Ì¼ó¨¾ Áì¸û Kudanthai Makkal Áì¸û, muh-kkuL People Ì¼ó¨¾ Koo-dun-dhai Kumbakonam The soul of a place are it’s people and the book is an effort towards connect ing to the people of Kumbakonam through what connects them Tamizh*, their language. Diverse imagery of people from different walks along with native words that have cultural significance, urge the reader to imbibe the ethos of the place and people, also to learn a culture unknown. *The last page offers a basic guide encouraging readers to start a conversation in Tamizh.
º¡ ¢ Å¡í¸ À¡÷¸Ä¡õ! Suh-ree vaa-nguh paar-kuh-laam Alright, come let us see!
Author Chitra Chandrashekhar
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Photographs Chitra Chandrashekhar Chinmayee Samant
ÌòÐ Å ¢ÇìÌ kootthoo-vi-Luh-kkoo Lamp Traditional brass lamps connote the start of an auspicious event, celebration or festivity. They are regarded to be fi ne works of art/ creation, that often they are compared to beauty (women).
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ÒûÇ ¢ ¦¸¡Äõ poo-Lee-koh-luhm Dots Kolam Traditional floor decoration made with dots of rice flour. It is a symbol of hospitality, harmony and prosperity.
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poo Flower Flowers are strung together into garlands to decorate hairstyles among women and young girls. It is also a symbol of greeting, well-being and auspiciousness.
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¯Èì¸õ oo-ruh-kkum Slumber/ sleep Traditionally people sleep on a reed mat spread on the floor. It is thought to be the best form of rest for the back.
Ò¼¨Å-§Åðʺ𨼠poo-duh-vai - vey-tteechuh-ttie Saree - Dhoti - Shirt Typical costume of women constitute of 6 yards or 9 yards of draped cloth. While men wrap around linen/ cotton cloth accompanied by a shirt. These are climatologically best suited for comfort. 6
¦¸¡Å ¢ø ¦¸¡Çõ koh-vil koh-Lum Temple tank Mahamaham tank is the life of Kumbakonam. From using it’s water for washing, bathing or to sitting on it’s steps for plain evening chitchats. It truly creates essence of the town as it is surrounded by buzzing streets, temples, community hall and the Chandai. 7
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«õÁ¡ uhm-maa Mother/ Madam The fi rst word a child is taught to say. There is immense honour associated to the role of a mother that often goddesses, important women and even ladies are respectfully reff red to as Amma!
ÌÆó¨¾ koo-zhun-thai/ koo-Run-thai Child There are many more ways of calling a child with endearment like paa-paa, pie-ya, chellum for a little girl, a little boy and darling respectively.
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«ôÀ¡ Uhp-paa Father A father’s protective care is equally reverred as a mother and elevated to godliness. Gods are suffi xed with this word, so devotion to god is an outcome of love for god.
À𨼠puh-ttie Stripe Devotees in this part of the country (particularly devotees of Lord Siva - Saivites) smear Kumkumam, a red powder made from a mixture of turmeric and lime; and Vibhuti, ash from holy fi re, in a striped fashion using the fi rst three fi ngers - Index, middle and ring fi nger. The three fi ngers connote Lord Siva’s trident the Trishulam.
Àì¾ ¢ ÀÃźõ buhk-tee puh-ruh-vuh-sum Bhakti/ devotional ecstacy With the Bhakti movement came the practice of self immersion into the meditation of God and singing praises of his/ her many facets. When devotion of this nature reaches its ultimate there is a sensation of rapture. 10
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¦¾¡Æ ¢ø thoh-zhil/ thoh-Ril Business/ Occupation Streetsides in Kumbakonam are mixed with both big and small shops but one sees equal pride and devotion in their respective businesses. Th is holds true even for small time vendors and rickshaw pullers.
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¦Å¨Ä ¨º vay-lie sai Do work Work is worship to many people in this land. They even worship their tools and conduct ceremonies expressing grattitude for being able to work and earn a decent livelihood. And for this, they do not even deter from hard laborious, toiling work.
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À¡ø측Ãý paal-kkaa-run Milkman Where packaged milk is yet to become a known face, milkman is the saviour. He has a tough life waking up as early as 3.30 a.m. milking cows from villages and transporting them on his two wheeler in aluminium cans to bigger towns like Kumbakonam.
Ë츨¼ tee-kkuh-dye
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Tea shop A regular street side feature is a tea shop, where mostly we fi nd men , boys and a few tourist s. It is a regular hub for interaction and conversations.
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À¡ò¾ ¢Ã츨¼ paa-thee-ruh-kkuh-dye Vessels/ utensils shop Kumbakonam is famous for buying and selling of metal ware like stainless steel or aluminium vessels that form a major part of many households.
¿ø¦Äñ¨½ null-ay-Nai Sesame oil Literally meaning good oil, it is known to have many remedial effects and forms a significant part of the Tamil tradition. From lighting lamps, to body massaging, medicinal potions and even cooking, it fi nds its due place in the lives of the people.
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¸¡ö kaay Vegetable Is a generic term for vegetables. It is also used as a suffi x for the specific kind ofvegetable, like Puhla-kaay is the raw Jackfruit.
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ºó¨¾ chuhn-dhai Market A Chandai is a community market place like a whole sale market or an open air street market. These days it is limited to selling and buying of vegetables or sea food.
