Translating Jayakanthan's story in brief: learning to live or die ?

Translating Jayakantan's story:
The story   is narrated in brief to get the essence of the tragedy of human life.
It is all about learning from others and our own sermons or preaching to others
and how it changes the lives of two persons in a  cruel unexpected way..

An young man having lost one leg lives with his  mother.Being handicapped and also
lonely he passes each day with procrastination.Once when he travels in a bus he gets scolded
 by a lady for occupying the lady seat.After seeing that he is with one leg she says sorry.But it pains him and laments for his deficiency.

Unable and unwilling to swallow the cumulative insults he decides to end his life  and goes to the
railway track near his house. when the train nears , he is saved by a leper and  the latter gives advice.

"See my boy I am afflicted with a cruel and wicked disease .the other day when i tried to save a child who was about to fall on the railway track,her mother got the child back but scolded me instead of thanking.She could not digest the leper saving her child.My dear boy when I am living with all my ugliness why can't you set aside the shortcoming and start living..".

Having received the confidence to live he abandons his decision to commit suicide, and starts afresh his life and goes to bed with  new hopes .

Next day .An young man is found dead on the track.thinking that her son has ended his life the mother runs towards the  rail track and she is pleasantly surprised to hear his son's voice from behind:

"Amma, I am here  Iam alive you don't worry "
The leper is on the track How is that he ended his life after someone from the jaws of death ?
It was all the consequence of the happenings of yesterday.He mused over the decision of young man's plight and his sense of shame in living with all insults and humiliation
Then he felt that why he should he live with all  degrading insults....

The young man tells his mother "Amma, this man taught me how to live but I  gave him the lessson how to die.; so saying he breaks down and cries


The essence of our life depends on what we are going to teach the fellow human- how to live or how to die?
Dear friends every day is  a bonus and we shall be optimistic and proactive  in our life and be of some help to fellow human in whatever way we can..Even a smile can do a miracle and i have a story for this   but you have to wait  as I have to find  from my debris...

(Translation of Jayakantan's story in brief by Prof D sambandhan)
, 

Ruminating on kiss in a poetic way by Kavitha:Translation by Dsam

 Few Notes  about the  kiss: A poem by  Kavitha
Translation by Prof D sambandhan

It  is unraveling /unfolding  some mystery
It is making it one's freedom possible
It is transforming a drop of tear into a poetry
It is making it public  some secrets of the vast universe
It is safeguarding  a smile
and deepening some silence.
It is  facilitating /performing a few murders.
A kiss does not remain  merely as kiss
all the time .

It is not that easy  to delink from a  kiss
As it is to bind  and wrap up oneself   with a kiss

The kiss
when exchanged between the concerned persons
begins like a heaven,
but ends up as a prison..
Courtesy:Anandha vikatan dt (3- 10 -2007)

words wandering in the wind

Translating the poem of R Bhoopalan:

Words  wandering in the wind .

The mobile which has become
an unwanted want,
becomes a problem day in and day out.

My friend sends the season's sweet greeting
for the next month pongal festival
In the night
when my father's elder brother has died.

Even amidst hectic office work
I am constrained to attend and answer
The wrong phone calls

The girls canvassing to  give bank loans
befriend me without showing their faces
I have to curse them.

In the hospital mortuary
I can't help but listening to
The ringtone of the new song

Notwithstanding all these chaos,
when my daughter who has gone to a far off place
alone, calls me and says:
Daddy, I have reached safely,
The mobile phone becomes a boon. 
(Courtesy:Anandha Vikatan dated  3-6 2009)

Albert Camus comes to my rescue and console

where did I exist before i came here?
when time comes for my exit where I shall I go?
where are my parents and better half inclusive of my sister now?
Am I friendly and loving with myself now ?

By reading and ruminating over life i know
I can hardly find the answer for these questions.
They will remain as questions and elude us for ever.
The beauty of our existence lies in its mystery.

The eternal search for truth and unraveling the meaning of life
 shall be best left to the domain of great saints and philosophers.
Peace and happiness can never come from external source,
they spring from within like a fountain.

Albert Camus comes to my rescue and console thus:
"You will never be happy
if you continue to search for what happiness
consists of.
You will never live if you are looking for
the meaning of life"

We shall eat, pray, and drink and romance
with books and think thoughts which  will
neither wound or offend others but help fight
injustice and heightened oppression

‘Consider the  public. Never fear it nor despise it ,coax it, charm it ,interest it, stimulate it, shock it now and then if you must ,make it laugh ,make it cry ,  but  above all never , never, never bore the living  hell out of it’, says Noel Coward.

It is high time those  leaders  and the administrators who never had any real concern and respect for the aspirations of the general public, internalized the spirit and flavor  of the statement mentioned above. In any democracy ultimately it is the general public  which call the shot and their  patience should not be treated as cowardice. 

It is unfortunate that polarization of general public in terms of caste and colour, region and  religion and so on are well exploited and  the divisive and destructive tendencies are well perpetuated by politicians.

The tragedy of our largest democracy is that there are too many political parties and too many political leaders.

The deeply entrenched dynastic politics when combined with caste and creed, religion and greed  as deadly virus, effectively prevent the talent and enterprise of many honest and dedicated persons to surface the immediate family.

