The School Textbooks of Our Times -Episode No. 3

While writing on our textbooks, I will be failing in my mission if I do not mention about the two great poems in Kannada written by the illustrious English Professor B M Srikantaiah (B M Shri). The poems are - Kaari Heggadeya Magalu (ಕಾರಿ ಹೆಗ್ಗಡೆಯ ಮಗಳು)  and Karunaalu Baa Belake (ಕರುಣಾಳು ಬಾ ಬೆಳಕೆ). The two poems were actually Kannada versions of Lord Ullin’s Daughter and Lead Kindly Light respectively and were part of B M Shri’s English Geethegalu. The former poem was written by Thomas Campbell and the latter by Newman.

While Kaari Heggadeya Magalu was a part of our 6^th Standard textbook, Karunaalu Baa Belake was a part of our elder sister’s fourth Standard book. As children we were so attracted by the two poems that we had by-hearted them and used to sing them as lullabies while cradling our younger brothers and our sisters’ children.

B M Shree (1884-1946) was also called ‘Kannadada Kanva’ for his guardianship of Kannada literature. Hats off to his erudition and poetic skills, the poems look more original than the originals! I am furnishing below both the original English versions and the Kannada versions to enable the readers to appreciate the literary skills of B M Shree. In fact English Geethegalu inspired several budding poets, laying the foundation of a new pattern of lyrical poetry in Kannada. B M Shree experimented with new forms of meter and diction. As an English Professor, he inspired Kuvempu and G P Rajarathnam to write in Kannada.  The poem Karunaalu Baa Belake is indeed so popular even today that a Kannada Bhavageethe programme will be incomplete without the singing of this poem.

Kaari Heggadeya Magalu was one poem that had such a lasting impression on us that even today we are able to appreciate the dilemma faced by the daughter of Kaari Heggade when she was parting with her beloved father for the sake of her lover. The poem was accompanied by a picture wherein the daughter stretches her one hand for her father, while the other was held around her lover with the strong winds and waves pushing the boat away.

That the poem was so appreciated by the students of those days could be seen by the following comments made by one reader when the original English title was published in a blog recently:

“I  had read Kaari Heggadeya Magalu in school without appreciating that it

was a translation as did most of my friends. It is one of the best possible
translations I have ever read from any language to any language. It is
highly lyrical with a galloping rhythm: I was able to recite the entire poem
by-heart (Can do it even now, after 40 years).

Although we were taught that it was a translation, I never believed that it
was not the original; but when I read the Campbell's original I was moved
just as much as I did with the translation.

I know that no one who does not know Kannada (or who has not read the
translation) will agree with me (particularly if you loved the English
original): But, it is not my Kannada pride that makes me say this. The
Kannada version is just as good as does the English original.
Thank you for posting it.”
Tonse Raju, M.D., D.C.H.
Medical Officer Pregnancy & Perinatology Branch
Center for Developmental Biology and Perinatal Medicine, NICHD/NIH

Karunaalu Baa Belake, even though sung as a Bhavageethe, is actually a prayer (ಪ್ರಾರ್ಥನೆ). It is also religion neutral. The poem takes us to a different world when heard in solitude. The poem has been sung by several artists and many of them are available in YouTube. I have listed below the links to enable the readers to hear the top four of them.

1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9AAy4zLPuk
2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ao6a9ZQVvE
3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Vk1lmV7uvc
4. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2KmIT7gobc

The singers are Ratnamala Prakash, M D Pallavi, B R Chaya and P Megha respectively. All of them have sung the poem so nicely and beautifully that it is difficult to choose the best among them. However, quite surprisingly, all the artists have overlooked the following lines in the poem:

ನನ್ನ ದಾರಿಯ ನಾನೆ ನೋಡಿ ಹಿಡಿದೆನು – ಇನ್ನು

ಕೈ ಹಿಡಿದು ನಡೆಸು ನೀನು

ಮಿರುಗು ಬಣ್ಣಕೆ ಬೆರೆತು, ಭಯ ಮರೆತು ಕೊಬ್ಬಿದೆನು;

