My love for Bharathi ....

I am kind of moved by his poems. He is kind of person whom you can't categorize into one particular segment and who has lived life to the fullest. His words are so powerful and thought provoking.

There lies no subject untouched and every situations we encounter in our life. His poems are like a life guide to anyone and i always wonder how can he write on so many subjects when he has hardly lived for just 38 years. But when you read his poems, his words are of a person who has lived for more than a century.

This lines are one of my favorites.

அச்சமில்லை அச்சமில்லை (பண்டாரப் பாட்டு)

அச்சமில்லை அச்சமில்லை அச்சமென்பதில்லையே
இச்சகத்துளோர் எல்லாம் எதிர்த்து நின்ற போதிலும்
அச்சமில்லை அச்சமில்லை அச்சமென்பதில்லையே
துச்சமாக எண்ணி நம்மைத் தூறு செய்த போதிலும்
அச்சமில்லை அச்சமில்லை அச்சமென்பதில்லையே
பிச்சை வாங்கி உண்ணும் வாழ்க்கை பெற்று விட்ட போதிலும்
அச்சமில்லை அச்சமில்லை அச்சமென்பதில்லையே
இச்சை கொண்ட பொருளெலாம் இழந்துவிட்ட போதிலும்
அச்சமில்லை அச்சமில்லை அச்சமென்பதில்லையே
கச்சணிந்த கொங்கை மாந்தர் கண்கள் வீசும் போதிலும்
அச்சமில்லை அச்சமில்லை அச்சமென்பதில்லையே
நச்சை வாயிலே கொணர்ந்து நண்பரூட்டும் போதிலும்
அச்சமில்லை அச்சமில்லை அச்சமென்பதில்லையே
பச்சை யூனியைந்த வேற்படைகள் வந்த போதிலும்
அச்சமில்லை அச்சமில்லை அச்சமென்பதில்லையே
உச்சி மீது வானிடிந்து வீழூகின்ற போதிலும்
அச்சமில்லை அச்சமில்லை அச்சமென்பதில்லையே

English Translation

My special thanks to VIDYA for her beautiful translation of the poem.

Acham Illai, Acham Illai, Acham enbadhillaiye
Ichagathullor ellam edhirthu nindra podhilum
Acham Illai, Acham Illai, Acham enbadhillaiye

I have no fear. No, not a trace of it!
Let the whole world turn against and confront me;
I have no fear. No, not a trace of it!

Thuchamaga enni nammai thooru seidha podhilum
Acham Illai, Acham Illai, Acham enbadhillaiye

Let it be that I am treated as dust and be abused
I have no fear. No, not a trace of it!

Pichai vaangi unnum vaazhkai petru vitta podhilum
Acham Illai, Acham Illai, Acham enbadhillaiye

Let it be that I have to beg for food;
I have no fear. No, not a trace of it!

Ichai konda porul ellam ezhandhu vitta podhilum
Acham Illai, Acham Illai, Acham enbadhillaiye

Let it be that I have lost all that is close to my heart;
I have no fear. No, not a trace of it!

Kachanidha Kongai Maadhar Kangal Veesum Podhilum
Acham Illai, Acham Illai, Acham enbadhillaiye

Let young beautiful women cast their eyes on me;
I have no fear. No, not a trace of it!

Nachai Vayile Konarndhu Nanbar Ootum Podhilum
Acham Illai, Acham Illai, Acham enbadhillaiye

Let a friend feed me poison;
I have no fear. No, not a trace of it!

Pachai Yuniyaindha Verpadaigal Vandha Podhilum
Acham Illai, Acham Illai, Acham enbadhillaiye

Let an army come clad in their military uniform;
I have no fear. No, not a trace of it!

Uchi meedhu vaan idindhu veezhugindra podhilum
Acham Illai, Acham Illai, Acham enbadhillaiye

Let the sky come crumbling down on my head;
I still have no fear. No, not a trace of it!

References:
Subramanya Bharathi

Milestones

"Congrats! You have reached another milestone today". These were the words of my uncle on my cousin’s marriage.

Every one reminds us of our mile-stone’s during the phase of life. Either they applaud you on reaching your milestone or else they keep whining of not reaching the mile stone yet. These mile-stones are in directly proportional to your age factor and it does matter how fast you race to them. The leader in the race is widely accepted universally, it is like your Visa card.

Lately I was trying to understand these preset mile-stones for each of us. And how they arrived at a common formula for everyone.

Out of this curiosity, I checked the literal meaning of the mile-stone in the dictionary. It says "milestone is a stone marker set up on a roadside to indicate the distance in miles to a given point or destination". In a sense it’s a marker placed at regular distances displaying the distances covered and distances yet to be traveled to reach the destination.

Then my mind got into the act of co relating how these milestones referred by others plays its part in my life. Why is that I can’t understand or go with the options put forth by others to me? May be as they say we need to get into others shoes to understand what they mean.

I decided to slip myself in their shoes, it's more like getting into others souls :). To my surprise I can look at the milestones very clearly with bright vibrant colors which will not be missed out even if you want to. It made me wonder how that the visibility is so much when viewed through their lenses. I can visualize a clearly chalked out milestones for your whole life span.

For the first time I was feeling stressed out in others soul, but decided to stay back for some more time in analyzing the objects in front of me :).

There I saw the first milestone set for us, it’s our birth or coming into this world. Yes it is indeed the toughest struggle for life by any individual in his life time. But amazingly there exists no trace of it in any corner of our mind. Is it because we don’t have mind by then or else the mind being in such a natural state without any contamination that it has so much potency to fight out anything with ease. From then on our milestones are put forth in every walk of life.

I felt like I am driving a car and seeing the life phases as I pass through each milestone. My journey continued through different milestones like admission into school, stepping out of college, degree, job, marriage, kids, and grandparents and so on. I felt myself trembling in their soul and it was so uneasy being there, because the mind in their lives with lot of baseless desires which are networked much messier than the internet. Each is so interdependent and connected that you feel completely lost if you are not in the race.

I was feeling myself constantly and desperately looking out for milestones throughout my journey missing out on those beautiful landscape and nature passing behind me. By the time I arrive at a milestone, I briskly grasp what my next milestone is and speed up to be in race.

I felt bleak and my heart seemed heavy but was glad that I have an option to return to my own soul. Quickly I stepped back to my sweet soul :).

For the first time I felt I am at paradise. There is so much pleasure with each air stream gliding in and out. The same journey seemed to be so refreshing rather than tiring. Even my eyes did not look out for the passing milestones rather it was relishing the serene nature along the path.

Then I realized the more we look out for milestones hoping to stay in peace at destination, sooner the stone will be erected etching "May his soul rest in peace" :).

P.S: I pat my back on reaching this milestone of publishing my 50th article on my blog.