The lack of transparency in political fund collection and concentration  of economic power within the family structure ranging from print to visual media not to speak of the party trust fund and so on are virtually killing the political initiatives.

Therefore democratization of politics is the need of the hour; but it is highly unlikely, as politics has become more of a business and reduced to caste centric coalition devoid of any ideology or principles ably assisted by muscle power.

Criminalisation of politics is visible across the mainstream politics. There is more alienation and frustration of the general public from the current tribe of politicians and the adminstration.If money making madness alone is the dominant force and the moneyed people alone can contest  then the whole democratic exercise becomes meaningless. Who will provide a better governance is the question each generation has asked whenever the unbridled greed has dominated over reason. We have no alternative but to patiently wait  but in the meanwhile  there is a reasoned fear that  social unrest and tensions arising out of  mass unemployment and economic deprivation would hijack and  threaten the very foundation of the pillars of democracy.

 A‘Consider the  public. Never fear it nor despise it ,coax it, charm it ,interest it, stimulate it, shock it now and then if you must ,make it laugh ,make it cry ,  but  above all never , never, never bore the living  hell out of it’ says Noel Coward

It is high time those  leaders  and the administrators who never had any real concern and respect for the aspirations of the general public, internalized the spirit and flavor  of the statement mentioned above. In any democracy ultimately it is the general public  which call the shot and their  patience should not be treated as cowardice. It is unfortunate that polarization of general public in terms of caste and colour, region and  religion and so on are well exploited and  the divisive and destructive tendencies are well perpetuated by politicians.

The tragedy of our largest democracy is that there are too many political parties and too many political leaders.The deeply entrenched dynastic politics when combined with caste and creed, religion and greed  as deadly virus, effectively prevent the talent and enterprise of many honest and dedicated persons to surface the immediate family.

The lack of transparency in political fund collection and concentration  of economic power within the family structure ranging from print to visual media not to speak of the party trust fund and so on are virtually killing the political initiatives.

Therefore democratization of politics is the need of the hour; but it is highly unlikely, as politics has become more of a business and reduced to caste centric coalition devoid of any ideology or principles ably assisted by muscle power.

Criminalisation of politics is visible across the mainstream politics. There is more alienation and frustration of the general public from the current tribe of politicians and the administration.

If money making madness alone is the dominant force and the moneyed people alone can contest  then the whole democratic exercise becomes meaningless. Who will provide a better governance is the question each generation has asked whenever the unbridled greed has dominated over reason and common good .
 We have no alternative but to patiently wait  but in the meanwhile  there is a reasoned fear that  social unrest and tensions arising out of  mass unemployment and economic deprivation would hijack and  threaten the very foundation of the pillars of democracy.

 A‘Consider the  public. Never fear it nor despise it ,coax it, charm it ,interest it, stimulate it, shock it now and then if you must ,make it laugh ,make it cry ,  but  above all never , never, never bore the living  hell out of it’ says Noel Coward

It is high time those  leaders  and the administrators who never had any real concern and respect for the aspirations of the general public, internalized the spirit and flavor  of the statement mentioned above. In any democracy ultimately it is the general public  which call the shot and their  patience should not be treated as cowardice. It is unfortunate that polarization of general public in terms of caste and colour, region and  religion and so on are well exploited and  the divisive and destrctive tendancies are well perpetuated by politicians.

The tragedy of our largest democracy is that there are too many political parties and too many political leaders.The deeply entrenched dynastic politics when combined with caste and creed, religion and greed  as deadly virus, effectively prevent the talent and enterprise of many honest and dedicated persons to surface the immediate family.

The lack of transparency in political fund collection and concentration  of economic power within the family structure ranging from print to visual media not to speak of the party trust fund and so on are virtually killing the political initiatives.

Therefore democratization of politics is the need of the hour; but it is highly unlikely, as politics has become more of a business and reduced to caste centric coalition devoid of any ideology or principles ably assisted by muscle power.Criminalisation of politics is visible across the mainstream politics. There is more alienation and frustration of the general public from the current tribe of politicians and the adminstration.If money making madness alone is the dominant force and the moneyed people alone can contest  then the whole democratic exercise becomes meaningless. Who will provide a better governance is the question each generation has asked whenever the unbridled greed has dominated over reason. We have no alternative but to patiently wait  but in the meanwhile  there is a reasoned fear that  social unrest and tensions arising out of  mass unemployment and economic deprivation would hijack and  threaten the very foundation of the pillars of democracy.

 A‘Consider the  public. Never fear it nor despise it ,coax it, charm it ,interest it, stimulate it, shock it now and then if you must ,make it laugh ,make it cry ,  but  above all never , never, never bore the living  hell out of it’ says Noel Coward

It is high time those  leaders  and the administrators who never had any real concern and respect for the aspirations of the general public, internalized the spirit and flavor  of the statement mentioned above. In any democracy ultimately it is the general public  which call the shot and their  patience should not be treated as cowardice. It is unfortunate that polarization of general public in terms of caste and colour, region and  religion and so on are well exploited and  the divisive and destrctive tendancies are well perpetuated by politicians.

The tragedy of our largest democracy is that there are too many political parties and too many political leaders.The deeply entrenched dynastic politics when combined with caste and creed, religion and greed  as deadly virus, effectively prevent the talent and enterprise of many honest and dedicated persons to surface the immediate family.

