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This is the second part of the review of the book titled, ‘The Poetical Works of Tiruloka Sitaram with Translation and Notes’. This book consists of 55 poems of the great Tamil poet Tiruloka Sitaram duly translated in English by Sekkizhar Adi-p-podi Dr T.N.Ramachandran.
Gandharva Ganam, The Lord-Owner, The Nest of Sparrows, The Canopy of Renown, An Aubade, The Impish Boy, The Riddle of Eriodendum are some of the headings of the poems.
Tiruloka Sitraram has also written essays in Tamil in a lucid style.
He welcomes The New Year with an appropriate song like this:
The Morning star smites the East;
The Wheel of Fire skims the sea;
Gentle Notus Eke doth drift
Atop the rolling stream.
The first line could be compared with Shakespeare’s line ” As bright, as dear, As yonder Venus in her glimmering sphere”. The second line denotes Apollo’s car as ‘The Wheel of Fire’.
As he is very much attracted towards great English poets, he has translated some of the interesting poems in Tamil language. Longfellow’s ‘The Arrow and the Song’, T.Hood’s, ‘The Bridge of Sighs’, G.M.Hopin’s, ‘A Sonnet’ are worth mentioning.
How he creates the poems? This question was answered by Professor T.R.Kuppuswami.
Prof Kuppuswami narrates his experience with Tiruloka Sitaram thus:
“Poetry is at his beck and call. In between dressing betel-leaves, correcting proofs, answering telephone call or speaking with customers and friends, he scribbles a few lines. The poem builds up by fits and starts and it never receives a retouch. Once I had the audacity to inquire of him whether the continuity was not spoiled by his breaks. ‘Nothing of that kind. I wield the pen whenever I want and the poem takes shapes.”
He also observes thus about his translation of poems into Tamil language:
“His genius has another sparkling facet. Translation, particularly of poetry, is an impossible job. Faithful rendering in a different language with all the spirit and beauty of the original intact is an Utopean dream. But he is an exception. To him it is a child’s play.”
Mr T.N. Ramachandran who translated all the Tamil poems into English has done a commendable task. His wide knowledge acquired over years has helped him to shape this book.
It was Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe who said, ” Every day we should hear at least one little song, read one good poem, see one exquisite picture, and, if possible, speak a few sensible words.”
Here is a book which gives you many good poems, if you want to take the advise of Goethe.
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Source by Santhanam Nagarajan
