The White-eared Bulbul
(Pycnonotus leucotis) is quite common along the Aravalli hills,
specifically in JNU there are quite a few. They are similar to Himalayan
bulbuls but lack the crest and are smaller in size. Gulf countries don’t have
too much of biodiversity but this is one bird that you could see across Saudi
to Iran and western part of India. Spotted this one at JNU, during the bird
survey on big bird day, sometime back.
Vayalar Ramavarma
(1928-1975): stirring voice from the land of advaitha
I
have been listening to songs of Vayalar Ramavarma since I could remember. He
was a Malayalam poet and 
lyricist, he gained immense popularity with the latter,
his movie songs are enormously popular to this day. Though he was using the
populist medium and constraints associated with it he never compromised on
quality. The language used is quite simple, so that common people can
understand and enjoy, but the meanings are much deeper. He was quintessentially
an Indian mind with deep rooted compassion emanating from the best of Indian
thoughts and philosophy. His songs have had an elemental impact on me, since it
is in popular medium the songs tends to stay on forever in collective psyche.
What an amazing man.
lyricist, he gained immense popularity with the latter,
his movie songs are enormously popular to this day. Though he was using the
populist medium and constraints associated with it he never compromised on
quality. The language used is quite simple, so that common people can
understand and enjoy, but the meanings are much deeper. He was quintessentially
an Indian mind with deep rooted compassion emanating from the best of Indian
thoughts and philosophy. His songs have had an elemental impact on me, since it
is in popular medium the songs tends to stay on forever in collective psyche.
What an amazing man.
I
happened to be at Alappuzha (Kerala), just about 20Km from my home is a place
called Vayalar
(the place 
is also witnessed to hundreds of people being
massacred for rising against the atrocities committed by Diwan CP Iyer in 1946.
This was one of the foremost popular communist uprisings in the country. CP was
a scoundrel akin to the Nazi, who is, quite understandably, being resurrected
by his progenies/clan et al Kasthuri & Sons. The audacity of it, they also
hoodwink into comrade ranks, only shows rot at the top of communist parties).
Vayalar Ramavarma’s samadhi is next to his palatial house. I have here translated
three of his popular songs from malayalam, my translations is quite wanting and
poor imitations. The readers needs to keep in mind that the choice of words by
the lyricist is such that it seamlessly weaves into songs, also the deep held
meaning that he sought to communicate, it’s a miracle these songs.
(the place is also witnessed to hundreds of people being
massacred for rising against the atrocities committed by Diwan CP Iyer in 1946.
This was one of the foremost popular communist uprisings in the country. CP was
a scoundrel akin to the Nazi, who is, quite understandably, being resurrected
by his progenies/clan et al Kasthuri & Sons. The audacity of it, they also
hoodwink into comrade ranks, only shows rot at the top of communist parties).
Vayalar Ramavarma’s samadhi is next to his palatial house. I have here translated
three of his popular songs from malayalam, my translations is quite wanting and
poor imitations. The readers needs to keep in mind that the choice of words by
the lyricist is such that it seamlessly weaves into songs, also the deep held
meaning that he sought to communicate, it’s a miracle these songs.