The lack of transparency in political fund collection and concentration  of economic power within the family structure ranging from print to visual media not to speak of the party trust fund and so on are virtually killing the political initiatives.

Therefore democratization of politics is the need of the hour; but it is highly unlikely, as politics has become more of a business and reduced to caste centric coalition devoid of any ideology or principles ably assisted by muscle power.Criminalisation of politics is visible across the mainstream politics. There is more alienation and frustration of the general public from the current tribe of politicians and the adminstration.If money making madness alone is the dominant force and the moneyed people alone can contest  then the whole democratic exercise becomes meaningless. Who will provide a better governance is the question each generation has asked whenever the unbridled greed has dominated over reason. We have no alternative but to patiently wait  but in the meanwhile  there is a reasoned fear that  social unrest and tensions arising out of  mass unemployment and economic deprivation would hijack and  threaten the very foundation of the pillars of democracy.

 A‘Consider the  public. Never fear it nor despise it ,coax it, charm it ,interest it, stimulate it, shock it now and then if you must ,make it laugh ,make it cry ,  but  above all never , never, never bore the living  hell out of it’ says Noel Coward

It is high time those  leaders  and the administrators who never had any real concern and respect for the aspirations of the general public, internalized the spirit and flavor  of the statement mentioned above. In any democracy ultimately it is the general public  which call the shot and their  patience should not be treated as cowardice. It is unfortunate that polarization of general public in terms of caste and colour, region and  religion and so on are well exploited and  the divisive and destrctive tendancies are well perpetuated by politicians.

The tragedy of our largest democracy is that there are too many political parties and too many political leaders.The deeply entrenched dynastic politics when combined with caste and creed, religion and greed  as deadly virus, effectively prevent the talent and enterprise of many honest and dedicated persons to surface the immediate family.

The lack of transparency in political fund collection and concentration  of economic power within the family structure ranging from print to visual media not to speak of the party trust fund and so on are virtually killing the political initiatives.

Therefore democratization of politics is the need of the hour; but it is highly unlikely, as politics has become more of a business and reduced to caste centric coalition devoid of any ideology or principles ably assisted by muscle power.Criminalisation of politics is visible across the mainstream politics. There is more alienation and frustration of the general public from the current tribe of politicians and the adminstration.If money making madness alone is the dominant force and the moneyed people alone can contest  then the whole democratic exercise becomes meaningless. Who will provide a better governance is the question each generation has asked whenever the unbridled greed has dominated over reason. We have no alternative but to patiently wait  but in the meanwhile  there is a reasoned fear that  social unrest and tensions arising out of  mass unemployment and economic deprivation would hijack and  threaten the very foundation of the pillars of democracy.

 A‘Consider the  public. Never fear it nor despise it ,coax it, charm it ,interest it, stimulate it, shock it now and then if you must ,make it laugh ,make it cry ,  but  above all never , never, never bore the living  hell out of it’ says Noel Coward

It is high time those  leaders  and the administrators who never had any real concern and respect for the aspirations of the general public, internalized the spirit and flavor  of the statement mentioned above. In any democracy ultimately it is the general public  which call the shot and their  patience should not be treated as cowardice. It is unfortunate that polarization of general public in terms of caste and colour, region and  religion and so on are well exploited and  the divisive and destrctive tendancies are well perpetuated by politicians.

The tragedy of our largest democracy is that there are too many political parties and too many political leaders.The deeply entrenched dynastic politics when combined with caste and creed, religion and greed  as deadly virus, effectively prevent the talent and enterprise of many honest and dedicated persons to surface the immediate family.

The lack of transparency in political fund collection and concentration  of economic power within the family structure ranging from print to visual media not to speak of the party trust fund and so on are virtually killing the political initiatives.

Therefore democratization of politics is the need of the hour; but it is highly unlikely, as politics has become more of a business and reduced to caste centric coalition devoid of any ideology or principles ably assisted by muscle power.Criminalisation of politics is visible across the mainstream politics. There is more alienation and frustration of the general public from the current tribe of politicians and the adminstration.If money making madness alone is the dominant force and the moneyed people alone can contest  then the whole democratic exercise becomes meaningless. Who will provide a better governance is the question each generation has asked whenever the unbridled greed has dominated over reason. We have no alternative but to patiently wait  but in the meanwhile  there is a reasoned fear that  social unrest and tensions arising out of  mass unemployment and economic deprivation would hijack and  threaten the very foundation of the pillars of democracy.

 A‘Consider the  public. Never fear it nor despise it ,coax it, charm it ,interest it, stimulate it, shock it now and then if you must ,make it laugh ,make it cry ,  but  above all never , never, never bore the living  hell out of it’ says Noel Coward

It is high time those  leaders  and the administrators who never had any real concern and respect for the aspirations of the general public, internalized the spirit and flavor  of the statement mentioned above. In any democracy ultimately it is the general public  which call the shot and their  patience should not be treated as cowardice. It is unfortunate that polarization of general public in terms of caste and colour, region and  religion and so on are well exploited and  the divisive and destrctive tendancies are well perpetuated by politicians.

The tragedy of our largest democracy is that there are too many political parties and too many political leaders.The deeply entrenched dynastic politics when combined with caste and creed, religion and greed  as deadly virus, effectively prevent the talent and enterprise of many honest and dedicated persons to surface the immediate family.

