Diaspora Tamil Short Story: Lost Words! by V.N.Giritharan

[This English translation of the Tamil story is a collaboration between Google AI Studio and V.N. Giritharan. The original Tamil version of the story follows the translation. Digital painting assistance (Google Nano Banana technique) by VNG.]

Aasaipillai was the security guard of a parking lot with five levels above and five levels below ground. Aasaipillai was an immigrant Eelam Tamil. In his hometown, he had spent his time as a 'clerk' (குமாஸ்தா) in a government department, known as Clerk Aasaipillai. When the atrocities of the Sri Lankan government forces were rampant, he fled the country, thinking it a blessing to escape with his life, and migrated to Canada. Initially, he tried washing dishes. He tried cleaning a factory. A man who used to stroll around as a clerk in his village could not continue such jobs. A security guard job seemed an easy alternative, so he joined a famous security company as a guard. His shift was from midnight until dawn. As usual, he started his work that day. That's when a white man parked his car in the lot and approached. Upon seeing Aasaipillai, the man greeted him.

Diaspora Tamil Short Story: Concrete Jungle Rabbits by V.N.Giritharan

[This English translation of the Tamil story is a collaboration between Google AI Studio and V.N. Giritharan. The original Tamil version of the story follows the translation. Digital painting assistance (Google Nano Banana technique) by VNG.]

After a long time, I visited my friend's place. His nest was located at the top of a towering building-forest tree. This building tree, situated in the heart of Toronto, has a certain notoriety. It holds the sad distinction of being the place where two elderly Tamil men and one middle-aged Tamil woman jumped from their balconies, ending their lives. In recent times, such suicides have unfortunately begun to increase here. Despite having so many amenities, why do they commit suicide in this manner?

My friend is still a bachelor. Usually, every time I visit his place, I notice some change in his abode. This time too, there was such a change. My friend had started raising two rabbits in a cage.

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A Way to Escape Slipping!

 

Winter has begun. When temperatures drop below zero degrees Celsius, the ground under the accumulated 'snow' freezes into 'ice'. In these situations, the chances of slipping and falling are high. For the elderly, such falls can even be life-threatening. I have also experienced such falls. Since then, I regularly use 'Snow Grips' for my shoes in such weather conditions. Even good brand winter boots did not protect me from slipping. Such 'snow grips' can be bought on Amazon.com. After that, I bought them on Amazon. They have lasted for the past few years.

The thoughts on racism in Sri Lanka and a conversation about it with Artificial Intelligence!

 

 

The Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake's government is speaking out against racism. Sinhalese politicians who have lost power are resorting to racism in an attempt to regain what they've lost. Tamil politicians, feeling threatened by the Anura government's influence and citing the JVP's past history, are also portraying them as racists who cannot be trusted. These two groups will continue to operate in this manner.

 

In reality, if the Anura government firmly acts against racism, disregarding these groups, and its positive results become evident, there's a chance that the opposition politicians who failed in their racist efforts might change their approach.

 

Furthermore, if racism is truly to be defeated, the government must expose the racist Buddhist monks among the Sinhalese people. The people will accept it. The government must ensure that Sri Lankan law deals with such monks. Doing so would be a strong step towards eradicating racism. If the government fails to do this and succumbs to the racism of some Buddhist monks, it will never be able to eliminate racism from the country.

 

Every time racist monks act, the law must be allowed to take its course. In such instances, the government must explain to the people in the South that these individuals are racists. The people will understand and support the government. If the government fails to do this and instead succumbs to the tactics of racist monks, its political future will ultimately be jeopardized.

The renowned dancer Kumari Kamala has also passed away. Deepest condolences.

Kumari Kamala in 'Paavai Vilakku': 'Is there a time I don't think of you?' ('Naan Unnai Ninaikkatha Neramundo')

I first learned about Kumari Kamala through my parents. Both had a great fondness for Kumari Kamala. They would always speak admiringly of her dancing skills. I first learned from my father that she was initially married to the famous cartoonist R.K. Laxman, and that R.K.L was the brother of R.K. Narayan, one of my father's favorite famous writers. My father had a collection of R.K.N.'s English novels, along with a collection of novels by Graham Greene, the writer who introduced R.K.N. to the West.

They also recalled Kumari Kamala's excellent performance to Bharathiyar's Indian independence-themed songs in the film 'Naam Iruvar'. My mother even sang one of them, 'Aaduvome Pallu Paaduvome'.

The first film of Kumari Kamala's that I watched was 'Paavai Vilakku'. I saw it as a late-night second show when it was re-released in the seventies at Regal as an old Tamil film. Having read Akilan's novel 'Paavai Vilakku' before watching, I enjoyed the long film with great enthusiasm. Kumari Kamala appeared on screen as the character Sengamalam from the novel. It was a role perfectly suited for her.

The song 'Naan Unnai Ninaikkatha Neramundo' from the film 'Paavai Vilakku' is one of my favorite songs. This is also my most favorite dance sequence of Kumari Kamala's in a film. The lyrics were penned by poet A. Maruthakasi, and the music was composed by K.V. Mahadevan.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxTM8X0OprM

A special documentary video compilation about Kumari Kamala is 'Fragrant Petals: Kamala's Natyam'.

Dancer Rama Bharadwaj, one of Kumari Kamala's students, briefly but engagingly describes Kumari Kamala's dance contributions in the forties, fifties, and sixties. This video was produced by another dancer, Anita Ratnam.

Jerzy Kosinski's 'The Painted Bird'

 

My article on 'Being There,' published in 'Subamangala', a Tamil magazine, was the first introduction of Jerzy Kosinski to the Tamil literary world. It was about his famous novel, a short but poignant work that was also adapted into a film. It's a novel that critiques the image-worshipping contemporary society.

Jerzy Kosinski was a writer who immigrated from Poland to America, began writing in English, and made a significant mark in English literature.

His novel 'The Painted Bird' is considered a major work in 20th-century American literature. Published in 1965, it has been translated into over thirty world languages. The novel shocked readers due to its often brutal descriptions of human rights violations during World War II, which chilled the hearts of those who read it. A Jewish boy's parents send him away with another person, hoping he will escape the Nazis. This boy then wanders across Eastern European countries during the war, trying to survive. He undergoes various experiences, and 'The Painted Bird' describes them.