In the Gummadis'* hut // O Lachcha Gummadi //
the song was born and grew
Lachchumamma's womb bore fruit
and the people's song was born
In the Malas' wada
the Dalit song was born
On the Madigas' dappu
the song learnt rythm
To the tune of the coolies' anklets
it learnt to dance
With the Wadderas'** hammer
it learnt to sing together
At the dhobi ghat
it was taught to move faster
The barbers' razor
sang a refrain for the song
The Kammari's*** kiln
sang a beat for the song
The Golla Kurma's+ gongadi++
sang the chorus for the song
Flying past the farms and fields
past the factory gates
The song became one with the wind
and flew past the skies
The exploiters who heard the song
trembled in their hearts
All the songs became spears
and brought down the exploiters' fortress;
To strangle the song's throat
they started plotting:
twilight hadn't passed
the stars hadn't even appeared
but the villains attacked
and fired bullet after bullet
Struck by the rulers' bullet
the song collapsed
Struck by the killers' bullet
the song fainted
Struck by bullet after bullet
the dappu grew silent
Struck by a bullet in the abdomen
the song spurted blood
Collapsing in a pool of blood
the song bathed fully
Mother Earth became pregnant
and gave birth to the song again
Even though the big life started leaving
hanging onto the remaining life
the song stood up
and started walking
Even though it was losing breath
it rose hanging onto the remaining little
From the blood filled abyss
the song rose like the dawn
Mother moonlight smiled
because the song was reborn
Village after village smiled
as the Dalit jaatis' hearts were filled
Lathis and bullets
can't stop the people's song
Bayonets and bullets
can't stop the song's refrain
Every hour, a song will be born
and build graves for the exploiters
Every hut will give birth to a song
and bring down the exploiters' fortresses. // O Lachcha Gummadi //
My translation of the Telugu song 'janampaaTa' by Guda Anjaiah (from his collection od songs/ballads 'uuru manadiraa!'). This 'people's song' is most probably Anjaiah's tribute to 'praja kavi' Gaddar ('people's poet') who survived a muderorous attack by unknown assailants (most likely, policemen in civil clothes) who pumped five bullets into him, on April 6, 1997. Hundreds of songs written by Guda Anjaiah have formed a valuable part of the repertory of Dalitbahujan artistes across Andhra Pradesh, and across India (through translations). People's songs, the Dalitbahujan poets and performers believe (most times, the performers are poets themselves), belong to the people. Gaddar has consistently performed Anjaiah's songs over the years.
* Gummadi: pronounced 'gummaDi', it means pumpkin. But it is also Gaddar's surname or family name (his real name is Gummadi Vittal Rao). The original meaning (and origin) of the refrain 'O Lachcha Gummadi', which is repeated at the end of every line, is lost in time. It is taken from one of the many genres of work or chore related songs/ballads sung by Dalitbahujan women. Lachchumamma, in the song, refers to Gaddar's mother.
** Wadderas: pronounced waDDera; refers to the community of stone-workers (vaddera, odde, oddilu, oddera, odra etc).
*** Kammaris: refers to the community of smiths, metal-workers.
+ Golla Kurma: refers to the community of shepherds/goatherds (kuruma, kurma, kuruiba etc).
++ gongadi: pronounced 'gongaDi'; also called gongali. Refers to the coarse blanket or rug (made of wool, mostly) used by shepherds etc.
Tags: Guda Anjaiah