ಮೆರೆದಾಯ್ತು; ನೆನೆಯದಿರು ಹಿಂದಿನದೆಲ್ಲ

The reasons for eliminating the above important lines of the poem written by the illustrious poet are hard to appreciate. Moreover, all the singers have also committed a mistake in rendering the part of lyrics as either ಬಲು ದೂರ ನೋಟವನು ಕೇಳನೊಡನೆಯೆ ಸಾಕು/ Pಕೇಳಿದೊಡನೆಯೆ ಸಾಕು ನನಗೊಂದು ಹೆಜ್ಜೆ Instead of ಬಲು ದೂರ ನೋಟವನು ಕೇಳೆನೊಡನೆಯೆ - ಸಾಕು ನನಗೊಂದು ಹೆಜ್ಜೆ. The mistake would become apparent if one reads the original English version, which reads - I do not ask to see The distant scene,- one step is enough for me.

            Lord Ullin’s Daughter

A Chieftain, to the Highlands bound,

       Cries, "Boatman, do not tarry!

 And I'll give thee a silver pound

       To row us o'er the ferry!" --

 "Now, who be ye, would cross Lochgyle,

       This dark and stormy weather?"

 "O, I'm the chief of Ulva's isle,

       And this, Lord Ullin's daughter. --

 "And fast before her father's men

       Three days we've fled together,

 For should he find us in the glen,

       My blood would stain the heather.

 "His horsemen hard behind us ride;

       Should they our steps discover,

 Then who will cheer my bonny bride

       When they have slain her lover?" --

 Out spoke the hardy Highland wight, --

       "I'll go, my chief --I'm ready: --

It is not for your silver bright;

       But for your winsome lady:

 "And by my word the bonny bird

       In danger shall not tarry;

 So, though the waves are raging white,

       I'll row you o'er the ferry." --

 By this the storm grew loud apace,

       The water-wraith was shrieking;

 And in the scowl of heaven each face

       Grew dark as they were speaking.

 But still as wilder blew the wind,

       And as the night grew drearer,

 Adown the glen rode armèd men,

       Their trampling sounded nearer. --

 "O haste thee, haste!" the lady cries,

       "Though tempests round us gather;

 I'll meet the raging of the skies,

       But not an angry father." --

 The boat has left a stormy land,

       A stormy sea before her, --

 When, O! too strong for human hand,

       The tempest gather'd o'er her.

 And still they row'd amidst the roar

       Of waters fast prevailing:

 Lord Ullin reach'd that fatal shore, --

       His wrath was changed to wailing.

 For, sore dismay'd through storm and shade,

       His child he did discover: --

 One lovely hand she stretch'd for aid,

       And one was round her lover.

 "Come back! come back!" he cried in grief

       "Across this stormy water:

 And I'll forgive your Highland chief,

       My daughter! -- O my daughter!"

 'Twas vain: the loud waves lash'd the shore,

       Return or aid preventing:

 The waters wild went o'er his child,

       And he was left lamenting.