The lack of transparency in political fund collection and concentration  of economic power within the family structure ranging from print to visual media not to speak of the party trust fund and so on are virtually killing the political initiatives.

Therefore democratization of politics is the need of the hour; but it is highly unlikely, as politics has become more of a business and reduced to caste centric coalition devoid of any ideology or principles ably assisted by muscle power.Criminalisation of politics is visible across the mainstream politics. There is more alienation and frustration of the general public from the current tribe of politicians and the adminstration.If money making madness alone is the dominant force and the moneyed people alone can contest  then the whole democratic exercise becomes meaningless. Who will provide a better governance is the question each generation has asked whenever the unbridled greed has dominated over reason. We have no alternative but to patiently wait  but in the meanwhile  there is a reasoned fear that  social unrest and tensions arising out of  mass unemployment and economic deprivation would hijack and  threaten the very foundation of the pillars of democracy.

 A‘Consider the  public. Never fear it nor despise it ,coax it, charm it ,interest it, stimulate it, shock it now and then if you must ,make it laugh ,make it cry ,  but  above all never , never, never bore the living  hell out of it’ says Noel Coward

It is high time those  leaders  and the administrators who never had any real concern and respect for the aspirations of the general public, internalized the spirit and flavor  of the statement mentioned above. In any democracy ultimately it is the general public  which call the shot and their  patience should not be treated as cowardice. It is unfortunate that polarization of general public in terms of caste and colour, region and  religion and so on are well exploited and  the divisive and destrctive tendancies are well perpetuated by politicians.

The tragedy of our largest democracy is that there are too many political parties and too many political leaders.The deeply entrenched dynastic politics when combined with caste and creed, religion and greed  as deadly virus, effectively prevent the talent and enterprise of many honest and dedicated persons to surface the immediate family.

The lack of transparency in political fund collection and concentration  of economic power within the family structure ranging from print to visual media not to speak of the party trust fund and so on are virtually killing the political initiatives.

Therefore democratization of politics is the need of the hour; but it is highly unlikely, as politics has become more of a business and reduced to caste centric coalition devoid of any ideology or principles ably assisted by muscle power.Criminalisation of politics is visible across the mainstream politics. There is more alienation and frustration of the general public from the current tribe of politicians and the adminstration.If money making madness alone is the dominant force and the moneyed people alone can contest  then the whole democratic exercise becomes meaningless. Who will provide a better governance is the question each generation has asked whenever the unbridled greed has dominated over reason. We have no alternative but to patiently wait  but in the meanwhile  there is a reasoned fear that  social unrest and tensions arising out of  mass unemployment and economic deprivation would hijack and  threaten the very foundation of the pillars of democracy.

 A‘Consider the  public. Never fear it nor despise it ,coax it, charm it ,interest it, stimulate it, shock it now and then if you must ,make it laugh ,make it cry ,  but  above all never , never, never bore the living  hell out of it’ says Noel Coward

It is high time those  leaders  and the administrators who never had any real concern and respect for the aspirations of the general public, internalized the spirit and flavor  of the statement mentioned above. In any democracy ultimately it is the general public  which call the shot and their  patience should not be treated as cowardice. It is unfortunate that polarization of general public in terms of caste and colour, region and  religion and so on are well exploited and  the divisive and destrctive tendancies are well perpetuated by politicians.

The tragedy of our largest democracy is that there are too many political parties and too many political leaders.The deeply entrenched dynastic politics when combined with caste and creed, religion and greed  as deadly virus, effectively prevent the talent and enterprise of many honest and dedicated persons to surface the immediate family.

The lack of transparency in political fund collection and concentration  of economic power within the family structure ranging from print to visual media not to speak of the party trust fund and so on are virtually killing the political initiatives.

Therefore democratization of politics is the need of the hour; but it is highly unlikely, as politics has become more of a business and reduced to caste centric coalition devoid of any ideology or principles ably assisted by muscle power.Criminalisation of politics is visible across the mainstream politics. There is more alienation and frustration of the general public from the current tribe of politicians and the adminstration.If money making madness alone is the dominant force and the moneyed people alone can contest  then the whole democratic exercise becomes meaningless. Who will provide a better governance is the question each generation has asked whenever the unbridled greed has dominated over reason. We have no alternative but to patiently wait  but in the meanwhile  there is a reasoned fear that  social unrest and tensions arising out of  mass unemployment and economic deprivation would hijack and  threaten the very foundation of the pillars of democracy.

 A‘Consider the  public. Never fear it nor despise it ,coax it, charm it ,interest it, stimulate it, shock it now and then if you must ,make it laugh ,make it cry ,  but  above all never , never, never bore the living  hell out of it’ says Noel Coward

It is high time those  leaders  and the administrators who never had any real concern and respect for the aspirations of the general public, internalized the spirit and flavor  of the statement mentioned above. In any democracy ultimately it is the general public  which call the shot and their  patience should not be treated as cowardice. It is unfortunate that polarization of general public in terms of caste and colour, region and  religion and so on are well exploited and  the divisive and destrctive tendancies are well perpetuated by politicians.

