Avva (ಅವ್ವ) - Mother
Translated by S. N. Sridhar
Palya Lankesh
ನನ್ನವ್ವ ಫಲವತ್ತಾದ ಕಪ್ಪು ನೆಲ
ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಹಸಿರು ಪತ್ರದ ಹರವು, ಬಿಳಿಯ ಹೂ ಹಬ್ಬ;
ಸುಟ್ಟಷ್ಟು ಕಸುವು, ನೊಂದಷ್ಟು ಹೂ ಹಣ್ಣು
ಮಕ್ಕೊಳೊದ್ದರೆ ಅವಳ ಅಂಗಾಂಗ ಪುಲಕ;
ಹೊತ್ತ ಬುಟ್ಟಿಯ ಇಟ್ಟು ನರಳಿ ಎವೆ ಮುಚ್ಚಿದಳು ತೆರೆಯದಂತೆ.
ಪಲ್ಲ ಜೋಳವ ಎತ್ತಿ ಅಪ್ಪನ್ನ ಮೆಚ್ಚಿಸಿ ತೋಳಬಂದಿಯ ಗೆದ್ದು,
ಹೆಂಟೆಗೊಂದು ಮೊಗೆ ನೀರು ಹಿಗ್ಗಿ;
ಮೆಣಸು, ಅವರೆ, ಜೋಳ, ತೊಗರಿಯ ಹೊಲವ ಕೈಯಲ್ಲಿ ಉತ್ತು,
ಹೂವಲ್ಲಿ ಗದ್ದೆಯ ನೋಡಿಕೊಂಡು,
ಯೌವನವ ಕಳೆದವಳು ಚಿಂದಿಯ ಸೀರೆ ಉಟ್ಟುಕೊಂಡು.
ಸತ್ತಳು ಈಕೆ:
ಬಾಗು ಬೆನ್ನಿನ ಮುದುಕಿಗೆಷ್ಟು ಪ್ರಾಯ?
ಎಷ್ಟು ಗಾದಿಯ ಚಂದ್ರ, ಒಲೆಯೆದುರು ಹೋಳಿಗೆಯ ಸಂಭ್ರಮ?
ಎಷ್ಟು ಸಲ ಈ ಮುದುಕಿ ಅತ್ತಳು
ಕಾಸಿಗೆ, ಕೆಟ್ಟ ಪೈರಿಗೆ, ಸತ್ತ ಕರುವಿಗೆ;
ಎಷ್ಟು ಸಲ ಹುಡುಕುತ್ತ ಊರೂರು ಅಲೆದಳು
ತಪ್ಪಿಸಿಕೊಂಡ ಮುದಿಯ ಎಮ್ಮೆಗೆ ?
ಸತಿ ಸಾವಿತ್ರಿ, ಜಾನಕಿ, ಊರ್ಮಿಳೆಯಲ್ಲ;
ಚರಿತ್ರೆ ಪುಸ್ತಕದ ಶಾಂತ, ಶ್ವೇತ, ಗಂಭೀರೆಯಲ್ಲ;
ಗಾಂಧೀಜಿ , ರಾಮಕೃಷ್ಣರ ಸತಿಯರಂತಲ್ಲ;
ಮುತ್ತೈದೆಯಾಗಿ ಕುಂಕುಮ ಕೂಡ ಇಡಲಿಲ್ಲ.
ಬನದ ಕರಡಿಯ ಹಾಗೆ
ಚಿಕ್ಕ ಮಕ್ಕಳ ಹೊತ್ತು
ಗಂಡನ್ನ ಸಾಕಿದಳು ಕಾಸು ಗಂಟಿಕ್ಕಿದಳು
ನೊಂದ ನಾಯಿಯ ಹಾಗೆ ಬೈದು, ಗೊಣಗಿ, ಗುದ್ದಾಡಿದಳು;
ಸಣ್ಣತನ, ಕೊಂಕು, ಕೆರೆದಾಟ ಕೋತಿಯ ಹಾಗೆ:
ಎಲ್ಲಕ್ಕೆ ಮನೆತನದ ಉದ್ಧಾರ ಸೂತ್ರ.
