English version by Renowned English professor and Best Translator SA Sankaranarayan of Dr Avvai Natarajan Message to Tamils Tall Leader Dr Kalaingar on the eve of his 95th Birthday Souvenir published by Murasoli on 3rd June 2018
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Kalaignar over Centuries
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Avvai’s Outpouring Recalled
In times of yore poetess Avvai
got a dear berry
from Netumaananji
which fruit on tasting
made her score over a century
and she knew it gave her a surplus life
of poesy to outlast.
She did bless Anji thus:
‘Like as ONE with sapphire neck
shutting venom in yet out,
may you, Lord last for ever
to save the neck of all’
How may we hail our present Anji
of fame and glory that pleases
our eyes to heart’s surfeit! How may we!
O, our Lord, our Tamil Giver!
Veined gooseberry Anji gave;
but, you in its place
Tamil Ripe and Mellow!
What then can censor you
to cross a century score!
If halahalam gulper
could kick Timer,
won’t you, Tamil ambrosia drunk
outlast for sure??
From infant cradle
to current rocking
haven’t you served
dulcet Tamil as rich
screen-delicacy
in assorted dialogues?
How can one tongue
scale up all the sublime
poetic heights you nursed
in love of Tamil’s Range?
On Cordial Throne
don’t you sit
and preside as Sovereign!
Soon might the day
turn for silence to un-mute
and speech thine to quote!
‘More than my life’- a phrase of a voice,
a clarion call to crores and crores-
a balmy honey dew
a word would roar
as sea to echo
beached up on
the dunes and coasts!
The sinews of Tamil world would shudder
engendering life to wing its way!
Straighten up your quill would
to spell a word for all co-born!
Southerly Tamil on stage
would refresh the strained
eyes of all toilers in service!
Once more would Tamizhakam
be favored with fortune
to surge in force
as of Triumvirs’ times!
The proceedings entire
by index finger
you did puppeteer as if!
The interim rights lost
shall be restored fast!–
This is no brown study,
but a salient afterthought!
Sleepless though you were,
a mail a day, your brotherhood
missed not;
Foregoing Meals though you were
your thought on Tamil classic
didn’t pause for a day!
Even when your steps flagged
all breakers you overcame;
and fielded yourself severally
fast aglow in what you chose!
Nonstop, ever on move
didn’t you pride yourself
oft therein!
Tidally parked crowds
swelled to hold you high
in all praise to behold!
For serving hearts to throb in vigor
your war-cry drum-tap voice
boomed in bang resonantly!
What ever happened or not,
your die-hard tongue spelt Tamil’s laurel;
so has been your lifelong spell!
Hence, Nectar-Tamil shall speak your organ;
bronze of Voice shall festoon the streets!
Not alone Anji also Ezhini
jot your militant cores forthwith!
In wait , O, Lord, is our Tamil demesne,
ready to observe your dictates;
”Take to field , o, taker!
To array and style the battle,
a soldier there is among us;
within a fleeting dawn
a fleet of eight war-cars
would he make, he, the carpenter,
as one moon-struck, mad in craft”
(puram-87)
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