The tragedy of our largest democracy is that there are too many political parties and too many political leaders.The deeply entrenched dynastic politics when combined with caste and creed, religion and greed  as deadly virus, effectively prevent the talent and enterprise of many honest and dedicated persons to surface the immediate family.

The lack of transparency in political fund collection and concentration  of economic power within the family structure ranging from print to visual media not to speak of the party trust fund and so on are virtually killing the political initiatives.

Therefore democratization of politics is the need of the hour; but it is highly unlikely, as politics has become more of a business and reduced to caste centric coalition devoid of any ideology or principles ably assisted by muscle power.Criminalisation of politics is visible across the mainstream politics. There is more alienation and frustration of the general public from the current tribe of politicians and the adminstration.If money making madness alone is the dominant force and the moneyed people alone can contest  then the whole democratic exercise becomes meaningless. Who will provide a better governance is the question each generation has asked whenever the unbridled greed has dominated over reason. We have no alternative but to patiently wait  but in the meanwhile  there is a reasoned fear that  social unrest and tensions arising out of  mass unemployment and economic deprivation would hijack and  threaten the very foundation of the pillars of democracy.

 A‘Consider the  public. Never fear it nor despise it ,coax it, charm it ,interest it, stimulate it, shock it now and then if you must ,make it laugh ,make it cry ,  but  above all never , never, never bore the living  hell out of it’ says Noel Coward

It is high time those  leaders  and the administrators who never had any real concern and respect for the aspirations of the general public, internalized the spirit and flavor  of the statement mentioned above. In any democracy ultimately it is the general public  which call the shot and their  patience should not be treated as cowardice. It is unfortunate that polarization of general public in terms of caste and colour, region and  religion and so on are well exploited and  the divisive and destrctive tendancies are well perpetuated by politicians.

The tragedy of our largest democracy is that there are too many political parties and too many political leaders.The deeply entrenched dynastic politics when combined with caste and creed, religion and greed  as deadly virus, effectively prevent the talent and enterprise of many honest and dedicated persons to surface the immediate family.

The lack of transparency in political fund collection and concentration  of economic power within the family structure ranging from print to visual media not to speak of the party trust fund and so on are virtually killing the political initiatives.

Therefore democratization of politics is the need of the hour; but it is highly unlikely, as politics has become more of a business and reduced to caste centric coalition devoid of any ideology or principles ably assisted by muscle power.Criminalisation of politics is visible across the mainstream politics. There is more alienation and frustration of the general public from the current tribe of politicians and the adminstration.If money making madness alone is the dominant force and the moneyed people alone can contest  then the whole democratic exercise becomes meaningless. Who will provide a better governance is the question each generation has asked whenever the unbridled greed has dominated over reason. We have no alternative but to patiently wait  but in the meanwhile  there is a reasoned fear that  social unrest and tensions arising out of  mass unemployment and economic deprivation would hijack and  threaten the very foundation of the pillars of democracy.

 A‘Consider the  public. Never fear it nor despise it ,coax it, charm it ,interest it, stimulate it, shock it now and then if you must ,make it laugh ,make it cry ,  but  above all never , never, never bore the living  hell out of it’ says Noel Coward

It is high time those  leaders  and the administrators who never had any real concern and respect for the aspirations of the general public, internalized the spirit and flavor  of the statement mentioned above. In any democracy ultimately it is the general public  which call the shot and their  patience should not be treated as cowardice. It is unfortunate that polarization of general public in terms of caste and colour, region and  religion and so on are well exploited and  the divisive and destrctive tendancies are well perpetuated by politicians.

The tragedy of our largest democracy is that there are too many political parties and too many political leaders.The deeply entrenched dynastic politics when combined with caste and creed, religion and greed  as deadly virus, effectively prevent the talent and enterprise of many honest and dedicated persons to surface the immediate family.

The lack of transparency in political fund collection and concentration  of economic power within the family structure ranging from print to visual media not to speak of the party trust fund and so on are virtually killing the political initiatives.

Therefore democratization of politics is the need of the hour; but it is highly unlikely, as politics has become more of a business and reduced to caste centric coalition devoid of any ideology or principles ably assisted by muscle power.Criminalisation of politics is visible across the mainstream politics. There is more alienation and frustration of the general public from the current tribe of politicians and the adminstration.If money making madness alone is the dominant force and the moneyed people alone can contest  then the whole democratic exercise becomes meaningless. Who will provide a better governance is the question each generation has asked whenever the unbridled greed has dominated over reason. We have no alternative but to patiently wait  but in the meanwhile  there is a reasoned fear that  social unrest and tensions arising out of  mass unemployment and economic deprivation would hijack and  threaten the very foundation of the pillars of democracy.

 A‘Consider the  public. Never fear it nor despise it ,coax it, charm it ,interest it, stimulate it, shock it now and then if you must ,make it laugh ,make it cry ,  but  above all never , never, never bore the living  hell out of it’ says Noel Coward

It is high time those  leaders  and the administrators who never had any real concern and respect for the aspirations of the general public, internalized the spirit and flavor  of the statement mentioned above. In any democracy ultimately it is the general public  which call the shot and their  patience should not be treated as cowardice. It is unfortunate that polarization of general public in terms of caste and colour, region and  religion and so on are well exploited and  the divisive and destrctive tendancies are well perpetuated by politicians.

