Thyagaraja's Disciple

Pardon my treason!

I sang your eloquent verses,

I pleaded in therapeutic ragas,

I served the lotus feet of your beloved, Rama -

but I couldn’t spurn wealthy concerts.

I am sacrilegious! Shun me.

I didn’t sing your praise!

I was lost in my voice.

I used your rants to seek Him,

it gave me a sublime experience,

a lofty name to fame.

To cleanse my profanity,

I attended every aradhanai,

in Thanjavur and Cleveland,

poured tears into your pancharatna krithis,

But, pardon my irreverence!

I was sponsored.

Rajashree Anand

Thyagaraja - One of the greatest composers of Carnatic music or classical South Indian music

aradhanai – worship/prayer

pancharatna krithis – the five noted compositions of Thyagaraja in Telugu

The Translator

He sourced his ideas


from a kutchi artist,


borrowed his metaphors,


picked the best of his designs.


He eliminated the inscrutable.


He chose eclectic fabrics,


to sew deeper metaphors,


to suit his contemporary audiences.


In a façade of patchwork,


he marked his new meaning.


Raw silk for subtle emphasis,


mirrors reflecting the original.


To accentuate his own perspectives,


he made new patterns, stitches,


synchronous paraphrases.


He etched his initials,


and published it,


rightfully copyrighted!




Rajashree Anand

Precis

Published in Muse India: Issue 36 Mar - Apr 2011

The adorned kanjeevaram mannequin,

is ready to be calculated.

Additions and subtractions

of her assets are made,

in close quarters and fractions.

Wrinkled faces nod in agreement.

As detailed negotiations ensue,

future corollaries are predicted

and axioms seal the bond.
There’s no looking back.

It’s all about give and take! 

When evident inequalities are justified in vain,

the kohl baffled eyes blink.

The match is made. 

Sodden paths will now crossover,

linearities will be entwined.
Forever.  

Shes answered, adjudged.

But, speak! veiled show-piece.

Rajashree Anand