Some writings displaying nationalism

Tamil language

Subramaniam Bharathiyar

Desiya geetham

PREFACE
Through the decades leading upto independence from British colonial rule and after independence too, several writers have written in the Tamil language about nationalism.
Subramaniam Bharathiyar wrote desiya geetham- songs about the country, that envisioned freedom far before the nation actually achieved independence. Bharathiyar who died in 1921 in an freak accident with an elephant did not live to see an independent India. Thus, one must note that when he wrote of a national flag here, there was no actual flag but just the idea of the people it brought together. He was a member of the Indian National Congress and thought of a unified ‘Bharath’ together with the Hindi-speaking regions. Yet the National flag here does not even seem to  indicate to the Congress flag. in this song he is referring to people of various region or communities, such as the viral and mallar. There are also allusions to geogrphy, history and mythology to demarcate places, such as land of the five rivers (Punjab) and land of Arjuna (Indraprastha region). The title of the poem Thayin Manikodi Pareer (Behold the mother’s jewel like flag), refers to the nation Bharath as a mother and repeatedly plays with this metaphor throughout the poem.

Bharathiyar songs are popular and are taught to children in schools and household in Tamil Nadu, and this particular song is sung on National day celebrations. Various renditions of the song , a well-known one being that by DK Pattammal, are shortened to only stanzas i, iv and x being sung.

The text for this poem for translation has been taken from the book Bharathiyar Kavithaigal published by Leo Book Publishers(Chennai) in 2005. This is a collection of all Bharathiyar poems on various subjects.

Thayin manikodi Pareer                                                                          
(Bharatha nattuku kodiyannapu pukazhthal)

thoyumaaavar ananda kannipu meddh

                                                                                    TRANSLATION

Pallavi

thayin manikodi pareer –Adhai                       Behold the mother’s jewel-like flag

thazhndu panintu Pukazhnthida Vareer!          Bow to it with humility and praise it! 

Charanam

i. Ongi vallarnthor kambam- adhan                Raise it soaring high on the flag-staff
Uchiyin mael vande mathram enre                 Resounding and high Vande Matram

pangkin ezhthi thikazhum seyy                      Bring to reality, realize them, enact them       
Pattolli veesee paranthu pareer!                     that Shine bright and take flight!

ii. Pattu thukileyan lamo? – adhil                   Soft and delicate as silk it flutters               

Pazhnthu suyarrum Perumpuyar Katru          and yet the mighty blow of a tornado
Mattu mikanthita thalum- adhai                     cannot make it budge, this
Mathiyathav vuruthikol Mannikapattalam     layer of soft glowing fabric

iii. indiran Vasiram Orapaal – Adhil              There are those here that worship Indra,
Engal Thurukar Illambirai orupal              also the people of the crescent and the cross
manthiram natuvura thindrum – adhan        bringing them all together, such is our flag
mannpai vaguthida vallavan yaana?                Am I one worthy to speak of its glory?

iv. Kambathin kizhanitral kaanneer- engum      Drawn to the feet of the flag-pole,
kanrum veerar epuranthiru kootam                    Many brave men gather everywhere
nampark kuriya avvirar-thangall                        Keep faith in these gallant, who    
nalluyyir yeenthum kotiyinai kappar.               Sacrifice precious lives to save the flag.

v.anniyanni yayavvar neerkum- indha               Behold the brave soldiers gathered,
areeya katshiyor aanandam aanro?                     does there exist a more happy sight?
Mannikal porunthiya maarpum-viral                  soldiers unfazed even after a war, 
panthiru vongum vadivmum kanneer                  the viral singers sing their praise

vi. senthamizh nadu porunthanar-kottun              In this land of  Tamil Nadu reside
theekan maravarkall chernran-veerar                   the people of Chera, fiery-eyed

seenthai thunninda theylungar – thayin              the courageous clear-minded Telugus
chevadi kepnni seythittu thuluvar.                   and Tullus who bow only to the mother,

vii. kannantar oddiya rottu- poril                 and to none other, along with the Kannada

kallnnum agns kallakum maroddar,           the Marathas who in war even yaman fears
ponnagar theyvarka loppa nirkum               they are comparable to the devas in heaven
porputtaiyar industhanthu mallar                 and to the mallar  of Hindustan

viii. poothalam murridum varraiyum- arap      Until the Earth’s demise, until viralliyar
por viral yaavum marppurum varaiyum,          declare the end of all war, till that day
matharkal karrapul varaiyum paaril        when women remain chaste, the Rajput brave

maraivarum keertikol rajpudir veerar                 will be steadfast to the vedas.

ix. pinjach nathathu pirandhor- munai          The land of the five rivers, and the people

parthan mutharpalar vazhndnan nattar          of the land under Arjuna, the people

thunjum pozhudinum thayin-patha               of that blessed land where even their sleep
thonndu ninainthidum vangadhi norum.        foremost is the thought of the motherland

x. serainthai kapathu kanneer! avar             Behold the goodmen who save and protect            
sindhaiyin veeram nirantharam vazhka!      May they live long! The countrymen     
theranthavar pottrum bharatha nila              who constantly sing its praise
thaevi thuvajam sirappura vazhka!              Long live Bharath!Live long Bharathmata!

II. Thamizh thai vaazhthu
-  written by Manonmaniam sundaram pillai in 1891 as part of a play titled Manonmaniam as an invocation to precede the play and was adopted as the state anthem in 1970.

Neeraarum kadaluduththa nilamadandhai kezhilolugum,             

Seeraarum vadhanamena thihazh baradha kandamidhil.

Thekkanamum adhil chirandha Dravida nal thiru naadum.

Thakkasiru pirai nudhalum thari thanarum thilagamume.

Aththilaga vaasanai pol anaithulagum inbamura.

Yeththisayum puhazh manakka irundha perum Thamizhanange!

Thamizhanange!

Vun seerilamai thiram viyandhu seyal marandhu Vazhthudhume!                 

Vazhthudhume!

Vazhthudhume!

TRANSLATION

With rivers flowing within and lapped by the sea of the earth,
Your noble face shines bright amidst the Bharatha land
Etched in the Deccan, thou art the respected Dravidian country
the middle of your forehead is lit by a crescent-moonlike thilagam
the fragrance of that thilak  engulfs the whole world and creation
like thy glorious name and fame spreads in every direction

oh Tamil spirit

oh Tamil spirit!

Regarding your glory and majesty, we are mind blown!

wishes to you! wishes to you! wishes to you!