The tragedy of our largest democracy is that there are too many political parties and too many political leaders.The deeply entrenched dynastic politics when combined with caste and creed, religion and greed  as deadly virus, effectively prevent the talent and enterprise of many honest and dedicated persons to surface the immediate family.

The lack of transparency in political fund collection and concentration  of economic power within the family structure ranging from print to visual media not to speak of the party trust fund and so on are virtually killing the political initiatives.

Therefore democratization of politics is the need of the hour; but it is highly unlikely, as politics has become more of a business and reduced to caste centric coalition devoid of any ideology or principles ably assisted by muscle power.Criminalisation of politics is visible across the mainstream politics. There is more alienation and frustration of the general public from the current tribe of politicians and the adminstration.If money making madness alone is the dominant force and the moneyed people alone can contest  then the whole democratic exercise becomes meaningless. Who will provide a better governance is the question each generation has asked whenever the unbridled greed has dominated over reason. We have no alternative but to patiently wait  but in the meanwhile  there is a reasoned fear that  social unrest and tensions arising out of  mass unemployment and economic deprivation would hijack and  threaten the very foundation of the pillars of democracy.

 A‘Consider the  public. Never fear it nor despise it ,coax it, charm it ,interest it, stimulate it, shock it now and then if you must ,make it laugh ,make it cry ,  but  above all never , never, never bore the living  hell out of it’ says Noel Coward

It is high time those  leaders  and the administrators who never had any real concern and respect for the aspirations of the general public, internalized the spirit and flavor  of the statement mentioned above. In any democracy ultimately it is the general public  which call the shot and their  patience should not be treated as cowardice. It is unfortunate that polarization of general public in terms of caste and colour, region and  religion and so on are well exploited and  the divisive and destrctive tendancies are well perpetuated by politicians.

The tragedy of our largest democracy is that there are too many political parties and too many political leaders.The deeply entrenched dynastic politics when combined with caste and creed, religion and greed  as deadly virus, effectively prevent the talent and enterprise of many honest and dedicated persons to surface the immediate family.

The lack of transparency in political fund collection and concentration  of economic power within the family structure ranging from print to visual media not to speak of the party trust fund and so on are virtually killing the political initiatives.

Therefore democratization of politics is the need of the hour; but it is highly unlikely, as politics has become more of a business and reduced to caste centric coalition devoid of any ideology or principles ably assisted by muscle power.Criminalisation of politics is visible across the mainstream politics. There is more alienation and frustration of the general public from the current tribe of politicians and the adminstration.If money making madness alone is the dominant force and the moneyed people alone can contest  then the whole democratic exercise becomes meaningless. Who will provide a better governance is the question each generation has asked whenever the unbridled greed has dominated over reason. We have no alternative but to patiently wait  but in the meanwhile  there is a reasoned fear that  social unrest and tensions arising out of  mass unemployment and economic deprivation would hijack and  threaten the very foundation of the pillars of democracy.

 A‘Consider the  public. Never fear it nor despise it ,coax it, charm it ,interest it, stimulate it, shock it now and then if you must ,make it laugh ,make it cry ,  but  above all never , never, never bore the living  hell out of it’ says Noel Coward

It is high time those  leaders  and the administrators who never had any real concern and respect for the aspirations of the general public, internalized the spirit and flavor  of the statement mentioned above. In any democracy ultimately it is the general public  which call the shot and their  patience should not be treated as cowardice. It is unfortunate that polarization of general public in terms of caste and colour, region and  religion and so on are well exploited and  the divisive and destrctive tendancies are well perpetuated by politicians.

The tragedy of our largest democracy is that there are too many political parties and too many political leaders.The deeply entrenched dynastic politics when combined with caste and creed, religion and greed  as deadly virus, effectively prevent the talent and enterprise of many honest and dedicated persons to surface the immediate family.

The lack of transparency in political fund collection and concentration  of economic power within the family structure ranging from print to visual media not to speak of the party trust fund and so on are virtually killing the political initiatives.

Therefore democratization of politics is the need of the hour; but it is highly unlikely, as politics has become more of a business and reduced to caste centric coalition devoid of any ideology or principles ably assisted by muscle power.Criminalisation of politics is visible across the mainstream politics. There is more alienation and frustration of the general public from the current tribe of politicians and the adminstration.If money making madness alone is the dominant force and the moneyed people alone can contest  then the whole democratic exercise becomes meaningless. Who will provide a better governance is the question each generation has asked whenever the unbridled greed has dominated over reason. We have no alternative but to patiently wait  but in the meanwhile  there is a reasoned fear that  social unrest and tensions arising out of  mass unemployment and economic deprivation would hijack and  threaten the very foundation of the pillars of democracy.

 A‘Consider the  public. Never fear it nor despise it ,coax it, charm it ,interest it, stimulate it, shock it now and then if you must ,make it laugh ,make it cry ,  but  above all never , never, never bore the living  hell out of it’ says Noel Coward

It is high time those  leaders  and the administrators who never had any real concern and respect for the aspirations of the general public, internalized the spirit and flavor  of the statement mentioned above. In any democracy ultimately it is the general public  which call the shot and their  patience should not be treated as cowardice. It is unfortunate that polarization of general public in terms of caste and colour, region and  religion and so on are well exploited and  the divisive and destrctive tendancies are well perpetuated by politicians.

