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In this episode, we perceive the immense courage of a mother, as depicted in Sangam Literary work, Puranaanooru 279, penned by the poet Okkoor Maasaathiyaar. Set in the category of ‘Vaagai Thinai’ or ‘Victory’, the verse reveals the priorities of people in this past time and space.
கெடுக சிந்தை; கடிது இவள் துணிவே;
மூதில் மகளிர் ஆதல் தகுமே:
மேல்நாள் உற்ற செருவிற்கு இவள் தன்னை,
யானை எறிந்து, களத்து ஒழிந்தனனே;
நெருநல் உற்ற செருவிற்கு இவள் கொழுநன்,
பெரு நிரை விலங்கி, ஆண்டுப் பட்டனனே;
இன்றும், செருப் பறை கேட்டு, விருப்புற்று, மயங்கி,
வேல் கைக் கொடுத்து, வெளிது விரித்து உடீஇ,
பாறு மயிர்க் குடுமி எண்ணெய் நீவி,
ஒரு மகன் அல்லது இல்லோள்,
‘செருமுகம் நோக்கிச் செல்க’ என விடுமே!
Another song in the tone of ‘glory be to a soldier’s mother’. This female poet from the town of ‘Okkoor’ presents the thought process of a fellow woman. Her words can be translated as follows:
“Let her determination be doomed; Terrifying is her resolve; Understandable though, for she comes from a line of an ancient clan. One day in the past, in a fight, her father, felled an elephant and perished in the battlefield; Yesterday, in another fight, her husband, protecting their huge herd of cattle and thwarting those who came coveting, fell dead; Today, on hearing the battle drum, with desire, overwhelmed, she hands a spear, ties a white garment and spreads oil on the rough and sparse hair tuft of her one and only son, and sends him with the words, ‘Go towards the battlefront!’.”
Let’s explore the nuances here. The poet starts in a shocked tone about a woman’s actions. Talking about how determined and clear this lady is, in that she wants to do, the poet adds in a reflective tone that it’s quite fitting to who she is, which is a woman coming from an ancient and brave tribe. After that rousing introduction, the poet goes on to talk about how one day in the past, this lady’s father perished in the battlefield after killing an enemy elephant, and yesterday, her husband perished fighting and winning over a horde who came to steal their cattle herd. While that is so, today, when she hears the battle drum thundering, calling soldiers to assemble, without a moment’s hesitation, she immediately calls her only son, hands him a spear, ties a white garment around his waist and oils his dry hair and bids him to go to the battlefront, the poet concludes.
Someone who has lost her father and her husband wanting her son to go and possibly face the same fate, is frightening indeed. That the poet too shares our terror in the opening lines tells us it’s no taken-for-granted thing to send one’s child into the arms of such danger. And yet, this mother dares to send her only son and possibly end their line, all in a bid to fight someone’s war. Without a doubt, this etches the trust the Sangam folks had in what they saw as the purpose of their existence and that was to fight bravely and live a life of honour. While it’s hard to accept this action of a mother sending her child in harm’s way, we can still admire her way of standing up for what she believes in, no matter the sacrifice that demands. Here’s wishing this mother’s trust brings back her son, alive and honoured, after that battle!
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