February 2017

Speaking bluntly

Gabriel Rosenstock introduces and translates a poem by Sukirtharani

The poem “I Speak Up Bluntly” was written in Tamil, one of the oldest literary languages in the world. Sukirtharani is a contemporary Dalit poet (the term that has replaced “Untouchable”). She and other Dalit poets have shown great courage and eloquence in their struggle for equality and parity of esteem in a country that is as riddled with the caste system as Britain is—and indeed parts of our own country—with class divisions.
     The Dalit struggle is being expressed in cutting-edge poetry today, but you have to ask yourself, what is new?
     Another Tamil poet, Sivavakkiyar, who flourished some time before the tenth century, asks what’s the difference between a Paraichi (or Pariah) woman and a Panathi (Brahmin) or upper-class woman:
     When you say Paraichi or Panathi—what do you mean?
     Is it marked in their flesh, skin and bone?
     Conjugal pleasure of a Paraichi or a Panathi, does it differ?
     Paraichi and a Panathi differ only in the mind!

Labhraím amach go Neamhbhalbh	I Speak Up Bluntly
Chuireas an ruaig ar na préacháin	I shooed away crows
is d’fheannas an bhó.	while flaying dead cows of their skin.
Im’ sheasamh ar feadh i bhfad, ag fanacht	Stood for hours, waiting
go n-íosfainn farasbarr an bhaile—	to eat the town’s leavings—
ag maíomh ansin gur itheas rís the úrdhéanta.	then boasted that I ate hot, freshly cooked rice.
Nuair a chonac m’athair ar an tsráid	When I saw my father in the street
an druma leathair crochta dá mhuineál,	the leather drum strung from his neck,
d’iompaíos m’aghaidh uaidh	I turned my face away
is shiúlas thairis.	and passed him by.
Toisc nach ndéarfainn cén jab	Because I wouldn’t reveal
a bhí ag m’athair, cén teacht isteach a bhí aige,	my father’s job, his income,
bhuail an múinteoir mé.	the teacher hit me.
Shuíos liom féin ar an gcúlbhinse	Friendless, I sat alone
gan chara gan chompánach, ag gol	on the back bench, weeping,
gan fhios don saol.	though no-one knew.
Ach anois	But now
má chuireann éinne ceist orm	if anyone asks me
labhraím amach go neamhbhalbh—	I speak up bluntly:
is Íochtarán mé.	I am a Paraichi.

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