One Hundred Poems of Tukaram
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| File:One Hundred Poems of Tukaram.jpg Cover page | |
| Author | Sant Tukaram |
|---|---|
| Translator | Chandrakant Kaluram Mhatre |
| Language | marathi |
| Genre | Poetry |
Publication date | 2015 |
| Publication place | India |
| ISBN | 9781483549392 |
One Hundred Poems of Tukaram is a 2015 book consisting of selected poems of Sant Tukaram, a prominent Varkari Sant and spiritual poet of the Bhakti, translated into English by Chandrakant Kaluram Mhatre. The book also consists of an introduction by the translator, which explores aspects like relevance of Tukaram's poetry in twenty-first century, Tukaram's life and times, Varkari movement of which Tukaram was a part and the form of Tukaram's poems amongst other things. It aims at historicising Tukaram's poetry while upholding its timeless appeal. The book covers a wide range of poems depicting the spiritual as well as worldly journey of the saint-poet who is widely hailed as one of the greatest poets from India by critics like Ramchandra Ranade [1] and Dr. Sadanand More.[2] Selection of poems is such that the book gives a comprehensive picture of the various phases of Sant Tukaram's life which can be generally divided into that of a family man, a recluse and the man of the masses.[3] So far this is only the second book-length translation of Tukaram's poems in English, the other being Dilip Chitre's Says Tuka (1991).[4]
Poems
One Hundred Poems of Tukaram is a first book-length attempt at reproducing the original form of Tukaram's poems viz. abhang into English. As a poetic form, abhang has been explored by all Varkari saints for their poetic expressions.[5] An abhang can be of two types: four-lined stanzaic and two-lined stanzaic.[6] Tukaram has exploited both these forms of abhang extensively in his poems as is illustrated by a few poems given below, extracted from One Hundred Poems of Tukaram: 1. Words are the jewels That our homes are filled with The tools that we strive with Are but of words Words are the source That sustains our life Wealth of words we give To one and all Tuka says behold Word is the Lord Let us praise Him Worship with words 2. The destitute and the downtrodden Who considers as his own He alone is to be recognised as Saint God is to be experienced only therewith Tender through and through is butter So is the heart of the good Those who are forsaken He takes them in loving embrace Mercy meant for own son He shows to servants and maids too Tuka says can't praise him enough He is the Lord incarnate
Quotes from the book
- "Trees, creepers are our | Kindred, also wild beasts
And birds singing | Melodiously"
- "Compassion be called | Protecting beings
Along with eradicating | Evildoers"
- "The meaning of Vedas | We alone comprehend
Others only carry | Burdens on head"
- "Flame of a firefly | Tuka says can't light a lamp"
- "Tuka says faith | Makes the Lord incarnate"
See also
References
- ↑ Ranade, Ramchandra D. (1994). Tukaram. New York: State University of New York Press. ISBN 0-7914-2092-2.
- ↑ More, Sadanand (1996). Tukaram Darshan. Pune: Gaaj Prakashan. ISBN 81-85436-63-0.
- ↑ Dhond, M V (2002). Aisa Vitevar Dev Kothe. Pune: Rajhans Prakashan. ISBN 81-7434-208-7.
- ↑ Chitre, Dilip (2003). Says Tuka -1. Pune: Sontheimer Cultural Association. ISBN 81-7434-208-7.
- ↑ Kulkarni, W L (1980). Marathi Kavita: Juni ani Navi. Mumbai: Popular Prakashan.
- ↑ Walambe, M R (1994). Sugam Marathi Vyakaran Lekhan. Pune: Nitin Prakashan.