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±ÇÉ £÷ ay-Luh-neer Coconut water Another natural beverage rich with rehydrants to beat the heat is coconut water. Often served by chopping off the husk of the green coconut.
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ÀÆõ puh-zhum/ puh-Rum Fruit It is a generic word to identify fruits. But in common language the word denotes a banana. In other cases it is a suffi x used for the specific type of fruit, like Puhla - pazham is a Jackfruit.
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¾¡¸õ-¾ñ½ £÷ dhaa-gum - thuh-Neer Th irst - Water An expression that most travellers use owing to the heat that affects this land and its people.
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§Á¡ü ÌÊí¸ mor koo-deen-guh Drink buttermilk Buttermilk is the most traditional form of thirst quenching beverage in Taminadu. It is diluted curd mixed with salt and spices perfect to rejuvenation for dehydration. It is offered to travellers and guests as an act of hospitality. 27
±ýÉ ºÁÂø? Ennuh suh-muh-yuhl ? What is cooking? In a casual conversations, often people within the house and outside exchange talks by discussing food as a topic where this phrase can be heard most commonly.
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ºÁÂø측Ãý suh-muh-yuhl-kkaa-run A Cook Is an important part of the society because mostly the word refers to one who cooks to serve for large gatherings like temple festivals, marriages etc... He/ she is regarded high because cooking food and serving is thought of as a great act of divinity. An idea that comes from Annap oorna, goddess of food and nourishment. 29
º¡ôÀ¡Î saa-ppaa-doo Meals A traditional meal constitutes of 2-3 courses of rice. It is accompanied with one or two types of dry curry, liquid porridge of vegetables and spices, a similar liquid of tamarind water boiled with spices and buttermilk or curds.
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Àðº½õ but-chuh-Num Snacks Typical diet also includes snacks between meals. Dishes such as Dosas, Idlis, Upma, Vadaa, Bajji or even crispies or fried items are a part of snacks.
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À¡ðÎ Å¡òÂõ paa-ttoo vaa-dhyum Song and Music Kumbakonam, being a temple town, has a long tradition of music being played for all, during auspicious events both social or religious. Th is culture remains intact as we continue to fi nd musicians dedicatedly playing their tunes.
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¸¡Åø kaa-vuhl Guard The city traffic police keeps a watch as the procession moves on along the major streets inside the town.
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°÷ÅÄõ oor-vuh-lum Procession During the month of Feb-March, every year people congregate to watch and partake in the god’s procession in a palanquin. There is great community spirit seen in such events.
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Á¸Ç ¢÷ muh-guh-Lir Ladies Saree, flowers, nose ring, bangles they just do not complete the image of a woman in today’s Kumbakonam.
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À½õ puh-yuh-Num Journey/ travel A bus is the best way to get to one’s destination. Also the journey is worth the sights and sounds all along the way as they gradually bring us up close to the town experience. 41
Tamizh guide Is a brief guide to start a basic conversation in Tamizh. Read the easy to speak phonetics and start conversing.
Phonetic vowels uh/ u = hum, drum aa = dark, hard i = will, still ee = feel, heel oo = food E, ay = pay, stray ie, ai, ye = eye, dye, tie oh = sold, old ow = owl, bowl
Phonetic consonants kk = thick, stuck g = gum, girl pp = pepper, zipper ch = child, chill dh = that, they tt = matter, scatter th = pith, teeth tth = cut through L = mild, cold N = end, send R, zh = robot, roll (American accent : roll the tongue) v = we, want The below consonants sound same as in English: b, s, t, r, n, m, p, d, k, l, y
Žì¸õ
±ÉìÌ ¾Á¢ú ¦¾¡ ¢Â¡Ð
vuh-Nuh-kkum
Enakkoo Tamizh thay-ree-yaa-dhoo
Welcome, hello.
I don’t know Tamizh. ¿ £í¸ ¦ºª¸ ¢ÂÁ¡? neen-guh sow-kee-yummaa?
±ÉìÌ English ¦Ã¡õÀ ¿øÄ¡ ¦¾¡ ¢Ôõ
Are you fi ne?
Enakku English rom-buh nul-lah thay-ree-yoom
¬Á¡õ, ¦ºª¸ ¢Âõ ¾¡ý
I know English very well.
Aamaam sow-kee-yum dhaan? Yes, (I am) fi ne. ¯í¸ ¦ÀÂ÷ ±ýÉ? Oon-guh pay-yur Ennuh? What is your name? ±ý ¦ÀÂ÷ _______ En pay-yur _______ My name is _______ ±ý °Õ ¦ÀÂ÷ _____ En ooroo pay-yur ____ My place name/ I come from ______ Á½ ¢ ±ýÉ? muh-Nee Ennuh? 42
What is the time?
/
±ÉìÌ º¡ôÀ¡Î ¦ÅÏõ
¾ñ½ £
Enakku saa=ppaa=doo/ thuhNee vay-Noom I want food/ water. þÐ/ «Ð/ ±í§¸ ¸ ¢¨¼ìÌõ? idhu/ uh-dhoo En-gay kidaikkoom? Where is this/ that found? þÐ/ «Ð ±ýÉ Å ¢¨Ä? idhu/ uh-dhoo Ennuh vi-lie? What price is this/ that? º¡ ¢ ¿¡ý ŧÃý. suh-ree naan vuh-rEn Ok, I (will) come (again). (I am leaving).
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IDC IIT Bombay 2010