Learn or churn

We all have an equal right to education
To learn from it, one needs determination
Education for all can be simple, yet priceless
Let's not complicate it and make it worthless

Mother nature was the source for it in primitive days
Learn we did by experiencing it in multiple ways
Apply, learning, we did, to domesticate and settle
Multiply we did, yet, thrived with little

With passage of time we moved into civilization
Learning too, kept its pace sans any realization
To industries we went to work and earn
Schools we created for our children to learn

To spread it far and wide it got standardized
In that process did learning get compromised?
Industry it became and many built an empire

A factory that churned out victims of despair

Among them, lived a few known for their philanthropy 

Shared they did their learning and philosophy

Business, it was not for them; our right to education

Lead by example they did for the next generation 

Education for all, now, comes at a price

If you want nature in it, expect a steep rise
Education for all can be simple, yet priceless
Why complicate it and make it worthless?

We are born with creativity and imagination
Let's explore more and upskill for innovation
Choice we have to either learn or churn
Let's follow our passion, till comes our turn.

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©Balaji Palanidurai

This poem is inspired by events over last few weeks where I have been engaged in various discussion about the state of current education system and how the standardized approach is churning our graduates who find themselves lacking in employable skills!

Education now is a big industry and in developing countries this is big business. I was stunned by fees some school charge for kinder garden and more in the name of nature trips and studies! Is it really worth it? But, what is the alternative? In a nuclear family that has both parents aspiring to excel in life they decide to send their kids to schools to be churned out along with million others.

If a small percentage of those parents chose to home school their children and coach them to pursue a passion - in sports, arts or even farming, I am sure life will be very rewarding for them and their children will love them for that freedom. 

The last line of the poem was inspired by the Gully boy (#gullyboy) movie I happened to see over the weekend "Apna time ayega..."

  

கண்டுகொண்டேன், கண்டுகொண்டேன்

கண்டுகொண்டேன், கண்டுகொண்டேன்

இப்பிறப்பின் இலக்கை நான் கண்டுகொண்டேன்

பாரம்பரியத்தை நோக்கி "ஒற்றன் பாதை" 

என்ற விளம்பரம் ஒன்று கண்டேன்

அச்சுற்றுப்பயணத்தின் நடத்துனர் என் நண்பன் 

என்பதில் பெருமிதம் கொண்டேன்

தமிழ் பாரம்பரியத்துக்கு உரிய 

அழகையும் பெருமையையும் கண்டேன்

அதை பார்த்து, உணர்ந்து மகிழ 

புதியதோர் உற்சாகம் கொண்டேன்

உலகம் போற்றும் இலக்கியம் மற்றும்

 பேரரசர்களின் சிலைகள் கண்டேன்

அவற்றை அறிந்து, உணர்ந்து வாழ 

மனதிலோர் உறுதி கொண்டேன்

நமது வரலாறு மற்றும் கலாச்சாரத்தை 

விவரிக்கும் கல்வெட்டுகள் பல கண்டேன்

இவை மரபுவழியில் தொலைைந்து விடுமோ என்ற அச்சம் கொண்டேன்

பயணத்தில் இரு சிட்டுகள் தம் தந்தையின் 

தோள்களில் உலா வருவதை கண்டேன்

இளைய தலைமுறை இனி தலைதூக்கி

திகழும் என நிம்மதி கொண்டேன்

பழமையின் புதுமையை அறிய உணர்த்தும்

கருவிகள் உபயோகத்தில் கண்டேன்

பழமையில் புதுமை காணும் தொழில்நுட்பத்தை 

ஊக்குவிக்க உறுதி கொண்டேன்

கண்டுகொண்டேன், கண்டுகொண்டேன்

இப்பிறப்பின் இலக்கை நான் கண்டுகொண்டேன்


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©Balaji Palanidurai

This poem is inspired by the "Beauty of our heritage" poem I wrote. I received a lot of positive feedback and appreciation for the deep meaning in that. I also received few requests to write a similar one in Tamil and this is it. I wrote this in a few hours on the morning of 28th July when I stumbled upon a WhatsApp message from a friend that had links to an article about Tamil influence in Japan and Thailand.

So, I would like to dedicate this poem to my friends Clement Anand Rajaratnam (father of Ottran Padhai) and Sandhya Aravind (Founder of ChapterTwo Life coaching) whose WhatsApp message expedited this creation.

Presence

Presence! Isn't it strange?
Impact, they say, depends on its range.

Spreads warmth in proximity, also when heard and felt

Absence of it makes loved ones dread and melt

Described once by the phrase "..waiting on the line"

Prescribed now just by their status as "online"

Years many & with words 000's many try
to establish theirs on the street
Hundred forty words & at times as a reply
is all it takes for some via a tweet

Celebrity some become leveraging its essence
Brevity is the outcome if followed by arrogance

Hours or minutes, all that matters is its importance
Silence too can be felt, like a flamed incense.

*********~~~~~~~~~~*********

©Balaji Palanidurai

Open spaces, closed minds

"It's a small world", a phrase we use
When we meet people from faraway land.
"Narrow minded", the phrase we use
When we see people with blood in hand.

We read then about battles fought over
love and pride in mythology and history.
We read now about war fought over
Ideology, hate & other reasons, a mystery.

Machines we invented to rear the herd,
sail the sea and pierce the air.
Machines used to plough through a crowd
before they realize, is totally unfair.

Freedom of choice,humanity & compassion
It's taught in closed spaces with open mind.
Freedom by choice, cruelty and execution
It's sought in open spaces with closed mind.

"It's a big world" with billions aboard
and more to come, open spaces not many.
"Open minded" let's become and,
live and let live with peace and harmony.

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©Balaji Palanidurai

Submitted to WAX Poetry in September 2017

Sentiments from Singapore bird park

Back to pavilion after romancing with 600 species of birds from the world! 
My experience holding those birds on my hands brought out words from my heart..

Here is a poem that I think you might find cool

Wish i did this trip when I was in school

Birds, some thriving amidst humble caretakers and loving guest,   🤗
While some seem to be missing its natural habitat & sunlight was its quest

(all penguins were looking towards sunroof!!)

People applauded when the parrots were made to speak,

I felt they were more beautiful when hanging on its beak!

Joy and excitement among scores of people on the night safari

When they learnt only 600 tigers are left all felt very sorry

I saw 6 black elephants preserved through donated dollors($)

Else, in a few years they will decorate our shelves in various colors!

Glad I made this trip during Chinese new year

Else, it would be a fancy from what I read and hear   ☺️

Lots of acquaintance and few friends 

I will endeavor my connect with them never ends!

©Balaji Palanidurai

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