-- Thomas Campbell

ಕಾರಿ ಹೆಗ್ಗಡೆಯ ಮಗಳು

ಪಡುವ ದಿಬ್ಬದ ಗೌಡನೊಬ್ಬನು

ಬಿಡದೆ ತೊರೆಯನ ಕೂಗಿಕೊಂಡನು

ತಡೆಯದೀಗಲೆ ಗಡುವ ಹಾಯಿಸು

ಕೊಡುವೆ ಕೇಳಿದ ಹೊನ್ನನು

ಆರು ನೀವೀ ಕರುಗಿ ಮೊರೆಯುವ

ನೀರ ಕಾಯಲ ಹಾಯುವರು

ಪಡುವ ದಿಬ್ಬದ ಗೌಡ ನಾನೀ

ಮಡದಿ ಕಾರಿಯ ಕುವರಿಯು

ಓಡಿ ಬಂದೆವು ಮೂರು ದಿವಸ

ಜಾಡ ಹಿಡಿದು ಹಿಂದೆ ಬಂದರು

ನಮ್ಮನೀ ಕಣಿವೆಯಲಿ ಕಂಡರೆ

ಚಿಮ್ಮಿ ಹರಿವುದು ನೆತ್ತರು

ಹತ್ತಿ ಕುದುರೆಯ ತರುಬಿ ಬರುವರು

ಮುತ್ತಿ ಕೊಂಡರೆ ನನ್ನ ಕೊಲುವರು

ಘೋರ ದುಃಖದ ನಾರಿಯನು ಬಳಿ

ಕಾರು ನಗಿಸಲು ಬಲ್ಲರು?

ಆಗ ಅಂಜದೆ ತೊರೆಯನೆಂದನು

ಬೇಗ ಜೀಯಾ ಓಡ ತರುವೆನು

ಸುಡಲಿ ಹೊನ್ನು ಬೆಡಗಿ ನಿನ್ನೀ

ಮಡದಿಗೋಸುಗ ಬರುವೆನು

ಆದುದಾಗಲಿ ಮುದ್ದಿನರಗಿಣಿ

ಗಾದ ಗಂಡವ ಕಾದು ಕೊಡುವೆನು

ಕಡಲು ನೊರೆಗಡೆದೆದ್ದು ಕುದಿಯಲಿ

ಗಡುವ ಹಾಯಿಸಿ ಬಿಡುವೆನು

ತೂರು ಗಾಳಿಗೆ ಕಡಲು ಕುದಿಯಿತು

ನೀರ ದೆವ್ವಗಳರಚಿಕೊಂಡವು

ಹೆಪ್ಪು ಮೋಡದ ಹುಬ್ಬು ಗಂಟಿಗೆ

ಕಪ್ಪಗಾದವು ಮುಖಗಳು

ಕೆರಳಿ ಕೆರಳಿ ಗಾಳಿ ಚೆಚ್ಚಿತು

ಇರುಳು ಕತ್ತಲೆ ಕವಿದು ಮುಚ್ಚಿತು

ಕಣಿವೆ ಇಳಿವರ ಕುದುರೆ ಕತ್ತಿಯ

ಖಣಿಖಣಿ ಧ್ವನಿ ಕೇಳಿತು

ಏಳು ಬೇಗೇಳಣ್ಣ ಎಂದಳು

ಹೂಳಿಕೊಳಲಿ ನನ್ನ ಕಡಲು

ಮುಳಿದ ಮುಗಿಲ ತಡೆಯಬಲ್ಲೆ

ಮುಳಿದ ತಂದೆಯ ತಡೆಯೆನು

ಇತ್ತ ಕರೆಮೊರೆ ಹಿಂದಕಾಯಿತು

ಅತ್ತ ತೆರೆಮೊರೆ ಸುತ್ತಿಕೊಂಡಿತು

ಆಳ ಕೈಯಲಿ ತಾಳಬಹುದೇ

ಏಳು ಬೀಳಿನ ಕಡಲದು

ಅಲೆಗಳಬ್ಬರದಲ್ಲಿ ಮೀಟಿ

ಮುಳಗುತಿಹರು ಏಳುತಿಹರು

ಕರೆಗೆ ಬಂದ ಕಾರಿ ಹೆಗ್ಗಡೆ

ಕರಗಿ ಮುಳಿಸು ಅತ್ತನು

ತೊಂಡು ತೆರೆಗಳ ಮುಸುಕಿನಲ್ಲಿ

ಕಂಡು ಮಗಳ ಕರಗಿ ಹೋದ

ಒಂದು ಕೈ ನೀಡಿದಳು ನೆರವಿಗೆ

ಒಂದು ತಬ್ಬಿತು ನಲ್ಲನ

ಮರಳು ಮರಳು ಮಗಳೆ ಎಂದ

ಮೊರೆಯುವ ಕಾಯಲ ಗಂಟಲಿಂದ

ಮರೆತೆ ಒಪ್ಪಿದೆ ನಿನ್ನ ನಲ್ಲನ

ಮರಳು ಕಂದಾ ಎಂದನು

ಮರಳಬಹುದೇ? ಹೋಗಬಹುದೇ?

