C.P.Ravikumar on Gopalakrishna Adiga + 2 translated poems
M.V.Rajeev Gowda
Here is some more marvellous stuff from the doyen of network culture,
Dr. C.P. Ravi Kumar, now of IIT-Delhi. I took this off s.c.i.
A Tribute to Gopalakrishna Adiga
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Kannada poet Gopalakrishna Adiga passed away last
month. He was in his seventies. Adiga was
the leader of neo-modern Kannada poetry, a movement
which existed for over 25 years, starting in the
late sixties. Adiga hailed from South Karnataka,
and began by writing in the then popular "romantic"
style of poetry. Some of the important poets of the
romantic period are Kuvempu, Bendre, and P.T. Narasimhachar.
Adiga finally decided to throw in the towel of
"traditional" poetry. In one of his poems in
his twilight period, he says "the mind is
tired of repeating what others have said."
Adiga and his contemporaries (Ananthamurthy,
Lankesh, Sumathindra Nadig, K.S. Nissar Ahmad, and Narasimha
Swamy, to name a few) evolved a "stylized" form of literature
influeneced heavily by the Western writers such
as Eliot, Kafka, Camus, and others.
Adiga and his contemporaray writers were
often frowned upon by the traditionalists
(Masti, D.V.G., and others) for such things
as obscenity and obscurity. The neo-modernists
popularized such jargon as "the scent of earth,"
and "authenticity". Their poetry was devoid of
meter and rhyme. They chose to write about
man's innermost feelings, and about relationships
between men and women. Their writings often
echoed despair about life, and about the helplessness
of a human being.
Adiga has published several volumes of poetry.
"Kattuvevu Navu" (We shall build), "Gondalapura"
(Confusion City), "Chande' Maddale'" (Drums of
Death), and several others. He also wrote
a number of short stories, and two novels.
He also translated a childrens' novel into Kannada
-- a novel called "Children of the forest," a
delightful story set in the period of
Civil War in England; the officers who are
loyal to the King are massacred by the rebels.
Two children of one such officer are rescued
by their servant, who brings them up secretly
in the forest. The novel if full of adventures,
and is a treat to read.
Adiga stood for general elections on two
occasions, the first time as an independent
candidate (at least that is how I remember)
and the second time as a BJP candidate(!)
The latter move earned him much criticism.
He lost in both the elections.
Adiga was uncompromising in his criticism --
be it the criticism of poetry or of the government.
During the emergency, he read a poem on
the AIR which was a direct attack of censorship
and of Indira Gandhi. Adiga was also a
strong critic of Nehruvian politics. His
poem "Nehru shall not retire" is one of Adiga's
best known poems. Some of his other well known
poems are "Keep busy brother" (Yenadaru Maduthiru
Thamma), "The drums of death" (Chande Maddale),
"The flute of Mohana" (Mohana Murali), and
"The lotus red" (Kendavare).
I have heard Adiga speak on several occassions.
Once, at National College, he lectured on
Kannada folk literature. I still remember
his reading of a Kannada lullaby and his
lucid comments on the song. On another
occassion, he was involved in a debate about
the social responsibilities of the writer.
A younger writer from the then popular
"Bandaya" movement (Rebel movement)
felt strongly that itis the writer's business
to reflect the problems of the society.
Adiga, on the other hand, felt that
no one can dicatate what a poet should
write and what he should not. I recall
another instance, when he was invited to
speak at our Engineering college on the
Kannada Rajyotsava day. He shared the
dias with another "small" writer. The
latter gave a speech which carried no
English words -- a total Kannada speech
with translations for Electronics and
Electrical Engineering. The translations
were literal, but the crowd was all euphoric
about the "pure Kannada speech". Adiga
chose to speak about a specific topic in Kannada
literature, rather than talking in generalities.
However, his speech was not received well
by the "Junta" -- unfortunately, they began
booing after a while. Adiga thundered.
He was upset about the "younger generation".
He left in the middle, escorted by our
very apologetic professors.
Adiga will always be remembered by Kannada
people as a writer who changed the course
of Kannada writing. His contribution
to Kannada poetry is immense.
I am enclosing below my translations of
two of Adiga's poems. The first one is
a poem called "Yentha Kannu" (Your Eyes)
and is a love poem of sorts. It was
even used as a Kannada film song (!)
The second poem is "The lotus red,"
which has a more serious theme.
I hope you will enjoy these poems.
-- C.P. Ravikumar
[13 Nov, 1992]
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^L
Your Eyes!
Kannada poem by M. Gopalakrishna Adiga
Translated by C.P. Ravikumar
Your eyes. They are something, your eyes!
Hanging in their golden threads, my heart lies
trapped. In their blue skies my heart flies.
Are they a pair of sapphires glowing
Amidst a snowy whiteness?
Or a couple of baby bees peeping
From the womb of a white lotus?
Two droplets of ambrosia
From a churning of your heart?
How can they say so much, in spite
Of love that fills their every part?
Your eyes. They are something, your eyes!
My heart is a lone traveller,
Lost in their memories.
-------------------------------------------
^L
My Lotus Red
Kannada Poem by M. Gopalakrishna Adiga
Translated by C.P. Ravikumar
A bright red lotus has bloomed today
To passers-by, what a fragrant Entree!
The wind, the bees, or the gentle spray:
Who needs an invitation to a party, eh?
The water trembled gleefully,
Tickled by the golden rays.
In how many ways do I love thee?
The bee's busy counting the ways ...
The lotus blushed;
And turned scarlet in face:
Look! His chariot of seven horses
Race through the eastern skyways ...
In every one of his million hands
He carries a tangled web of love.
The lotus was charmed. The buzzing of the bees
Waned; it seemed pale somehow.
She ignores the bees around
And waits for the sun, my lotus red.
Will morrow's dream take the form of sun?
---------
Ravikumar
Indian Institute of Technology
Delhi
archana...@gmail.com
Do you have the poem in Kannada? If yes, please share the copy at the earliest.