PATTUPATTU, Ten Tamil Idylls, Tamil verses with English Translation
Translated By, J.V. Chelliah M.A.
FOREWORD
To The First Edition By
Swami Vipulananda
(Professor of Tamil, Ceylon University, and
ex-Professor of Tamil,
Annamalai University)
When I was at Mayavati (Almora District) in the Himalayas editing the Prabuddha Bharata, I wrote an article in that journal on Pattupattu and its literary beauties, and expressed the desire that some scholar should translate those poems into English so that the outside world might realise the glory of ancient Tamil classics. When I came down from the hills, I was agreeably surprised and pleased that such a work had already been accomplished. and approved by the Tamil staff of the Annamalai University. It would have been published by the University, but for some restrictions on its funds, which were to be exclusively used for works by the University staff. I was deeply grieved that such technical objection should have been raised about what I considered pioneer work, and made haste to ask that reputed literary organisation, the Karanthai Tamil Sangham of Tanjore, to undertake its publication. The Sangham with its enthusiastic Secretary, Mr. Kandaswamy, readily consented to take up the task, and secured a munificent patron to finance the publication. Accordingly, I sent for the Mss. and examined it at my leisure for three months I read the translation through in a general way, and found that the spirit and meaning of the original was well rendered. Moreover, I examined with some care some of the important passages, and was pleased with their faithfulness to the original and the attractive way in which they were rendered into English The claim of the author that the translation is not a paraphrase, but a literal rendering of the original, I found, was entirely justified. But at the same time, in my opinion, English idiom was not sacrificed for the sake of literalness. I leave the readers to judge for themselves the merits of the English rendering The author's extensive knowledge of English and Latin literatures is sufficient guarantee of the merits of the English version. Indeed, some of the passages I have examined read almost like modern English poetry.
No doubt it is not to be expected that every one would agree with the interpretation and rendering of every passage in the translation. The author has, of course, followed the commentary of the famous commentator, Nachchinarkkiniar. But our translator has had the boldness to vary from him in a few passages, which he has indicated in the Notes. It should be admitted that the commentator has sometimes strained the meaning of phrases and sentences instead of giving a straight interpretation.
To resume the story of the Mss. war intervened, and the Madras Government refused to supply paper for the publication of a book by a Ceylon author! counselled publication in Ceylon, and General Publishers Limited, Colombo, is now bringing out the work.
I do not propose to deal with the literary excellence of the Pattupattu, as the author himself has done this exhaustively in his excellent Introductions. The question of the dates of the Poems is still a moot point, and every one might not agree with the conclusions of the author. However, I am in hearty agreement with the general appraisement of the literary merits of the Poems.
A word about the author. He needs no introduction from me. He has been in the public eye as an educator and publicist for well nigh half a century. He was Professor of English, Vice- Principal and Acting Principal of Jaffna College, the successor of the famous Batticaloa Seminary which contributed to the Tamil Renaissance in Ceylon and South India. He was also a member of the Ceylon Boards of Education and Examinations. I must add that his extensive knowledge in English and Latin literatures has been an excellent preparation for undertaking this arduous task.
The Tamil world should be grateful to Mr.
Chelliah for accomplishing this monumental work in the evening of his life. I
am glad to say that he is ready with another translation of selections from
Kurunthogai, an Anthology of Love Odes belonging to the Sangam period May he be
spared for some years more to do work along these lines.
December,
1946.
நன்றி:
தமிழ்ப் பல்கலைக்கழகம் வெளியீடு
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