Selective Amnesia There was a point to this. But I forgot.

தீர்த்தக் கரையினிலே: The pain of separation

நானொருவன் மட்டிலும் – பிரி வென்பதோர்
நரகத் துழலுவதோ

Why must I alone
be enveloped by the hell of loneliness,
my precious, my iris?

உன்றன் மேனியை
ஆயிரங்கோடி முறை
நாடித் தழுவி மனக் – குறை தீர்ந்து நான்
நல்ல களி யெய்தியே,
பாடிப் பரவசமாய் – நிற்கவே தவம்
பண்ணிய தில்லை யடி!

blessed will I not be,
by the haven that’s your company?
Will I not hold you, hug you, once, twice, a thousand
fill my heart with your embrace,
and the air with my song
of joy?

பார்த்த விடத்திலெல்லாம் – உன்னைப்போலவே
பாவை தெரியு தடீ!

My precious, my iris
all I see, everywhere
are you

(Also see: Chenthil’s version; my other translations: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

* crackle * * tinkle * * splat * and the 31st Chennai PhotoWalk

• ting *
  Oh, that was just me, breaking the silence.
  So, what’s been keeping me quiet? Among other things, possible carpal tunnel injury on my right wrist, or worse yet, a flare up of my Rheumatism/Arthritis. Joy.

What’s also keeping me quiet and away from SelAm is work, of the academic kind. I’ve had to do 2 critical analysis (of a minimum of 2500 words each.) and 3 short documentary films, a dissertation proposal, a dissertation presentation, research for the said dissertation. Also keeping me from blogging is my role as a) Stills Photographer for the MAFTVP summer film, and b) site photographer for the Berkeley Excavations 2010.

So I got to do a few things I needn’t have done, but did anyway because I am a geek like that. I was menial labour and sub-deputy-assistant grip for a film shoot, and then turned actual grip when the crew had issues to sort out. I also got to wield a mattock, a trowel and brush as part of the Archaeology department’s summer Field School for archaeologists.

On to random things, because that’s how we roll.
I find it strangely unsettling that in the 10ish months I’ve spent in Brizzle, I haven’t spotted a single plane flying over my head. Superman, yes. Plane, no. Contrast with Madras, which while it isn’t a Heathrow or a Bombay, had enough flights in the air to give an environment-lover serious indigestion.

Still rolling randomly, I think I’ve come to love mushrooms more than potatoes.

Meanwhile, Vatsan brings news of the latest photowalk

Since the sweltering heat of May is over, the photowalks can happen in the mornings, and this time we will be starting the walk from a 11th century Chola temple. This temple is decicated to Dandeeshwarar. The legend says that Lord Yama worshipped here to get his Danda back after the faceoff with Shiva over Markendaya.

The temple being a 11th century one will offer plenty of photo opportunities, and is also well maintained. It also as is the case with all temples has a market nearby. We will then walk down from there till the vijaynagar bus stand and then to the madipakkam bridge and finally ending the walk at the madipakkam road. The Madipakkam bridge is an built over an open pond/lake/yeri, and hence will offer some good photo opportunities.

Date: 20th of June, 7 am from Dandeeshwarar kovil in Velachery. And for the directionally challenged, here is a map
As always, call Vatsan for help. 94449 99456 or 95000 70176