ಕರೆಯ ತೆರೆಯಪ್ಪಳಿಸಿ ಹೊಯ್ದು

ಹೊರಳಿ ಹೋದವು ಮಗಳ ಮೇಲೆ

ಕೊರಗಿನಲಿ ಅವನುಳಿದನು

                 ------ಬಿ. ಎಂ. Shree

Lead Kindly Light

Lead kindly light, amid the encircling gloom

Lead Thou me on!

The night is dark, and I am far from home-

Lead Thou me on!

Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see

The distant scene,- one step is enough for me

I was not ever thus, nor pray’d that Thou

Shouldst lead me on

I loved to choose and see my path, but now

Lead Thou me on!

I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears

Pride ruled my will; remember not past years

So long Thy power hath blest, me sure it still

Will lead me on,

O’er moor and fen o’er crag and torrent till

The night is gone;

And with the morn those angel faces smile

Which I have loved long since, and lost a while

                                      NEWMAN(1801-1890)

          ಪ್ರಾರ್ಥನೆ

ಕರುಣಾಳು ಬಾ ಬೆಳಕೆ ಮುಸುಕಿದೀ ಮಬ್ಬಿನಲಿ,

ಕೈ ಹಿಡಿದು ನಡೆಸೆನ್ನನು.

ಇರುಳು ಕತ್ತಲೆಯ ಗವಿ; ಮನೆ ದೂರ; ಕನಿಕರಿಸಿ,

ಕೈ ಹಿಡಿದು ನಡೆಸೆನ್ನನು.

ಹೇಳಿ ನನ್ನಡಿಯಿಡಿಸು; ಬಲು ದೂರ ನೋಟವನು

ಕೇಳೆನೊಡನೆಯೆ - ಸಾಕು ನನಗೊಂದು ಹೆಜ್ಜೆ

ಮುನ್ನ ಇಂತಿರದಾದೆ; ನಿನ್ನ ಬೇಡದೆ ಹೋದೆ,

ಕೈ ಹಿಡಿದು ನಡೆಸು ಎನುತ.

ನನ್ನ ದಾರಿಯ ನಾನೆ ನೋಡಿ ಹಿಡಿದೆನು – ಇನ್ನು

ಕೈ ಹಿಡಿದು ನಡೆಸು ನೀನು

ಮಿರುಗು ಬಣ್ಣಕೆ ಬೆರೆತು, ಭಯ ಮರೆತು ಕೊಬ್ಬಿದೆನು;

ಮೆರೆದಾಯ್ತು; ನೆನೆಯದಿರು ಹಿಂದಿನದೆಲ್ಲ

ಇಷ್ಟು ದಿನ ಸಲಹಿರುವೆ ಮೂರ್ಖನನು; ಮುಂದೆಯೂ

ಕೈ ಹಿಡಿದು ನಡೆಸದಿಹೆಯಾ?

ಕಷ್ಟದಡವಿಯ ಕಳೆದು ಬೆಟ್ಟ ಹೊಳೆಗಳ ಹಾಯ್ಡು

ಇರುಳನ್ನು ನೂಕದಿಹೆಯಾ?

ಬೆಳಗಾಗ ಹೊಳೆಯದೇ ಹಿಂದೊಮ್ಮೆ ನಾನೊಲಿದು

ಈ ನಡುವೆ ಕಳಕೊಂಡ ದಿವ್ಯ ಮುಖ ನಗುತ?

                                        ---ಬಿ. ಎಂ. Shree

 I would like to dedicate this chapter of my writing to the memory of B M Shree.

--------To be Continued------

A V Krishnamurthy

18^th May 2013