Thoughts on Savitri's Nalupu-Telupu
PALANA (nparinand@cas.org)
Wed, 11 Jun 1997 14:46:23 -0400
Xcellent Poem By Smt. Machiraju Savitri.
Truth well-said.
The Hypocricy, Vanity, Dual Standards, Mockery etc. under the Desi skin are
well-said.
This is an electrifying poem - zolted my nerves.
Thanks for a such a nice commentary too.
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>From: "Rao Veluri" <rveluri@smtpgate.anl.gov>
>maachiraaju saavitri left India as a child with her parents and grew up
> nalupu telupulu
> -- maaciraaju saavitri
> alanaaDu // nallanivaaDini kRshNuDani, vishNuvani
> paramaatmuDani // dEvunigaa kolicaamu
> nallani daanini paarvatigaa, draupadigaa
> jaganmaata anee, jaganmOhini anee
> dEvatagaa keertimcaamu // saundaryamgaa nirvacimcaamu.
A feminist touch.
Religious Mockery!
> okanaaDu // nallanivaarini, 'rangu' vunna vaarini
> eenaaDu // nallani dEvuLLaki neelapu mEkappu kappi
> maayam cESaamu
> nallani saumdaryaaniki tellani #powder# pulimi
> paaDu cESaamu
> nallani aa #King# dESaaniki vacci akkaDunna nallavaarini
> alusu cEstaamu.
Crystal Clear Bitter Truth - Well Said.
> nalupu takkuvani, telupu ekkuvanE // nammakaaniki moola mEmiTi?
> nalupu cEDDadani, telupu mancidanE // viSwaasaaniki samardhana EmiTi?
Too philosophical? Hidden wisdom?
Self (reader) analysis? Too complex of a poetic paradox?
A piece of poem radiating thousand meanings - dependent upon the self.
> telladoralu veLLi nalla doralu vaccinaa
> pOyina aa telladanam kOsam // praakulaaDE baanisatwamaa?
Slave-mentality!
tellavADini prAkulADE mRgatvamaa?
telladanaanni prAkulADE bAnisatvamaa?
A bit abstract! But may be ok for running after #abstract# nature with the
#bAnisatvam"-bent of mind.
Telladanam is no more in India. But still telladanam and telladoratvam
prevail here. Therefore, #telladanaanni prAkulADE bAnisatvam# is going
stronger here. Does this imply that we are "bAnisalu# to #telladanam#?
Why cann't we coat #nalla# paint (in the imaginary world) on #telladanam#?
Everything else, we think in #abstract# terms. Same way, we can, apply
abstract #telladanam# on nalladanam. Does it change the mind-set for
#telladanam#?
> manushulanu kalusukoni // manasulanu telusukoni
> manci ceDDalu niryanimcE Opika lEka
> rangunu baTTi antarangam kolavaalanE sOmaritanamaa?
To me it looks like the above piece is the answer for the piece above it.
"Opika# : I can not figure out why Smt. Savitri used the word "Opika"
here. Does it mean it is convenience? Like conveniently agreed or
accepted. Or there is a hidden meaning that all that #goodness# is
attached with #telladanam#. Does this #sOmaritanam# come into picture
whenever a color of #inferior# nature (mind-set) comes into
contact/picture? If Telupu is my color of choice, then it automatically is
my color and sOmaritanamu takes the precedence over the "antarangam"
analysis and I accept that if the inside is hollow/rotten.
Again there is a dual side to this piece. Whose #antarangam# the author
emphasizes on?
> kotta dESamlO, kOTisamasyalatO
> kaakaa paTTEnduku sulabha maargamani
> addamlO manapratibimbaaniki kaLLu moosukoni
> mEmu nallavaaLLam kaamu tellavaaLamE
> ani kulikE andhatvamaa?
I LOVE THIS PIECE.
That #addam# is the Schizophrenic Mirror.
Again this one is the answer to the piece above.
> mance ceDoo vumDEvi manasulalO // mukhaalalO kaadu
> ippaTikE vunnayi manaki caalaa aDDUgODalu
> manamkooDaa velaga beTTE jaatyahamkaaramaa?
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A nice anlysis with facts which have become a major part of our heritage
and baggage. This is a nice poem with clear picture of our mentality.
At places, even though the poem looks clear, has a deep abstract thought.
The poem overall is an example of Hard Core Truth but the reader needs a
great deal of analysis and self-analysis.
Good piece.
pAlana
PS: Where can we get the book - the collection of Smt. Savitri's poems?