeniyai yeriyuvaen.. adhan munnale..
Parakkum vaNNa paravaigal yennale..
PattangaL parakkudhu un kann munnale..

I am misery..
I am the strom which kills 100s of people at once..
I am the smoke in cigar.. which kills you cell by cell..

Naan Thunbam!
Nooru paerai kollavandha puyal kaatrum naan..
ANu aNuvaai niruthi kollum suruttin pugaiyum naan..

I am Joy…
I am the long breath of a lady.. when a man hugs her for the first time..
I am the melodious sound from the flute of playful Lord Krishna..

Naan Inbam!
Un mudhal irukkathil avaL vidum perumoochum naan..
ViLaiyaadum kannanin Kuzhal paechum naan..

The fresh breeze will carry the smell of the motherland..
The monsoon wind will make the farm land wet..
Hold the sea shells on the sea shore.. and you can hear my mother tongue..
You cant see me.. I play hide and seek with you..

YiLam thaendral kondu varum.. thaai maNNin vaasam..
Paruva kaatrai yedhirthu nikkum.. viLainilathil eeram..
kadal karaiyin sangil ketkum.. en thai mozhiyil paatu..
Marainthu maraindhu viLayaaduvaen.. Kanna muchi viLayaatu..

Dont you know the answer to Kalai Kaadhalan’s puzzle yet?
Will you become happy.. if I tell you I am the Wind God!

Kalai kaadhalanin pudhirukkinnum viDai theriyalaiya?
Vaayu bhagavan endru sonnal magizhchi adaivaiya?

Here is my first attempt to write tamil in tamil Will translate my poems from Tanglish to Sentamizh

From Semmozhiyaana Tamizh Mozhiyaam

It is my pleasure to invite Usha Rai madam for this edition of coffee with sundar. The artist K Usha P Rai, born May 23rd 1945 in Udupi, Karnataka , India is a well known personality in the Kanada literary circles and is an accomplished Kanada writer and novelist.

In July 2005 a near fatal car accident threatened to ruin her life and confined her to bed for almost 6 months. That was when she took to painting seriously as a therapy to overcome the mental and physical trauma. She immersed herself in painting during those rough times and very soon within a period of two years, she compiled her present collection of over 40 paintings. Let us speak to Usha Rai madam and find out about her experiences.

Me: Sundar Rajan G S
UR: Usha Rai, Kannada novelist and painter

Me: Hello Usha Rai Maam, Welcome to the show on Coffee with Sundar! Can you talk about your background, your childhood days?

UR: Sure. I was born on 23rd May 1945 in a small town Udupi, in south canara. I am the eldest daughter of Sri K.Honnayya Shetty and Kedambadi Padmavathi Shetty. My father was the editor of ‘Navayuga’ weekly for nearly 50 years and he was a publisher.

The Navayuga paper was started in the year 1929 as the voice of National Congress party by Dr. A.B.Shetty who was a freedom fighter. My father became the Editor of the weekly in 1936 and he remained the editor till his last breath in 1974. It was not an easy task to run a paper for such a long time which was carrying some values. We have seen him struggling to publish every issue during the last stage of his life.

We are 7 children, 3 girls and 4 boys. We had a memorable childhood. There was no difference between boys and girls in respect of education. Our parents wanted all of us to study. Before becoming the editor of ‘Navayuga’ my father was a teacher. He was a teacher to us all through out. He was a strict disciplinarian.

I studied in St Cecily’s convent in Udupi. The medium was Kannada. I had many good teachers both in school and college. Actually, I wanted to be a doctor. My parents also dreamt about me becoming a doctor. But there is something called destiny. I could not become a doctor though everything was favorable. Despite doing well in the exam I failed in PUC contrary to every body’s expectations. I was very upset. My parents, my lecturers were upset. At that time I realized life is not as we plan but life is as ‘HE’ plans! HE had planned something else. I was destined to become what I am today!
I completed my degree with history and economics as major subjects and English literature as minor subject. That was the combination available with literature. Then I got married. After my elder son was born I did my post graduation in sociology as an external student. Then I joined Vijaya Bank as an officer. When my elder son was 9 years and 6 months my 2nd son was born. I worked in the bank for 25 years and took voluntary retirement in 1999.

Me: Thank you very much for that introduction.. At what age did you start writing? What are the subjects on which you write?

UR: In school my writings were limited to school magazines and competitions. I used to get prizes for essay writings and poetry. But I was never serious about writing because my dream was to become a doctor.
In school I was writing on given topics. When I was in collage I started writing out of my imaginations. I used to write for collage magazines both in English and Kannada. But it was for fun.

I penned my first novel ‘Anubandha’ when I was 25-26. It was a true story with a touch of my imagination. It was serialized in Prajamata weekly when I was 28. After that I took writing little seriously.

