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.

Beauty of our heritage

Beauty of heritage is in the synergy

of tradition, buildings & language
Duty of people lies in their energy
to cascade it with pride & assuage

Diverse, are cities we live in, where
time & people move rampant & fast
Immerse, they do in routines, their 

yesterday seems like a distant past

No wonder, traditions with hardly
any existence or of age
Becomes a fashion and smartly
many call it their heritage

Buildings, preserved over ancestry
through care and diligence
Transformed into abode with luxury
throw culture in negligence

Tradition & values etched on stones
narrate to us many a story
Expeditions far & many, for thrones
curate for us a hearty history

Big temples & forts of supremacy
defied laws of nature & invasions
Stand testimony to our democracy
defined rules for modern inventions

Beauty of heritage is in the synergy
of tradition, buildings & language
Duty of people lies in their energy
to cascade it with pride & assuage

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©Balaji Palanidurai
I wrote this poem after a heritage tour I went on 20-22 July 2018 Ottran Padhai (#OttranPadhai). It was to visit heritage sites of The Cholas and beautifully curated by a good (and crazy) friend of mine, themed on a famous novel "Ponniyin Selvan" by Kalki.

I started feeling like someone from that era. It kicked off an urge to find my ancestry, which I kind of know I have that roots. This, in turn, added fuel to my quest for my heritage!

Beauty of Freedom

Freedom is beautiful, isn't it?
To say yes, one has to experience it

For some, it might be freedom of speech
Not, if all they want it for, is to preach

For some, it might be freedom of the press
Not, if all they want to share, is  news to depress

For some, it might be freedom from parenthood
Not, if all they want it for, is to look under the hood

For some, it might be freedom from their occupation
Not, if all they want it for, is to complain about the nation

For some, it might be freedom from a current relationship
Not, if all they want it for, is to flaunt another courtship

For some, it might be freedom from suffering and pain
Not, if all they want it for, is to be able to do it again

And for some, it might be freedom from life
Not, if all they want to do, is to end it with a knife

For all you know, life is beautiful and we live it once
Let's make it joyful before we become past-tense

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© Balaji Palanidurai

I wrote this poem on 30th June 2018 onboard flight BA 36 sitting in a (windowless) seat 21A in the premium economy that I paid to upgrade!!
Incidents on the plane and in-flight experience inspired me to write this poem. I dedicate this to the nice cabin crew member by name Janet who said i have something in my smile to make others feel good. I have to live up to that now..no pressure.

Beauty of Happiness

Happiness, I hear, people say is a state of mind
Emptiness, mostly, is felt when one sets out to find

To measure it with clicks, likes and shares is the current trend
To treasure it from hacks and stares, fortune they spend

Joy, peace and success they say give a happy feeling
Why stop pursuing it by creating a glass ceiling?

Feelings, such, come when there is security & stability
To sustain though, one needs a personal value & capability

Happiness, I hear, people say is a state of mind
Emptiness, mostly, is felt when one sets out to find

Find, I did, my happiness through deep introspection
Sound, it resonates - Freedom to create with compassion

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©Balaji Palanidurai

I wrote this on 17th May while waiting for my delayed flight at Gate 7 of Bengaluru airport. It was a long but fruitful day and for me a turning point. I was till then a self proclaimed Happiness Ambassador and introduced as such in a large panel discussion. Few people came to me at the end and said i was actually one!

This poem is dedicated to myself and the Uber taxi driver in Chennai who wished me and requested that i live that role for others too! Touching and powerful.

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Precision in nature

If you want to experience precision

Look no further than natures creation

Be it the stem, leaves or flowers

Be it the mountain, springs or rivers

No metrics, no scale nor measurement

No foundation, no drilling nor adjustment

They blossom and flow in cohesion

And inspire many an invention

©Balaji Palanidurai

Beauty of giving care

Click here to listen to this poem

Born, we are with beautiful qualities 

for listening and giving care
Most, we do as part of responsibilities
A few, when situation upon us stare

Respond, as a mother, we do to our baby's cry

Comes natural; hardly we need to try
Respond, as a father we do when our babies try
Nothing unnatural, if in joy, we cry

Years many pass, decorated with emotion
Toddler to an adult, we see our children transition
Our duty to give them care, with devotion
Burden, we see it not. But, truly a celebration

Then comes a time when we lie mostly awake
It's the result of ageing, not our mistake
In the duty of giving us care, our children partake
Expect we do, even if nothings' at stake

Blessed we feel when care giving is returned
Cursed, when we're heard with their backs turned
For, beauty of caregiving without empathy
Boils down to nothing but a feeling of mere pity

Wise ones always said, Caring is a quality
bestowed upon the beautiful gender
I dare ask, why this inequality?
Is it cause they give life? I wonder!

Born, we are with beautiful qualities 

for listening and giving care
Most, we do as part of our responsibilities
A few, when situation upon us stare.

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©Balaji Palanidurai

The week I wrote this poem, I had met a family friend for dinner, He was very involved in taking care of his new born with his wife. I saw a proud and responsible father in him.

Earlier during that week, my son was down with flu and my wife and I took turns to caring for him. 

Later in that week, I met with another friend who had taken a sabbatical to look after his aging parents.

In above mentioned events I saw a full life cycle and got motivated to write something about giving care. Pictures in the collage are of my friends and family captured at various times, which I thought relate well to phrases in this poem.

Beauty of tears we shed

Why we cry is still a mystery
Some say, answer is in chemistry
Why do we want to know? I ask
Our feelings could do with a tear mask

Crying in sadness, anger & fear
Expressed at times by a rolling tear
Unspoken words of near & dear
Can be heard by all, loud and clear

Crying in happiness, calm & joy
Expressed alike, be it a woman or boy
Tears of legends, seen on the world stage
Is shared by all, irrespective of age

Crying in pain, agony & humiliation
Expressed with a wail or depression
More by women, I hear a few moan
Society is the cause, blame not the hormone

Crying is common in animals too, I read
How will they express? It made me dread
Insane it will be to watch them cry
Feel their emotion, its worth a try.

Why we cry is still a mystery
Some say, answer is in chemistry
Why do we want to know? I ask
Our feelings could do with a tear mask

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©Balaji Palanidurai

Last night I watched the legend Roger Federer in tears after giving his victory speech post his 20th grand slam title. It was beautiful to see the entire stadium cry with him and so did I. Earlier in the day, I was coaching my teenage daughter on fighting spirit and I noticed tears rolling of her cheeks. She did not know why she was crying, neither did I! I did a brief research and found there is quite a bit of research being doing on "why we cry?".
I think is is perfectly normal for anyone to cry, to let out out emotions - if involuntary it would be even more beautiful. Be happy!

Thank you in advance to various sites for allowing me to include your images. I do not intent to commercialize this work so I hope you will forgive me for borrowing them to express my feelings :-)