Our Gandhi Poem by Ch J Satyananda Kumar

Telugu Original: Basavaraaju Appaa Raavu (13 Dec.1894-19 Jun.1933)
English Translation: Ch J Satyananda Kumar

(This Telugu song ‘Kollaayi gattitEnEmi’ was very popular during the days of Independence struggle. Basavaraaju Venkata Appaaraavu, was a contemporary of dEvulapalli, nanDoori, raayaprOlu and other well known 'Bhaava kavulu' of Telugu literature) .

Telugu original:

kollaayi gaTTitE nEmii
maagaandhi
kOmaTai puTTitE nEmii? ||kollaayi||

venna poosaa manasu
kannatalli prEma
panDanTi mOmupai
brahma tEjassu ||kollaayi||

naalguparakala pilaka
naaTyamaaDE pilaka
naalugoo vEdaala
naaNyamerigina pilaka ||kollaayi||

bOsinOrvippitE
mutyaala tolakarE
cirunavvu navvitE
varahaala varshamE ||kollaayi||

cakacaka naDistEnu
jagati kampincEnu
paluku palikiitEnu
brahmavakkEnu ||kollaayi||

kouSikuDu kshatriyuDu
kaalEda brahmaRushi
nEDu kOmaTi biDDa
kooDa brahmarshiye ||kollaayi||




English Translation:

What if he wears a loin-cloth
Our Gandhi
Even if he was born in trader caste?

Butter like heart
Mother like love
On his ripen face
Divine magnificence

Four locks of tuft
Dancing tuft
Four Vedas’ grandeur
discerning tuft

When opens his toothless mouth
It is a pearly first rain
And if he gives a little smile
A shower of gold coins

If he walks at fast pace
The world trembles
If he utters a word
It is creator’s oracle

Koushika of warrior’s caste
Had not become a great sage?
Today a trader’s son
Is too a great saint!