Basically I am a teacher and reader. Writing has been only a residual of that, and I enjoy that painful bliss. Occasionally I have done a few translations too.
Way back in late 90’s, on August 16, 1999, I translated a piece entitled “A leave letter by a disobedient student” published in small magazine (Kavithaikkaran Aug’99), and later reproduced in Kumudham weekly, a popular one in Tamil Nadu.
My father was burnt alive, in the caste clash yesterday night. My mother is very sick and admitted into a corporation hospital. My elder brother, who had gone to city in search of job, has not returned yet. The younger brother at home has been taken by police, mistakenly as a terrorist. There is no one at home to provide milk to my sister (baby) crying in her cradle. Don’t mistake me sir, the front side of my half-pant too has been torn. Under the circumstances mentioned above I am unable to attend the Ministers flag hoisting ceremony at our school, on this Independence Day.
- Yours disobedient student.
Late Sujatha, a popular writer in Tamil Fiction did some rewrite of Sangam Literature Poems (Pura Nannuru Padal) into modern verse (Pudukkavidaigal) which I attempted to translate into English at that time. That is given below:
I am afraid to raise alarm
Lest a tiger might come
And attack us.
I would like to carry you,
But you are too muscular and heavy
Let the unjust person
Instrumental for your current state
Also suffer like me.
There’s shelter at the feet of the mountain
Hold on to my bangle adored hand
We shall walk a
Little distance.
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