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A Song of Poykayil Appachan

February 17th, 2012 by admin

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.

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