Translation of DEEPACHELVAN’S POEM titled MUGATHAI MOODIK-KOLGIRA KUZHANDHAITranslated into English by latha ramakrishnan
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Those not released today
stand on another side
inside those wires.
the kids held on their hips
keep crying.
The joy that this child has
begun to celebrate
bangs against the
thorny-fence
and scatters.
Ascertaining that
whether its mother’s and father’s names
are indeed selected
and announcing it over the loud-speaker
they let the child
smile into the mike.
I’ve brought words
to welcome you.
Untying the Identification Number
I take you inside.
the child is covering
its face and
smiling.
Listening to the tales,
hitherto unknown of the
outer-world,
those stories also
which it has learnt inside,
it starts narrating
in its own exclusive tongue.
Though it is heard by everyone
none understands it.
For those who have been
born and survived
in Mullaivaikal, in
a bunker
on a shell-filled night
it has nurtured its smile.
To pluck and snatch
those stars that lie
sleeping on the
shirt of an Army General
it strains and gets hold of his shoulders.
The General too looks at the child
and laughs.
The child abruptly
brings to a close its
entire smile.
In between the sounds of children
weeping and wailing
this Child’s smile surfaces
all too often.
They speak – Of the world,
Of Life,
Of children’s Freedom_
The children who keep seeing the
air-crafts straight above
their heads still,
fall on the ground
fearing the impact..
This Child smiled. For the
rest of the children
and for their mothers and fathers.
It gave out a wide, bright smile.
It gave its face too
for the photographs.
‘Please nurture our child
in our own world itself’, said they.
That, henceforth it was the
Child of this Land-
That, though it was found out
that it aided terrorism
It was pardoned
That, as it had surrendered,
prior to the final assault
just in one week
since it was born
it had committed war-crimes
in lesser number than
all others –
They were telling.
The child looks on, holding
Its breath.
Even while being ticked
for the last time
in the attendance-register,
while being allowed to go out
by the sentry at the entrance,
while boarding the bus,
it is photographed
in different angles.
The address where it is being sent
and the boundaries of its
free-movement
are once again being
dinned into its memory.
That he would readily
bring the child anytime,
obeying orders –
so assures the child’s father.
Taking away its hands
the Child looks at
the streets with blood
dried-up.
I begin to utter the words
that I’ve carried along with me.
And, I remained waiting for
its smile.
Seeing another child and
mother who alight there
to proceed to another camp
in search of husband
it covers its face.
When it takes its hands apart
The face has turned red.
Upon its hand
the spot where the Identification Number
had been tied
shows traces of blood.
In front of the house,
standing in the verandah
All alone, the Child
was smiling again.
Those not released today
stand on another side
inside those wires.
the kids held on their hips
keep crying.
The joy that this child has
begun to celebrate
bangs against the
thorny-fence
and scatters.
Ascertaining that
whether its mother’s and father’s names
are indeed selected
and announcing it over the loud-speaker
they let the child
smile into the mike.
I’ve brought words
to welcome you.
Untying the Identification Number
I take you inside.
the child is covering
its face and
smiling.
Listening to the tales,
hitherto unknown of the
outer-world,
those stories also
which it has learnt inside,
it starts narrating
in its own exclusive tongue.
Though it is heard by everyone
none understands it.
For those who have been
born and survived
in Mullaivaikal, in
a bunker
on a shell-filled night
it has nurtured its smile.
To pluck and snatch
those stars that lie
sleeping on the
shirt of an Army General
it strains and gets hold of his shoulders.
The General too looks at the child
and laughs.
The child abruptly
brings to a close its
entire smile.
In between the sounds of children
weeping and wailing
this Child’s smile surfaces
all too often.
They speak – Of the world,
Of Life,
Of children’s Freedom_
The children who keep seeing the
air-crafts straight above
their heads still,
fall on the ground
fearing the impact..
This Child smiled. For the
rest of the children
and for their mothers and fathers.
It gave out a wide, bright smile.
It gave its face too
for the photographs.
‘Please nurture our child
in our own world itself’, said they.
That, henceforth it was the
Child of this Land-
That, though it was found out
that it aided terrorism
It was pardoned
That, as it had surrendered,
prior to the final assault
just in one week
since it was born
it had committed war-crimes
in lesser number than
all others –
They were telling.
The child looks on, holding
Its breath.
Even while being ticked
for the last time
in the attendance-register,
while being allowed to go out
by the sentry at the entrance,
while boarding the bus,
it is photographed
in different angles.
The address where it is being sent
and the boundaries of its
free-movement
are once again being
dinned into its memory.
That he would readily
bring the child anytime,
obeying orders –
so assures the child’s father.
Taking away its hands
the Child looks at
the streets with blood
dried-up.
I begin to utter the words
that I’ve carried along with me.
And, I remained waiting for
its smile.
Seeing another child and
mother who alight there
to proceed to another camp
in search of husband
it covers its face.
When it takes its hands apart
The face has turned red.
Upon its hand
the spot where the Identification Number
had been tied
shows traces of blood.
In front of the house,
standing in the verandah
All alone, the Child
was smiling again.
---------------------------------
*This Child which was born for the students/ couple of Yaazh University who got married in order to escape from the compulsory recruitment of the LTTE, was photographed on 20.09.2009 while she was waiting in Kaithadi Detention camp for her release.
*This Child which was born for the students/ couple of Yaazh University who got married in order to escape from the compulsory recruitment of the LTTE, was photographed on 20.09.2009 while she was waiting in Kaithadi Detention camp for her release.
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