ಈಕೆ ಉರೆದೆದ್ದಾಳು
ಮಗ ಕೆಟ್ಟರೆ, ಗಂಡ ಬೇರೆ ಕಡೆ ಹೋದಾಗ ಮಾತ್ರ.
ಬನದ ಕರಡಿಗೆ ನಿಮ್ಮ ಭಗವದ್ಗೀತೆ ಬೇಡ;
ನನ್ನವ್ವ ಬದುಕಿದ್ದು
ಕಾಳುಕಡ್ಡಿಗೆ, ದುಡಿತಕ್ಕೆ, ಮಕ್ಕಳಿಗೆ;
ಮೇಲೊಂದು ಸೂರು, ಅನ್ನ , ರೊಟ್ಟಿ , ಹಚಡಕ್ಕೆ;
ಸರೀಕರ ಎದುರು ತಲೆಯೆತ್ತಿ ನಡೆಯಲಿಕ್ಕೆ.
ಇವಳಿಗೆ ಮೆಚ್ಚುಗೆ, ಕೃತಜ್ಞತೆಯ ಕಣ್ಣೀರು:
ಹೆತ್ತದ್ದಕ್ಕೆ ಸಾಕಿದ್ದಕ್ಕೆ ; ಮಣ್ಣಲ್ಲಿ ಬದುಕಿ,
ಮನೆಯಿಂದ ಹೊಲಕ್ಕೆ ಹೋದಂತೆ
ತಣ್ಣಗೆ ಮಾತಾಡುತ್ತಲೇ ಹೊರಟು ಹೋದದ್ದಕ್ಕೆ.
- Biography -
- Full Name: Pallagatte Lankesh (Palya Lankesh).
- Birth: March 8, 1935, Shimoga, Karnataka, India.
- Death: January 25, 2000, Bangalore, India.
- Occupation: Writer, poet, playwright, filmmaker, and journalist.
- Literary Contributions: A prominent figure in Kannada literature, known for his contributions to the Navya (modernist) movement; authored short stories, novels, poems, and plays.
- Notable Works: Novels like Biruku (1967), short story collections like Sankranti (1970), and
poetry including “Avva” (translated by Sridhar). - Journalism: Founded and edited Lankesh Patrike (1980–2000), a Kannada weekly known
for its bold, anti-establishment stance. - Filmmaking: Directed award-winning Kannada films like Pallavi (1976) and Anuroopa
(1977), focusing on social issues. - Recognition: Received the Karnataka Sahitya Akademi Award and the National Film Award
for Best Direction (Pallavi). - Cultural Impact: Championed progressive ideals, critiqued caste and societal norms, and
influenced modern Kannada literature and journalism. - Education: Studied English literature at the University of Mysore; later taught at Bangalore
University. - Legacy: Known for his sharp, realistic portrayal of rural Karnataka and advocacy for social
justice; his daughter, Gauri Lankesh, continued his journalistic legacy.
Summary/Introduction
“Avva” (meaning “Mother” in Kannada) is a renowned poem by P. Lankesh, a prominent Kannada writer, poet, journalist, and filmmaker. Written in 1967, the poem is a heartfelt tribute to Lankesh’s mother. She is portrayed as a resilient, earthy peasant woman whose life embodies the strength, patience, and fertility of the land.
The poem was translated into English by S. N. Sridhar and published in Indian Literature, the Sahitya Akademi’s bi-monthly journal (Vol. 280, March/April 2014, pp. 26–27). The translation is widely appreciated for preserving the poem’s vivid imagery, emotional depth, and powerful evocation of rural life.
Translation Title: “Mother”
Translator: S. N. Sridhar, Distinguished Service Professor at Stony Brook University
The translation effectively captures Lankesh’s elemental and sincere tribute to his mother, comparing her to fertile black soil—symbolic of endurance, nourishment, sacrifice, and unconditional love. Through this imagery, the poem elevates the mother figure as both a life-giver and a sustaining force, closely tied to nature and agrarian existence.
