வரவேற்றிடு

அல்ல அல்ல இது இருளல்ல
ஒளியின் நிழல் கூடவே வரும்

அல்ல அல்ல இது இரவல்ல
பகலின் ஆயத்தம் பொறுத்திரு

அல்ல அல்ல இது வலியல்ல
உடலின் உயிர்ப்பு ஓர் எச்சரிக்கை

அல்ல அல்ல இது முடிவல்ல
துவக்கத்தின் அறிகுறி அறியாயோ

வருடம் முடியுது புதியது பிறக்குது
வருக வருகவென வரவேற்றிடு

கோட்பாடுகள்

சிதைந்திடுவர் சுனாமியில் சிக்கிய கடற்கரையாய்
செம்மையாய் தன் வாழ்வை செதுக்க மறந்தவர்
சீராய் கோட்பாடுகள் தினமும் கடைபிடிக்காதவர்
சிற்றின்ப கடலில் திளைத்து தரம் தாழ்ந்தவர்

Is it a Curse Being a Woman?

Being a female is not a curse. No, never. Our vernacular poet in Tamil sings it is a great blessing to be born a female.

The first thing to be understood is that male and female are two different categories completely different in biology, hormonal behaviour, emotional reaction, mental reasoning and psychology. They are two complementary parts. Together they a beautiful, meaningful whole. There are many aspects in both which are equally precious and admirable.

By nature the female is weaker than the male, in muscle, strength and stamina. Being designed physically to bear children and nurture them a correct assessment of her role and importance in society is necessary.

Down the ages of human history there have been periods of matriarchal supremacy in governance. Then chauvnistic males took over and are maintaining their supremacy. Crude methods of slavery, denying education, enlightenment and freedom have been used by them for many many centuries. The mindset of males is caught in a groove. In course of time the renaissance of the industrialised world has emancipated the unenlightened woman from her prison of darkness.

Legally, practically it has become an established fact that women have equal rights. But in execution it is not found easy to establish. Many males grudge to give the female her right acknowledgement. A false ego complex prevents smooth running of matters inside and outside the home.

If the male is at fault in many a situation I cannot hide the fact that the woman overshoots in misguided ambition. There are clearly two sets of womanly and unwomanly aspirations, accomplishments and achievements! She is well advised to tread only the paths suitable for her inherent equipment. The roles are different but not superior or inferior.
When this fact is understood there can be no confusion about whether it is a curse or blessing to be a female. The wicked practices against women are to be eradicated and women obtain their place of honour as copilots in the journey of human life.

The silver strand

An introspection into my pet hates and loves shows me clearly my likes and dislikes have not changed much over the years. In fact they seem to have become stronger and more defined!
There is, of course, a childishness in the peculiarity of my preferences. Most of them are unreasonable and inexplicable!
It is almost an adamant objection to accepting established facts! Strangely though, there is no sense of shame or guilt in admitting them publicly.
Now let me come to the matter I am contemplating on right now: it is my aversion to greying of the hair. To tell the truth my jet black hair started turning grey much later than for my contemporaries and younger women.
My sisters and sisters-in-law openly showed their surprise a decade ago at having to search for grey hair on my head when theirs made no secret of the pepper tone spreading fast and wide. The undertone of envy was unmistakable!
Very conscientiously I have been including curry leaves in my daily diet for the past four decades or so. I strongly believe in its power to keep my hair black besides its other nutritive values. I grind a generous dose of it in my coconut chutney, the favourite side dish for the idli/dosai in our daily breakfast.
With all such thoughtful care I have crossed sixty with my mop still mostly black. But the gradually increasing appearance of silver strands on the edges of ears and forehead is a matter of grave concern to me in spite of realizing there is no stopping it!
Most of the ladies I know simply resort to dyeing. The market is flooded with so many brands. The media woos them at every turn! But I have some scruples about the procedure in spite of my undeniable vanity. No chemicals on my head (‘herbal’ is a word used to mislead into traps!) is my strong decision. No wavering of the mind in this taking-no-risk policy. Besides, in my eyes these ladies with blackened tops wanting to look like young lasses are pathetically comic figures because of the telling signs of age on their face and skin.
Ageing is not my worry. No. It is even doubtful if the fact of my getting old has got registered in my mind! I do love to bask in the respect my years earn for me.
It is just a childish peeve at seeing my black hair changing colour. As I was staring at the few silver strands in my comb today after grooming my hair the precious metal’s glitter sparked a spot in my feminine vanity to regard it as a valuable acquisition! A soothing thought to settle my perturbed psyche!

கொள்ளையர்

மந்திரிகளை அரசவையில் மட்டுமா காணலாம்
சீட்டுக்கட்டில் இருப்பர் நால்வர் கருப்பாய் சிகப்பாய்
இல்லத்தரசியாய் இருப்பர் குட்டையாய் நெட்டையாய்
பார்லிமென்ட்டிலும் இருப்பர் கொள்ளையர் இனமாய்

மாயமென்ன மாயமோ

துயருறுவர் சிறு வயதில் சிறு தடங்கலுக்கும்
தொடராய் வரும் சவால்களும் சறுக்கல்களும்
தாமரை இலை தண்ணீராய் தள்ளாத வயதினில்
தன்மையை மாற்றிடும் மாயமென்ன மாயமோ

இறந்தாரே

இறந்தாரே இருந்தும் இல்லாதாரே
இயற்கையை ரசிக்க தெரியாதார்.