Aganaanooru 101 – Away in the drylands

In this episode, we perceive the distress in separation, as portrayed in Sangam Literary work, Aganaanooru 101, penned by Maamoolanaar. Set in the ‘Paalai’ or ‘Drylands landscape’, the verse vividly depicts the people and events of this arid land. அம்ம வாழி, தோழி! ”இம்மைநன்று செய் மருங்கில் தீது இல்” என்னும்தொன்றுபடு பழமொழி இன்று பொய்த்தன்றுகொல்?தகர் மருப்பு ஏய்ப்பச் சுற்றுபு, சுரிந்தசுவல் மாய் பித்தை, செங் கண் மழவர்வாய்ப் பகை கடியும் மண்ணொடு கடுந் திறல்தீப் படு சிறு கோல் வில்லொடு பற்றி,நுரை தெரி மத்தம் கொளீஇ நிரைப் புறத்துஅடி புதை தொடுதோல் பறைய ஏகி,கடி புலம் கவர்ந்த கன்றுடைக் கொள்ளையர்,இனம் தலைபெயர்க்கும் நனந்தலைப் பெருங் காட்டு,அகல் இரு விசும்பிற்கு ஓடம் போல,பகலிடை நின்ற பல் கதிர் ஞாயிற்றுஉருப்பு அவிர்பு உளரிய சுழன்று வரு கோடை,புன் கால் முருங்கை ஊழ் கழி பல் மலர்,தண் கார் ஆலியின், தாவன உதிரும்பனி படு பல் மலை இறந்தோர்க்குமுனிதகு பண்பு யாம் செய்தன்றோஇலமே! It’s all about the dread of the drylands in this one and we get to hear the lady say these words to the confidante, after the man had left in search of wealth and continues to remain parted away: “Listen, my friend! May you live long! It appears as if that ancient proverb, which says, ‘If you only do good in this life, no evil shall befall you’ has become false today. The red-eyed Mazhavars, with their long, curling locks of hair, hiding their necks, akin to the horns of a ram, holding termite mud in their mouths to quell that enemy called cough, carrying a small fire rod capable of kindling a huge fire, along with a bow, steal churning rods with foam lines. Then those bandits, with their slippers masking the sound of their foot steps, stealthily capture herds of cattle, along with their calves, from well-guarded spaces, and then move the herds to other places in that spreading, huge scrub jungle, where appearing like a raft on the wide sky, the many-rayed sun spreads its heat and scorches during the day, making the many flowers of the dull stemmed drumstick tree, wither down, akin to hail in the cool, rainy season. Such is the harsh and hilly region, which makes one shiver, that the man has left too. We have done nothing hateful to him ever!” Let’s brave the heat and take a walk in the drylands to learn more! The lady starts with an abstract statement about a well-known proverb seemingly becoming false. This said proverb is the one which says that no harm shall come to a person, who only does good in this life. Instead of saying what she means by that, the lady launches into a detailed description of the drylands, by sketching a portrait of the robbers called as ‘Mazhavars’. Their curly hair is placed in parallel to the ram’s horns, in a striking simile.  Then there’s a rather curious mention of these men, having termite mud in their mouths, so as to quell an enemy of the mouth. This enemy of the mouth is nothing other than the respiratory issues, such as cough, sneeze and so on. Obviously the robbers do not want to give away their discreet approach just before nabbing their goods, and that’s why they are taking so much care to prevent any disturbances in their throats. Like me, you may wonder, all that’s fine but termite mud, what’s that got to do with arresting a cough? On researching, a scientific article enlightened me about how termites have been used for long in south Indian traditional medicine as a treatment for asthma and other respiratory diseases by indigenous tribes such as the Irulas, Panniyars, Kannikaarar, etc. Felt amazed by how this subtle line in a two thousand year old poetry connects to the medicine of indigenous tribes even today.  Returning, we find these robbers seizing the curd-churning rods and then stealthily approaching the sheds of these cattle, with their slippers masking their footsteps. With such precautions, they succeed at their attempt in stealing away the cattle and the calves, and move these herds to other places in that scrub jungle, where the sweltering heat makes the drumstick tree shed its flowers, like hail in the rainy season. Such a vivid description of the drylands has been given by the lady to say this is where the man is walking now. She concludes by declaring that she has done nothing wrong to the man, connecting back to her opening statement, implying even though she has done only good, the harm of separation has befallen on her. Yet again, it’s the theme of separation but this verse shines as an anthropologist’s delight, in linking the humans of the past and present!