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I came across a good translation of Bharathiyar’s அச்சமில்லை அச்சமில்லை (for non-Tamilians “achchamillai achchamillai” literally means “No fear, No fear”) in flickr.

I emailed the author to get his permission to use it on my blog. He replied promptly saying…

Go ahead and use it as you like it.

Here is CG’s translation of the poem.

Fear not my soul. Fear not
Fear not when the world unites against
Fear not the derisive stares and the looks cold
Fear not the vagrant’s life,
When you’ve lost everything you hold
Fear not my soul. Fear not
Fear not the seductress’s charms
Fear not the venom, nor the burning tongue
Fear not the enemy, taking up arms
Fear not my soul. Fear not.
When the world around you comes crashing down.

Here is the original poem in Tamil…

அச்சமில்லை அச்சமில்லை அச்சமென்ப தில்லையே
இச்சகத்து ளோரெலாம் எதிர்த்து நின்ற போதினும்,
அச்சமில்லை அச்சமில்லை அச்சமென்பதில்லையே
துச்சமாக எண்ணி நம்மைச் தூறுசெய்த போதினும்
அச்சமில்லை அச்சமில்லை அச்சமென்ப தில்லையே
பிச்சை வாங்கி உண்ணும் வாழ்க்கை பெற்று விட்ட போதிலும்
அச்சமில்லை அச்சமில்லை அச்சமென்ப தில்லையே
இச்சைகொண்டே பொருளெலாம் இழந்துவிட்ட போதிலும்,
அச்சமில்லை அச்சமில்லை அச்சமென்ப தில்லையே

கச்சணிந்த கொங்கை மாதர் கண்கள்வீசு போதினும்,
அச்சமில்லை அச்சமில்லை அச்சமென்ப தில்லையே
நச்சைவாயி லே கொணர்ந்து நண்ப ரூட்டு போதினும்,
அச்சமில்லை அச்சமில்லை அச்சமென்ப தில்லையே
பச்சையூ னியைந்த வேற் படைகள் வந்த போதினும்,
அச்சமில்லை அச்சமில்லை அச்சமென்ப தில்லையே
உச்சிமீது வானிடிந்து வீழு கின்ற போதினும்,
அச்சமில்லை அச்சமில்லை அச்சமென்ப தில்லையே.

and the transliteration in English (works if you use Murasu Anjal with Mac or Windows)

achchamillai achchamillai achchamenpa thillaiyE
ichchakaththu LorelAm ethirththu ninRa pOthinum,
achchamillai achchamillai achchamenpa thillaiyE
thuchchamAka eNNi nammai thURuseytha pOthinum
achchamillai achchamillai achchamenpa thillaiyE
pichchai vAngki uNNum vAzkkai peRRu vitta pOthilum
achchamillai achchamillai achchamenpa thillaiyE
ichchaikoNda poruLelam izanthuvidda pOthilum,
achchamillai achchamillai achchamenpa thillaiyE
kachchaNintha kongkai mAthar kaNkaLvIcu pOthinum
achchamillai achchamillai achchamenpa thillaiyE
nachchaivailE koNarnthu naNpa rUddu pOthinum
achchamillai achchamillai achchamenpa thillaiyE
pachchaiyU niyaintha vER padaikaL vantha pOthinum,
achchamillai achchamillai achchamenpa thillaiyE
uchchimIthu vAnidinthu vIzu kinRa pOthinum,
achchamillai achchamillai achchamenpa thillaiyE

As he states in his post, CG has translated “the broad purport of the poem.”

Though his translation does a great job of presenting the essence of the poem, it is not an actual line-by-line translation.

I think poems in any language lose their impact on translation.

This particular poem is written in passive voice. A complete English translation in passive voice would probably not be possible. If one were to decide to render the poem in active voice, there would be a problem in deciding what case to use.

For example, should the first line be “No Fear, No Fear” (passive voice) or “I have no fear, I have no fear” (active voice singular) or “We have no fear, We have no fear” (active voice plural).

Or would it be better if it were “I’m not afraid” or “Not afraid am I.”

Anyway, before this post degenerates (?) into a discussion of English grammar and syntax of which I have only a school boy’s knowledge, I’ll get to the point.

I am going to attempt a literal line-by-line translation of the poem. The result, I’m sure, is not going to be as poetic as CG’s version. And I welcome any suggestion / criticism from readers.

My translation will be in “first person singular active voice.”

I’m not afraid, not afraid am I. I have no such thing as fear.
Though the entire world stands united against me,
I’m not afraid, not afraid am I. I have no such thing as fear.
Though I’m belittled and vilified,
I’m not afraid, not afraid am I. I have no such thing as fear.
Though I’m reduced to live by begging for food,
I’m not afraid, not afraid am I. I have no such thing as fear.
Though I’ve lost everything that I yearned for,
I’m not afraid, not afraid am I. I have no such thing as fear.
Even though busty maids look at me with scorn and disdain
I’m not afraid, not afraid am I. I have no such thing as fear.
Even if my own friends try to poison me,
I’m not afraid, not afraid am I. I have no such thing as fear.
Even when confronted by an aggressor’s uniformed armies,
I’m not afraid, not afraid am I. I have no such thing as fear.
Even if the sky falls on my head,
I’m not afraid, not afraid am I. I have no such thing as fear.

Update:

Acceding to Moof’s request, here is an audio recording of the poem (with apologies to Tamil purists for my bad diction & accent)

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