No, not a single letter is seen
On my race
So many histories are seen
On so many races
Scrutinize each one of them
The whole histories of the world
Not a single letter is seen
On my race
There was no one on this earth
To write the history
Of my race in the olden days
What a pity!
Think of it
Regret fills within
Let me add something
In my own melody
The story of
A people who lived in Kerala
Since the ancient times
And how they became demons
No shame have I
To say the faults of my caste
Though all blame me
A cursed offspring on earth
How is it possible
That all blame us
Till the end
Of earth and sky
How can God
Who shaped everything
Allow this to happen
On earth today?
Translated from Malayalam by Ajay Sekher. Today is the 134th birth anniversary of Poykayil Appachan, the dalit social reformer of Kerala.
More of his songs can be read in the book, Unknown Subjects: Songs of Poykayil Appachan. Edited by V V Swamy and E V Anil. Translated by Ajay Sekher. Kottayam: IPRDSS, 2008.