Lives Gone Extinct Without Heir Poem by Madathil Rajendran Nair

This poem is extremely beautifully rendered. I would like to call it the original, and my poem, which Nair Sir has acknowledged, only an imitation. The efforts taken by him to find out the correct English name of 'mashithandu' is remarkable. And the correct popular name he has selected, so that it easily communicates with the non-Malayali readers. About slate and pepper elder: As Nair Sir has mentioned in the note, those were the days, when we used stone-slates and stone-pencils to learn writing. And mashithandu was used to erase and wipe the slates clean. He has taken pains to post a picture of the plant too, so that the reader can identify what the poem speaks about. Thank you sir, for the fantastic translation and the magnanimity of linking my name with it. Thank you Nosheen and Bharati for reading the poem. The appreciation by both of you is not due to me; it is due to Nair Sir. This is a moment of pride for me!

And, the translation of the name of the poem too is wonderful. Fantastic selection of words. The translation of the line Edavazhiyil parungi nilkunnu into stands waiting even today, perplexed on the alleyway, is exquisite. Nair Sir holds an immense treasure of vocabulary.

A beautiful translation of a very profound work. I'm sure you have captured the essence n mood of the original. It's a delight to read. Thanku for the translation. You deserve 10.

A gem of a poem /translation indeed! The poem reminds us of the changing time with nostalgic poignancy. Though I have not read the original poem, this translation has satiated my hunger. Moreover, having done my schooling outside Kerala, I am not well conversant with the Malayalam script. Anyway, my thank also goes to Sri Unikrishnan for having captured the intricate rural life of Kerala

A gem of a poem /translation indeed! The poem reminds us of the changing time with nostalgic poignancy. Though I have not read the original poem, this translation has satiated my hunger. Moreover, having done my schooling outside Kerala, I am not well conversant with the Malayalam script. Anyway, my thank also goes to Sri Unikrishnan for having captured the intricate and yet simple rural life of Kerala.

Eraser pepper a well deserved name. Maybe we can find a new use to erase malice in society. Beautiful translation.

All I can say is that the poem echoes poetic beauty; as I am not familiar with its original language, hence I cannot pronounce myself. The beautiful comments I have read, share the beauty of your work.

Well done my friend, thanks for translating a malayalam poem.