The tragedy of our largest democracy is that there are too many political parties and too many political leaders.The deeply entrenched dynastic politics when combined with caste and creed, religion and greed  as deadly virus, effectively prevent the talent and enterprise of many honest and dedicated persons to surface the immediate family.

The lack of transparency in political fund collection and concentration  of economic power within the family structure ranging from print to visual media not to speak of the party trust fund and so on are virtually killing the political initiatives.

Therefore democratization of politics is the need of the hour; but it is highly unlikely, as politics has become more of a business and reduced to caste centric coalition devoid of any ideology or principles ably assisted by muscle power.Criminalisation of politics is visible across the mainstream politics. There is more alienation and frustration of the general public from the current tribe of politicians and the adminstration.If money making madness alone is the dominant force and the moneyed people alone can contest  then the whole democratic exercise becomes meaningless. Who will provide a better governance is the question each generation has asked whenever the unbridled greed has dominated over reason. We have no alternative but to patiently wait  but in the meanwhile  there is a reasoned fear that  social unrest and tensions arising out of  mass unemployment and economic deprivation would hijack and  threaten the very foundation of the pillars of democracy.

 A‘Consider the  public. Never fear it nor despise it ,coax it, charm it ,interest it, stimulate it, shock it now and then if you must ,make it laugh ,make it cry ,  but  above all never , never, never bore the living  hell out of it’ says Noel Coward

It is high time those  leaders  and the administrators who never had any real concern and respect for the aspirations of the general public, internalized the spirit and flavor  of the statement mentioned above. In any democracy ultimately it is the general public  which call the shot and their  patience should not be treated as cowardice. It is unfortunate that polarization of general public in terms of caste and colour, region and  religion and so on are well exploited and  the divisive and destrctive tendancies are well perpetuated by politicians.

The tragedy of our largest democracy is that there are too many political parties and too many political leaders.The deeply entrenched dynastic politics when combined with caste and creed, religion and greed  as deadly virus, effectively prevent the talent and enterprise of many honest and dedicated persons to surface the immediate family.

The lack of transparency in political fund collection and concentration  of economic power within the family structure ranging from print to visual media not to speak of the party trust fund and so on are virtually killing the political initiatives.

Therefore democratization of politics is the need of the hour; but it is highly unlikely, as politics has become more of a business and reduced to caste centric coalition devoid of any ideology or principles ably assisted by muscle power.Criminalisation of politics is visible across the mainstream politics. There is more alienation and frustration of the general public from the current tribe of politicians and the adminstration.If money making madness alone is the dominant force and the moneyed people alone can contest  then the whole democratic exercise becomes meaningless. Who will provide a better governance is the question each generation has asked whenever the unbridled greed has dominated over reason. We have no alternative but to patiently wait  but in the meanwhile  there is a reasoned fear that  social unrest and tensions arising out of  mass unemployment and economic deprivation would hijack and  threaten the very foundation of the pillars of democracy.

  

Jan26 the date and debate -Towards united states of India-A creative destruction a la Schumpeter -for the peace and progress of people and not for vested interests

BJP  has become like congress  with a difference of arrogance and misplaced ego as if there is no alternative   that was the case earlier when congress was ruling for long..In this political arrangements  it will be a game of Northerners and south India will not have more space

The time has come to have a serious debate to divide the country into four or many  zones and they will  have dominant leaders to address the problems  in those regions .I am not a political science student   Eminent thinkers must give a workable solution to give more political space  and economic power to all the regions..These regions must decide how the centre must be constituted and vested with powers like defence', currency and so on ...a truly federal India. And the subject experts must decide the shape of new united states of India.

  we have to study how other federations work in the world and  we must take some permutation and combination in order that there will be an equitable devolution of both political and economic power among all the states in the country.It should be such that there is no room for agitation by any militant group of  any shade and colour.

One leader for the whole country and the centralization of power in his hands will be a disaster in the long run.Let experts think about the workable solution for the Indian sub continent with more decentralization of power without bringing in dead leaders name and their message The old nation is young  dominated by a favorable demography and it should not be frustrated by corrupt, power seeking, all knowing politicians


Without affecting the union- namely the united states of India -how to provide dress and food ,water and sanitation ,power supply and housing and so on is a million dollar question..


when I see the leader wearing 15 lakh coat there is revulsion and  nauseating feeling.
when there is bullet train proposal  between Bombay and Ahmadabad  for fancy and showcase to the outside world I think about TN where reserved compartments are inadequate and people travel like cattle in few compartments

Let southern region decide what they want   paddy fields or hydro carbon    we do not want  somebody rooted far away from our soil to  decide my fate and my grandchildren livelihood.

pain is the reality but holding dignity is more important

The simplest and greatest truth about life is :
you should love your life and yourself..
who else is there for you excepting yourself ;
there are many but it's all virtual and yet real
and also intimate and much warming and yet

you must remain at peace with yourself,and the books
that have blanketed you thus far;
True there has been more pain that
you have expected and bargained for..
That's the fact of life for many and or
Is it a self inflicted fate?

Am I right when I say and suggest that
ultimately everything is good;
If they are not good ,why should
they happen?
but many things are not good
and they are likely to be worse much worse
 in future too
Can we avert them by worrying or
 feeling that we do not want them...

