KaLam VERu PeNNE
Topic started by Pavalamani Pragasam (@ dialpool-210-214-8-115.maa.sify.net) on Sun Aug 11 07:04:31 .
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.
KaLam VERu PeNNE
Angam maRaiththu azakai kuRaiththu,
AaNaip pole aadai aNinthu,
Osintha nadaiyai orankatti,
Thayankum paavanai thanaiyum maaRRi,
Menmai kaLainthu viRaippai punainthu,
Suyamaay ninRu munaippudan muyanRu,
ArivuththiRan anaiththum kaatti,
Uyarntha Uthiyam thanaiyE eetti,
Saathanai sikaram saduthiyil etti-
Unmaththa pOttiyin mudivilE
AaNukku iNaiyaay aagivittaayaa,
Irumaanthu niRkkum puthiya penne?
Achcham, naaNam pOnRavai maRanthu,
Eevu, irakkam, naLinam kuRainthu,
Kadina inamaay-aaNaay- maaRi,
PeNmai thakaimai izanthahtanRi
PERena perithaay peRRathenna?
VERena un kaLamenRRaRiyaamal
Veembil veeNaay virayamaanaay.
VeeramuNdu, veRRiyuNdu,
Thaaye unakku thaniyidamuNdu.
Thanmai izanthu pOkaathE,
Thanai maRanthu thaNalil venthu
Thappaana ilakkai thEdaathE,
PeNmai polivai puthaikkaathE,
Pethaiyaip pOla vethumbaathE.
Responses:
- From: ec (@ bryant.rz-berlin.mpg.de)
on: Sun Aug 11 10:10:53
UngaL kavidhayin karu migavum pidithirukkiRathu. Ikkavidhayai oru kuRippitta vikitha magaLirukkaaga ena eduthukkoLLa thOndrugiRathu. Yenenil vElaikku selavathum, angu sila soozhnilaigaLaal kadinaamaaga nadappathum, viruppamindri seyyum nilayil pala pENgaL irukkiraargaL. peNmayai kaakka pENmayai maRaikkum nilayil palar irukkiraargaL - aaNavathaal andru. avargaL parithaabathiRku uriyavargaL.
- From: Pavalamani Pragasam (@ 61.1.213.110)
on: Mon Aug 12 03:22:58
Let me confess what inspired me to write the kavithai: it is concern about global womanhood as reflected in an article in the magazine section of "The Sunday Express"(dated 11-8-'02) by Sheila Kumar,"In a Woman's World".Since the article is rather interesting let me quote from it:
"The other day, I chanced upon a news item, date-lined California, which made my jaw drop…..The story was about a crash course that 're-feminated' women.It took aggressive, square-chinned, tough-talking women Chief Executive Officers(CEO's)and Chief Operating Officers(COO's)and got them in touch with their inner woman:you know, the shy, hesitating, even stuttering being supposedly inside every member of the sexthat doesn't need to shave its chin every morning.
My first thought was a logical one:Why would women go someplace to cast off the traits that had got them to the top of their career ladders, and retrogress to behaving like your average Barbara Cartland heroine? Then I read the news item again and winced. These women were not willingly enlisting themselves for the course. Their bosses(almost all male, but of course)found them too aggressive,too action-oriented(is this wrong?), too unfeminine, and so sent them to do the Bully Broads course and come back as cuties spreading sweetness and light in the workplace. Bully Broads(have you heard of a more offensive title?) is a remedial course that helps assertive women become 'intuitive, emotional, and empathetic. In other words, turn them back to Doubting Thomasinas, women who reveled in their vulnerability……We really haven't had it too easy, have we? At the dawn of time or may be a little down that road, we were being hit on the tender spot on our craniums with clubs, this being the way the Stone Man pledged his allegiance to us. Some centuries later, just as we were getting into the groove of producing one child every 14 months,drawing water from the well, lighting fires with 2 sticks, cooking and endless circle of meals…The next century was spent fighting the fight. Eventually, we got the right to vote, the right to go out and work, the right to an earned pay. This was progressed, right ? not really. Because , it didn't take us long to realize that the work place( as indeed, just about every other place) was still ruled by men…We started asking the question: how do we get to the sunlit spot where the men perpetually stand?… It seemed that our frills and flounces our show of calf and cleavage were doing us in at work. The strategy was to dress like men. And of course, that is what we did. We invested in pantsuits, plain white shirts( some of us even wore ties!), and skirts that ended well below our knee. We threw away our hoop earrings and fire-engine red lipsticks and nail polishes… It seemed that to take on the men in their home turf we have to behave like them. Which meant no simpering voice. No questioning lilt to the end of our sentences. No wishy-washy dithering. A firm handshake. Locking eyes with the Other to see who blinked first. Striding down corridors with a firm lopping walk and no undulating, mind you. Smoking , drinking and cursing a blue streak were other prerequisites. We were to become women who were strong and not afraid to admit it. We did it all and we did it with enthusiasm…..Now they tell us we have been wrong…..Seems we should have stayed the sweet li'l thing we were originally, the yes woman who always deferred to the alpha male, the homemaker who baked a mean tray of cookies, the drudge who never complained, the shrinking violent whose conversation, (and energy) was limited to child-rearing, flower arranging and shopping. Calling Germaine Greer, Betty Friedan and all the other stalwarts of the (now defunct) Women's Movement. Naomi Wolfe, why are you silent? Where are you, guys….We need an explanation and we need it fast!Or better still tell us how to tackle this regressive wave, and tell us fast. Because what is happening the West today will be happening to us Indian women with careers tomorrow.
- From: ec (@ bryant.rz-berlin.mpg.de)
on: Mon Aug 12 10:27:57
Dear Pavalamani Pragasam, thanks a trillion for sharing this ariticle with us. Pity to know again that the western women are in no good situation compared to the easterners. As the article tells the modern world expects much from the working women; men remain the same as ever inspite of being phyically mighty! What is the solution for such women: is it giving away their ambitions, liberty and stay at home, or wearing the different masks that are expected by the world and have a restless life?
But one need not call a war against men for this :-). If such new problems of the modern world are publicised, everybody will understand the situation sooner or later and will limit/modify their expectations.
- From: Govin (@ 203.129.195.100)
on: Fri Aug 16 06:58:23
Dear Pavalamani Pragasam,
Thats a great thinking and great poem! My congratulations for bringing out a beautiful poem on this - yet to be recognised - dangerous proposition - today's young women are upto! Your inspiration and after thoughts are clearly communicated! Thanks a million.
As an addendum, Please read a kavithai by one Ms. poorninma:
Evar sollukkum kattuppattathaaga ninaivu illai,
Aanaal,
Indru en sevikalukku un vaarththaikale veathangal!
Etti nadai payindra en kaalkal, Indru
Un kaalkalukku thunai vara kaathirukkindrana!
Eppozhuthum periyavaL pondru vaazhntha ninaivu,
Aanal,
nee un magalaai ennai thaangum pozhuthu,
naan unaraatha en mazhalaiyai unarkiren!
pennadimai, suthanthiram ena peasiya enakku,
indru vaalkkaiyin nijam uRaikkirathu!!
Iruvarum oruvaraaga vaazhum vaazhve
bhoomiyil sorkkam!!!
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