I write on social subjects mostly on women’s and children’s issues; about evil social customs. Propagation of equality, self respect, confidence in women in a proper way is my concern. Women need equality in education, at home and in working atmosphere. Women should be respected socially for her mental qualities. She should not be looked down or harassed only because she is a woman.

Me: Very interesting! Did you have any one as an inspiration or did anyone influence your works? How did you become a professional writer?

UR: I got inspiration from my father K.Honnayya Shetty who was a journalist of pre Independence era. He was also a writer. He had written beautiful poems for children. His collection of poems ‘Mugulu’ was a text book for primary school. His writings were value based. That influenced me a lot. Though I wrote my first novel when he was alive I never showed it to him. It was published after his death. He never saw my writings. That always pains me. Dr Shivaram Karanth has great influence on me.

Me: People say that various forms of art like writing, poetry, painting etc are genetic to some extent.What is your view on this?

UR: It is true to some extent. I inherited my writing skill from my father and the artistic outlook from my mother. She was an expert in needle work. She had an eye for art and she taught us what she knew.

In my family only I took up writing. But everyone has artistic outlook. The fields are different. One of my younger sister is very good in glass painting. I started painting seriously at the age of 60. It must have been in the genes.

For the previous editions of Coffee with experts, click here.

I recently finished reading an amazing book “Creating a world without poverty: Social Business and the Future of Capitalism” by Muhammad Yunus, Nobel peace prize winner.. What a man.. and what great thoughts.. Inspired by his book.. I have written my 10th poem – Varumai (Poverty)..

Varumai

Nilavai unnum ivanukku
Ammavaasai oru aemaatram
ADutha vaeLai enna gadhiyo..
ThindatamO thindatam..

Kizhinja aadai anindhavunkku
Pazhaya poorvaimel paarvai
Veedhiyil vazhbavan thaevaiyellam..
Mazhai kaalathil oru koorai..

****
Sengal thookum ivan kaiyil..
Paena pidipadhu yekkaalam..

Kaal vaiyiru koozh kudipavanukku
Thripthi unavu yekkaalam..

paNam illaamal alaivavanukku..
nirandhara sambalam yekkaalam..

Irakamilla vazhakai ivan mel..
Anadha mazhai pozhivadhO yekkaalam..

****

Indha ulagam oru naadaga maeDai..
Adhil Kadhaanayaganukkae yedhirkaalam theriyavillai..

Enthirangalai kandupidikum.. Mandiram therindha manidhane..
Naadaga mudivai maatruvaayO?
Varumaipol oru kodumai illai..
Aezhmai varalaarai thiruthuvaayO?

Here is the translation for the poem…

This man has nothing to eat.. that he eats the moon for dinner.. On the full moon day.. even the moon deceives him.. His life is full of struggle.. as he is unsure of his food..

Nilavai unnum ivanukku
Ammavaasai oru aemaatram
ADutha vaeLai enna gadhiyo..
ThindatamO thindatam..

He wears tattered clothes.. And his eyes are just set on getting hold of an old blanket to cover himself.. For someone who spends his life on the streets.. his only aspiration is to have a roof during the rains..

Kizhinja aadai anindhavunkku
Pazhaya poorvaimel paarvai
Veedhiyil vazhbavan thaevaiyellam..
Mazhai kaalathil oru koorai..

The narrator asks.. when will the hands which lifts the brick.. hold a pen.. when will he become educated?

Sengal thookum ivan kaiyil..
Paena pidipadhu yekkaalam..

The man always fills just a quarter of his stomach.. when will he ever get to eat a full meal?

Kaal vaiyiru koozh kudipavanukku
Thripthi unavu yekkaalam..

When will the man, who roams around without money.. ever see a steady income?

paNam illaamal alaivavanukku..
nirandhara sambalam yekkaalam..

When will life, which has been so ruthless to him.. shower him with rains of joy?

Irakamilla vazhakai ivan mel..
Anadha mazhai pozhivadhO yekkaalam..

As Shakespeare said.. All the World’s a stage.. But the hero of this play is totally unaware of his future..

Indha ulagam oru naadaga maeDai..
Adhil Kadhaanayaganukkae yedhirkaalam theriyavillai..

The narrator talks to the mankind..
O the brainy man! You are so capable of inventing robots..
Can you change the script of this play..
There is no bigger torture than poverty..
Can you please correct the history.. and make the world without poverty..

Enthirangalai kandupidikum.. Mandiram therindha manidhane..
Naadaga mudivai maatruvaayO?
Varumaipol oru kodumai illai..
Aezhmai varalaarai thiruthuvaayO?

After much a gap of 2.5 weeks… here comes my next piece of art.. This will win the contest for the most challenging work of mine.. hands down Throughly loved the experience..

From The Aha Moment of the Week

Music is the reflection of SELF!!

You can see all my earlier works in the album – Aha Moments