Summary of “Avva”
The poem “Avva” opens with a powerful metaphor: “My mother, fertile dark earth” (nannavva phalavattAda kappu nela), comparing the poet’s mother to the rich, life-giving soil of the countryside. This sets the tone for the poem’s portrayal of her as a figure of immense strength, rooted in the rhythms of rural life. The mother is depicted as a peasant woman who spent her life farming, her youth marked by toil and simplicity, symbolized by her “torn saree.” Her physical vigor is highlighted in a memorable anecdote: she once lifted an entire palla (a large measure) of corn, earning the admiration of her husband, who rewarded her with an ornament for her shoulders, a ōḷabandi. This act underscores her capability and the respect she commanded within her family.
The poem vividly describes her labor in the fields, cultivating crops like chili, beans, corn, and pulses (mēṇasu, avare, jōḷa, togari). Her work is portrayed as both arduous and life-affirming, with the land responding to her efforts with “green leaf spread, white flower festival” (hasiru patra haravu, biḷiya hu habba). The imagery of “burned trash, blooming fruit” (suttastu kasuvu, nonddu hn hannu) suggests the cycle of destruction and renewal inherent in farming and life itself. The mother’s joy is palpable when her children are near, her body “thrilled” (pulaka) by their presence, reflecting her deep maternal bond.
The poem takes a poignant turn as it describes her final moments. After a life of relentless labor, she sets down her basket (buṭṭi), groans, and closes her eyes “never to open again” (tereyadante). This understated depiction of her death conveys both the exhaustion of her life and the quiet dignity of her passing. The poem ends on a note of reverence, immortalizing her as a symbol of the enduring, fertile earth, whose strength and nurturing spirit live on in the poet’s memory.
A companion poem, Avva II, written 26 years later, reflects on how much of his mother’s rustic spirit remains in the poet after years of urban life. While the first poem is a direct tribute, the second is introspective, exploring the tension between rural roots and urban alienation, though it is less frequently discussed.
Translation by S. N. Sridhar
S. N. Sridhar’s translation, published in Indian Literature (2014), captures the poem’s lyrical quality and emotional resonance while preserving its cultural specificity. The translation retains the simplicity and vivid imagery of the original Kannada, such as the metaphor of the mother as “fertile dark earth” and the tactile descriptions of her labor. Sridhar, a noted translator of Kannada literature, ensures that the poem’s rural idiom and emotional weight are accessible to English readers, maintaining phrases like “green leaf spread” and “white flower festival” to evoke the lushness of the original. His work is praised for its fidelity to Lankesh’s voice, balancing poetic rhythm with the stark realities of rural life. The translation appeared alongside other works in Indian Literature, a platform dedicated to showcasing Indian literary traditions, enhancing its reach to a broader audience.
Themes & Style
“Avva” is a quintessential example of Lankesh’s ability to blend personal emotion with universal themes, rooted in the Kannada literary tradition. Key themes include:
- Maternal Strength and Rural Life: The mother is portrayed as a symbol of resilience, embodying the fertility and endurance of the earth. Her life of labor reflects the struggles and dignity of rural women, a recurring motif in Kannada literature.
- Cycle of Life and Death: The poem’s imagery of crops, burning trash, and blooming fruit mirrors the natural cycle of growth and decay, paralleling the mother’s life from vibrant youth to quiet death.
- Memory and Legacy: Lankesh immortalizes his mother through vivid memories, suggesting that her spirit endures in the poet and, by extension, in the land and community she nurtured.
- Simplicity and Authenticity: The poem’s unadorned language and focus on everyday tasks
(lifting corn, farming) reflect Lankesh’s commitment to portraying the lives of ordinary
people with authenticity, a hallmark of his work as a Lohiaite and advocate for social
justice.
Lankesh’s style in “Avva” is marked by concise yet evocative imagery, rooted in the rhythms of rural
Karnataka. The poem’s free verse structure allows for a natural flow, mimicking the oral traditions
of the region. The use of specific Kannada terms like palla and tōḷabandi grounds the poem in its
cultural context, while Sridhar’s translation ensures these terms are accessible to non-Kannada
readers through contextual clarity.
