Bharati: Books and translations
It is
heartening to see so many posts today on Subramania Bharati. It reminds me of my elementary school days.
There was not an Independence Day or Republic Day that passed without singing
Bharati’s songs. In that small school, the flagstaff was just outside the
compound and we would stand there and sing “thaayin manikkodi paareer”. There
would be singing and dancing to his “aaduvome pallu paaduvome”, “vetri ettu
thikkum etta kottu murase” etc., Our headmaster at that time would teach all of
us to sing Bharati’s songs. I got introduced to almost all the Deshbhakti songs
of Bharati at that time. “paarukkulle nalla naadu”, “bharatha samudayam
vaazhgave” and many others. We used to have a collection of his poems at home,
printed in some poor, dull paper. I didn’t know music, I didn’t know the ragas
that are printed alongside some of the poems. But I used to sit near the
window, and keep humming something. I used to even try the “eesan vandhu
siluvayil mandan” trying to imitate the choir music, since we were as students
of CSI high school, familiar with it. Later while at college we used to discuss
a lot about Bharati among those who knew Tamil, followed contemporary Tamil
literature. In 1986 I had bought the Bharati songs collection published by
Vanathi that I still possess. Tamil publishing scene has improved so much in
the last 20 years. Beautiful hardbound editions, classy paper and all those
unseen elements in the 70s, and 80s could be seen in this new era of Tamil
publishing. Yet, the biggest regret is we do not see new editions of Bharati
poetry, and so many other works of Bharati that remains unknown to the large
population. May be my ignorance, others who know about it can enlighten me. The
only good production and publication effort I saw was the collection of his
‘Vijaya’ essays by A.R.Venkatachalapahty.
What about translations?
Bharati hated use of the term “vernacular” so I would refrain from using it. For any writer to gain larger audience, to be known beyond his language group, translations are essential. How well has Bharati been represented through translations. He has been widely translated in his own times is what I read. Where are those books? My mother’s Tamil teacher had given us one volume of Bharati’s translation ‘Kannan Paattu’ by T.N.Ramachandran published in 1980. He introduced me to the exploration of the metaphysical elements in the Kannan Pattu, specially discussing “thikku theriyadha kaattil” – later reading about the rendition of that song by GNB being mentioned in a Tamil serial in Kalki we roamed around the streets of Chennai looking for the tape is another matter. Similarly, I also searched book shops for the other volumes by TNR. I didn’t get any. Those days without internet, without friends who shared the knowledge and passion for the same, it was difficult to find books. Recently I heard in a webinar, Kalaimagal Editor Kizhambur Sankara Subramanian say that Bharati dreamt of getting his poems published in colour with illustrations. Has anyone fulfilled his dream? Did we do more harm than help popularize his works, by the act of nationalization of his works by the Tamil Nadu government in the 50s?
Why am I talking about all this today, is because of my own fresh hunt for his books and translations. Ten days ago a friend called up and asked if I can write or recommend someone who can contribute an article on Bharti for this day. I didn’t want to let go of the opportunity, and said I will write. I wanted to quote English translation of his works and I had nothing but the ‘Kannan Paattu’ translation, and he wanted a nationalist Bharati for the article. I brightened up when I saw Sahitya Akademi’s translation of his works, and by luck I got the first volume consisting of all his poems through Amazon. Other volumes it looks like are out of print. My ignorance, that I was not even aware of such an edition by Akademi. Accept my ignorance, but not the surprise, since I regularly visit the Akademi branch in Dadar, and have been buying their books from their annual stall at NCPA during the Gateway Litfest. Why didn’t I see Bharati there? Call me what you want, Bharati is an under-appreciated poet, writer. Though there are many of his fans out there singing his legacy, his legacy hasn’t been nurtured, promoted to the level it should have been. Any other state, any other country would have celebrated him, but I feel the Tamil have let him down. To my surprise I also found the full set of poems translated, edited by T.N.R online. It has been published by the Thanjavur Tamil University. Some of the translations though the language sounds a bit archaic, I prefer the T.N.R edition. Akademi edition has given an introduction, a short bio and also printed and brought out well. The problem however is it does not even give the original Tamil song headings. I can understand the standard practice when translations are published, but Bharati is someone whose songs can be sung, has been tuned, continues to be performed in Carnatic Music platforms and many films have used his song too and it seems inappropriate to carry the translations without the original alongside – original in Tamil as well as in English transliteration. Several small volumes would be more user friendly than the bulky volume they have brought out. Here is a link to the online translation downloadable.
https://ia800602.us.archive.org/6/items/in.ernet.dli.2015.210376/2015.210376.Bharati-Patalkal.pdf
Every generation needs new editions, newer introductions as the past in which Bharati lived fades away, and fresh translations. T.N.R’s translations are wonderful, but that language needs tweaking for the current generation. It is difficult to find the spirit of Bharati and his emotions in a translation, but readers in other languages should at least get to know him fully. I was enthused when I saw some new translations in English being reviewed in popular dailies. Then I came across this criticism, in a blog written by Bharati’s granddaughter. I too cannot understand translation of a ‘jati’ and I concurred with the criticism on the translation and never got my hands on it. May be when it comes in my library I will have a chance to read all the poems in that new translation. Here is the link to Bharati’s granddaughter S.Vijaya Bharati’s blog:
“In Bharati’s case, almost all translations of his work are unauthorized. After his death, neither his family members nor a legal representative of his estate authorized any translation work. When the government took over the copyright, the publishing committee was not concerned with translations of his work. Finally, when the copyright became public, there was no system for monitoring or supervising translations.” That is an unfortunate situation. That is why I had flagged the issue of nationalisation earlier.
From the blog I could see she has published all of Bharati in four volumes. Unfortunately, the publication isn’t Indian, and not available on Amazon India platform too … A standard edition that she has this is, should be available to us here too. A complete works, definitive biography, criticism all needs to be brought out afresh, befitting his image and stature.
Will leave this here, with two songs that philosophic, bringing out the essence of Gita and Vedanta. While I listen to this, my mind lingers on the thought of how three contemporaries, three who had met, and among them the two who spent a lot of time together exploring Veda, Vedanta and Alvar and Nayanmar poetry, all three wrote on Bhagavad Gita – Lokmanya Tilak’s ‘Gita Rahasya’, Aurobindo’s ‘Essays on Gita’, and Bharati’s translation of Gita.
Link: Here is the link to my write up on the nationalist Bharati - https://www.vskkokan.org/culture/638/
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