Manushyan mathangale srishtichoo
Manushyan mathangale srishtichoo
mathangal dhaivangale srishtichoo
manushyanum mathangalum dhaivangalum koodee
mannu panku vachu manassu panku vachu
(Manushyan mathangale)
mathangal dhaivangale srishtichoo
manushyanum mathangalum dhaivangalum koodee
mannu panku vachu manassu panku vachu
(Manushyan mathangale)
hinduvaayee musslamaanaayee
christianiyaayi
nammale kandaalariyaathaayee
india bhranthaalayamaayee
aayiramaayira maanava hrudhayangal
aayudha purakalaayee
dhaivam theruvil marikkunnu
chekuthaan chirikkunnu
(Manushyan mathangale)
nammale kandaalariyaathaayee
india bhranthaalayamaayee
aayiramaayira maanava hrudhayangal
aayudha purakalaayee
dhaivam theruvil marikkunnu
chekuthaan chirikkunnu
(Manushyan mathangale)
sathyamevide soundaryamevide
swathanthryamevide nammude
rakth bandangalevide
nithya snehangalevide
aayiram yugangalil orikkal
varaarulloravathaarangal evide
manushyan theruvil marikkunnu
mathangal chirikkunnu
(Manushyan mathangale)
swathanthryamevide nammude
rakth bandangalevide
nithya snehangalevide
aayiram yugangalil orikkal
varaarulloravathaarangal evide
manushyan theruvil marikkunnu
mathangal chirikkunnu
(Manushyan mathangale)
Man created religions
Man created religions
religions created gods
man, religions and gods together
divided the land and divided the
minds
(repeat: Man created religions)
We became hindus, muslims,
christians
we have become unrecognizable
India has become madhouse
Thousands and thousands of human
hearts
have become storehouse of weapons
while god dies on the street
devil smiles
(repeat: Man created religions)
Where is the truth, where is the
beauty
where has our freedom gone
where are blood relations
where are friends forever
where is the music that comes
once in thousand years
While man is dying in the street
religions are laughing
(repeat: Man created religions)
Pravaachakanmaare
pravaachakanmaare
Pravaachakanmaare pravaachakanmaare
Parayoo prabhaathamakaleyaano
Prapancha shilppikale
Parayoo prakaashamakaleyaano
(pravaachaka)
(Repeat: Pravaachakanmaare
pravaachakanmaare)
Aadhiyushassin chuvanna mannil
Ninnaayuga sangamangal
Ivideyuyarthiya viswaasa gopurangal
Idinju veezhunnu kaatil idinju
veezhunnu
Ee vazhithaarayil aalambamillaathe
Eswaran nilkkunnu dharmma neethikal
Thaadi valarthi thapassirikkunnu
thapassirikkunnu (pravaachaka)
(Repeat: Pravaachakanmaare
pravaachakanmaare)
Bhaavi charithram thiruthiyezhuthum
Bharatha yudha boovil
Idayan thelichoru chaithannya radham
thakarnnu veezhunnu
Ee kurukshethratthilaayudhamillaathe
arjunan nilkkunnu
Thathwa saasthrangal etho chithayil
eriyunnu (pravaachaka)
(Repeat: Pravaachakanmaare
pravaachakanmaare)
Hey
prophets, hey prophets
Hey prophets, hey prophets
Tell me is the morning nearby
Creators of universe
Tell me is the light nearby
(repeat: Hey prophets, hey prophets)
In the red sand of eternal dawn
The towers of faith
is collapsing into the forests
On the pathway without any
magnificence
stands god with long grown beard
And is in deep meditation
(repeat: Hey prophets, hey prophets)
Future is rewriting the history
In the battle field of India
the
chariot of consciousness is collapsing
In
this kurushetra Arjuna is standing without any weapons
Look
the truth, philosophy is burning in the pyre
(repeat: Hey prophets, hey prophets)
Adhwaitham janicha naattil Adhwaitham janicha naattil
Aadhi shankaran janicha naattil
Aayiram jaathikal aayiram mathangal
Aayiram dhaivangal
Adhwaitham janicha naattil
Mathangal janikkum mathangal marikkum
Manushyanonne vazhiyullu
Nithya sneham thelikkunna veedhi
Sathyonnyeshana veedhi
Yugangal raktham chinthiya veedhi
Adhwaitham janicha naattil
Prapancham muzhuvan velicham nalkaan
Pakalinonne vilakkullu
Laksham nakshathra dheepangal koluthi
Swapnam kaanunnu raathri
Velicham swapnam kaanunnu raathri
Adhwaitham janicha naattil
Aadhi shankaran janicha naattil
Aayiram jaathikal aayiram mathangal
Aayiram dhaivangal
Adhwaitham janicha naattil
The land where advaitha was born
The land where advaitha was born
The land where Adi Shankara was born
Thousands of castes, thousands of religions
Thousands of gods
The land where advaitha was born
Religions are born, religions die
Humans are but on the roadside
Ways of the eternal love befalls
Ways of the seekers of truth
Ways of the blood spilled ages
The land where advaitha was born
To light the whole universe
Daylight is being torched
Millions of stars form strings of deepam
Night is dreaming
The night when the light dreams
The land where advaitha was born
The land where Adi Shankara was born
Thousands of castes, thousands of religions
Thousands of gods
The land where advaitha was born
From my scribble pad…
Relapse
I scrape my memories to get references
For the realities I face
the world is diminishing at a rate
that I fail to keep track
I desire to enter the embryo
and the world begin anew
Stray insights
There is a way with time
It
mauls the passerby
And
punishes for the crime not committed