P. Lankesh’s Context:
P. Lankesh (1935–2000) was a towering figure in Kannada literature, known for his contributions as a poet, novelist, playwright, journalist, and filmmaker. A follower of socialist thinker Ram Manohar Lohia, Lankesh’s works often explored the lives of marginalized communities, blending social critique with literary innovation. His translations of Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex and Antigone transformed Kannada theatre, while his short stories and poems, like “Avva,” captured the human condition with precision. His editorship of Lankesh Patrike, a weekly journal, made him a cultural and political voice in Karnataka. Dark Earth: A Lankesh Reader (2019), edited by Nataraj Huliyar, includes “Avva” and highlights his legacy, with the poem’s opening line inspiring the collection’s title.
Conclusion:
“Avva” by P. Lankesh, translated by S. N. Sridhar, is a powerful and moving poem that immortalizes the poet’s mother as a symbol of rural strength and maternal love. Its vivid imagery, rooted in the rhythms of Karnataka’s agrarian life, and its elegiac tone make it a standout in Lankesh’s oeuvre. Sridhar’s translation preserves the poem’s emotional and cultural resonance, making it accessible to English readers while honoring its Kannada roots. Compared to The Postmaster, Amasa, The Man Upstairs, and Spoken English and Broken English, “Avva” shares themes of human connection and marginality but distinguishes itself through its poetic form and personal tribute to a rural woman’s enduring legacy. For readers of Indian literature, it offers a glimpse into the rich tradition of Kannada poetry and Lankesh’s commitment to celebrating the lives of ordinary people.
Question & Answers
One/Two Marks
Answer: The story “Avva” is written by Lankesh and translated into English by Sridhar.
Answer: The central character is Avva, an old, illiterate woman representing traditional rural
wisdom.
Answer: Avva is skeptical of modern education and believes more in life experience than formal schooling.
Answer: She engages in domestic activities, offers advice to villagers, and observes life around her
with sharp insight.
Answer: The narrator is Avva’s grandchild and shares a deep emotional bond with her.
Answer: Avva symbolizes the fading traditional values and the wisdom of rural life.
Answer: She is portrayed as strong, wise, opinionated, and deeply rooted in her culture.
Answer: The story highlights the conflict between traditional rural life and modern urban thinking.
Answer: Avva influences the narrator’s understanding of life, values, and cultural roots.
Answer: It reflects the generational and cultural gap between the rural past and the urban present.
Four/Five Marks
Answer: In P. Lankesh’s poem “Avva,” translated as “Mother” by S. N. Sridhar, the mother is portrayed as a powerful, rustic figure embodying the essence of Mother Earth, reflecting strength, sacrifice, and resilience. The poem opens with the metaphor, “My mother is fertile black land,” equating her to the life-giving soil that yields green leaves, white flowers, and fruit despite hardships like burning or pain. This imagery highlights her nurturing role, as she toils in fields, growing crops like corn, beans, and pulses, and finds joy in her children, her “body thrilled” by their presence. Her physical strength is celebrated in
anecdotes like lifting a basket of corn to win her husband’s admiration, earning a shoulder ornament, a symbol of her labor’s reward. Yet, the poem also captures her suffering, as she “groans” under the weight of her burdens and closes her eyes “never to open them,” suggesting death after a life of toil. Sridhar’s translation, published in Sahitya Akademi’s Indian Literature journal, preserves the poem’s vivid imagery and emotional depth, presenting the mother as a universal symbol of rural maternal sacrifice, deeply tied to the Kannada cultural landscape.
Answer: P. Lankesh’s “Avva” employs rich nature imagery to portray the poet’s mother as a symbol of fertility, endurance, and interconnectedness with the earth, a theme vividly captured in S. N. Sridhar’s translation. The poem begins by likening the mother to “fertile black land,” a metaphor that establishes her as a life-giving force akin to the soil that sustains crops. Imagery of “green leaves spread, white flowers bloom” and “fruit for all her pain” reflects her productivity and resilience, as she transforms suffering into sustenance, much like the earth yields harvests despite harsh conditions. Her labor in fields, cultivating crops like corn, beans, and pulses, ties her to the rural landscape, while her joy in children mirrors the earth’s delight in creation. The image of her groaning under a basket’s weight and closing her eyes “never to open them” evokes the cycle of life and death, paralleling nature’s rhythms. This imagery, preserved in Sridhar’s translation, underscores the mother’s role as a universal maternal figure, embodying the Kannada rural ethos and the symbiotic relationship between humans and nature, while critiquing the hardships faced by peasant women.