Aganaanooru 65 – A definitive decision

In this episode, we hear news of a much-awaited decision, as depicted in Sangam Literary work Aganaanooru 65, penned by Maamoolanaar. Set amidst the ‘Paalai’ or ‘Drylands landscape’, the verse portrays the change in a person’s mind and its joyous consequences. உன்னம் கொள்கையொடு உளம் கரந்து உறையும்அன்னை சொல்லும் உய்கம்; என்னதூஉம்ஈரம் சேரா இயல்பின் பொய்ம்மொழிச்சேரிஅம் பெண்டிர் கௌவையும் ஒழிகம்;நாடு கண் அகற்றிய உதியஞ்சேரற்பாடிச் சென்ற பரிசிலர் போலஉவ இனி வாழி, தோழி! அவரே,பொம்மல் ஓதி! நம்மொடு ஒராங்குச்செலவு அயர்ந்தனரால் இன்றே மலைதொறும்மால் கழை பிசைந்த கால் வாய் கூர் எரி,மீன் கொள் பரதவர் கொடுந் திமில் நளி சுடர்வான் தோய் புணரிமிசைக் கண்டாங்கு,மேவரத் தோன்றும் யாஅ உயர் நனந்தலைஉயவல் யானை வெரிநுச் சென்றன்னகல் ஊர்பு இழிதரும் புல் சாய் சிறு நெறி,காடு மீக்கூறும் கோடு ஏந்து ஒருத்தல்ஆறு கடிகொள்ளும் அருஞ் சுரம்; ‘பணைத் தோள்,நாறு ஐங் கூந்தல், கொம்மை வரி முலை,நிரை இதழ் உண்கண், மகளிர்க்குஅரியவால்’ என அழுங்கிய செலவே! This time, the theme dwells on a future travel to the drylands, and here, we hear the confidante excitedly sharing some news to the lady: “May you escape from the words of mother, who knowing well what’s in your heart, keeps it within her mind and says something else; May you be rid of the slander spread by women in our village, full of lies, lacking even a bit of compassion; May you live long with much happiness, like the supplicants, who sing praises of King Udhiyan Cheral, the one who widened the limits of his domain! All through the hills, as bamboos brush against each other, fuelled by the wind, sharp flames that soar, shine like bright lamps, atop curving boats of fishermen, sailing amidst the sky-soaring waves. Walking up and down those dull and small paths, amidst those rocky and hilly spaces, filled with barren Yaa trees, feels like walking on the back of a famished elephant. Such is the formidable drylands jungle, where huge and terrifying, tusked male elephants stand in guard along the many paths. He had previously said that such a place would be impossible to traverse for maiden with bamboo-like arms, fragrant and beautiful tresses, upraised and lined bosoms, thick-petalled and kohl-streaked eyes. But today, he has seen eye to eye with us, and has decided that you should go along with him, O maiden with thick tresses!” Time to imagine an imminent walk through the barren paths! The confidante starts by jubilantly declaring to the lady that her friend was soon going to escape mother’s seemingly innocent but pointed words, for she knew the lady’s situation but refused to reveal what was in her mind. Next prediction was about how the lady will be rid of the dreadful rumours spread by the gossiping village women, who had no kindness in their hearts, and as the third and final forecast, the confidante declares that the lady is going to live happily forever, like those who sing praises of the great Chera King Udhiyan, known for the empire he expanded.  After sharing all these fortune cookies, the confidante goes on to describe the formidable drylands, where the winds fan the fire of dry bamboos in friction, and these fiery flames are placed in parallel with objects of another landscape- the lamps on the boats of fishermen. Then the confidante talks about hilly, rocky paths, filled with dry Yaa trees, and how walking on these paths would be like walking on the back of an elephant that has not had food for long. Such scenes of despair and danger fill these drylands and that’s why the man had been saying, there was no way the lady with her delicate qualities was going to be able to traverse it, the confidante explains. She notes with elation that somehow the man had seen sense and changed his mind, now deciding to take the lady and elope away with her the very day.  In essence, it’s the confidante telling the lady, the situation is dire here, the man has agreed to our request that you should elope with him, and so get ready and go on. The thing that interests me the most is what made the man change his mind. It’s not like the lady developed those abilities overnight. Perhaps he has seen that the risk of taking the lady through the drylands is worth facing rather than the danger of leaving her amidst slander and suffering. It is indeed such moments of lucid decision making, which spurs us to action, that ends up defining the course of our lives, many a time!