Let the wheel of karma rotate and the
fleeting fortunes embrace the brave and the bold
among the good and honest and hope  the God too
will not play any game of dice!

It is said that at the end there will be more joy
will the poor benefit and profit by this
empty slogan though bristling with consoling component..
with nature's fury and avarice of the greed filled
administrative machinery,
the downtrodden has nothing to lose but to fight
To hold their dignity and earn their bread.

There is a reason for all of us to be here ,
As each one has been designed/destined for something
towards some destination/goals /purpose/
I have hardly had any optimizing objective function in life!
I did not run fast as no one was chasing me in teaching?

After investing my time in student community, my great
social capital,
my goals are still clumsy and naive like my personality,
Rooted in love, friendship and romantic thoughts
about non existent love and of course the
 unforgettable images of early seventies.

When I get plopped down and fumble my life
and irrationally glum and remain unhappy,
occasional phone calls and students' visit,
prop up the spirits now and then ,
but they are not effective substitutes for the
vibrant life force of enthusiasm and fun from within.

I have no right to be unhappy here nor suffer over
the trivials of life;
No need to understand the mystery of this life,
as you can never understand it....the only way
to confront this life and surmount the problem is

to go inward and meditate on the subject  as that
alone will  be strong enough and long enough to
provide comforts in moments of despair and agony.
There is nothing like the first love to calm you down
and wake you up to see the brighter side of life...

(poem by prof D sambandhan)

Translating Nakulan's poems -part 2

This is the second part of a sample of Nakulan's poems translated :

When you and me
are here ,
there is nothing like ,
yesterday,
today
Tomorrow.
Yes there is nothing.

Excepting you
who else  is there  for you?

Roaring sea
Its bottom is calm
Incredibly calm..

A triangle
At the end of it
Needle sharp wisdom.

The person who came to me
Asked ?
"Do you know me ?"
"I am sorry I can't position you "
Do you know yourself ?"
I don't know".
Then tell me what do you know?"
( in a persistent tone)
Excepting you and me
I know everything..

Between the writer
and readers,
words,
S
T
A
N
D.

Before I conclude let me remember what Nakulan said  with all sense of humor about the event of his death...
Please do not conduct condolence Meeting after my death..Because I can't attend it .

( courtesy  Anandha Vikatan  Tamil weekly, dated 3-1 -2007.)

The poem was translated when I was getting ready to  visit a hospital where my childhood  friend was admitted

Translating Nakulan's poems...Part one

Poems of the great Tamil writer Nakulan:
Translation by Prof D Sambandhan..

While rereading the poems  yesterday I felt like translating.It is only a sample of his infinite variety.

Whichever book we read,
they only contain
what has been already written
within us
There is nothing beyond that..

All of us come here to stay,
But after a while we disappear
and cease to exist
and exit from here.

If life is simply meant
wearing different masks
on different occasions and also
dancing to different tune of others,
It is better to die
That will be more honourable.

There is no one  for me
Even I am not .

In a land of nothingness,
What is happening?
Everything.

A poem written by late Sujatha and recollected in his column in Anandha Vikatan in the year 2006.

Let me attempt to capture the flavor of the poem written in a haste for a quick delivery in connection with the celebration of children's day on demand from a publisher of a Tamil weekly...

Since nothing has changed to improve the conditions of children's, especially in the urban and rural slums, I felt it worth while to translate this poem in my mother tongue into English for the wider audience.

"You will be waiting the in the temple to clean the car, in the crowded hotels,
you will clear the table once the customers have finished their meal....
you will sleep without mat and take bath on platforms...
day in and day out you would hammer with iron cutter in the leth of blacksmith,,,,,

In the evening near the beach, you will sell sundal...
in the dark lanes you will canvas customers on behalf of girls
you will help tailors to take kaja and do some building works by breaking stones..

After lying below an automobile for a while you will emerge black,
Help clean the table, and get trapped in to the crowd while buying tickets for matinee show....
in a subtle and gentle way, you will sell tickets in black..

You will take jug and fetch drinking water,
By dissolving into the crowd....
you will do pick pocketing, scissoring neatly..

My dear darling, Oh my raja, this year also we intended to celebrate,
throughout the county with all festivities,
we will make documentary films and give snacks to you,
we will seriously discuss how to lift you from the pitiable state...

We will draw the road map, discuss and debate,
smoking a lot and then, we will deliver your future dreams in multi-color projects

Don't find fault with us...
have some patience and perseverance for a few more days..

We will have meetings and conclaves in air condition rooms,
think about your conditions and take a quick decision soon....

Sorry, I don't have change now....
you go somewhere and come thereafter..

These lines were written at a time, when along with the destruction  of  humans, there were all kinds of human rights  violations via missals and bombs in Vietnam war:



 To capture the spirit and the flavour of human tragedy.

"There is no spring
in the immediate neighborhood
a butterfly is
sitting with all sadness
on the dead body"
                                  -  Unknown
Translation by d sambandhan.

Come to think of his poem, I  can't help but remember the damage being caused in my homeland in the name of development and growth through methane projects and eight way lane in fertile lands.To add insult to the injury a series of natural disaster largely due to man's folly strike the land,pushing the vast humanity into deprivation and penury.