FM's speech enriched with Kashmiri, Tamil, Sanskrit couplets

In her 160-minute Budget presentation in Parliament Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman quoted four renowned poets from 19th Century to 4th Century who are known for their works in Kashmiri, Tamil and Sanskrit languages.

The four poets mentioned in Sitharaman's speech in the Lok Sabha were of Kashmiri poet Pandit Dinanath Kaul Nadim (1916-1988), two Tamil poets women saint poet Avvaiyar and male poet Thiruvalluvar (both contemporary writers of 6th century) and classical Sanskrit poet and dramatist Kalidas.

Before elaborating three key themes of Budget 2020-2021, Sitharaman recited a small verse of Kashmiri poet Pandit Dinanath Kaul Nadim, a Sahitya Academy Award winner.

Reciting the verse in Kashmiri, she said: "Saun Watan Gulzar Shalamaar Hyur. Dal Maz Pholvun Pamposh Hyuv. Navajavan-an-hund, Vushunkhumaar Hyuv. Myonwatan, Chyon Watan. SaunWatan, Nundbony Watan."

Sitharaman translated it in Hindi as: "Humara watan khilte hue Shalimar Bagh jaisa, humara watan Dal Lake mein khilte hue kamal jaisa, naujawanon ke garam khoon jaisa, mera watan tera watan, humara watan, duniya ka sabse pyara watan (our nation is like Shalimar Bagh, our nation is like the lotus in the Dal Lake, our nation is like the energy of the youth, my nation your nation, our nation, the most adorable nation in the world."

This evoked a thunderous applause from parliamentar. Pandit Dinanath Kaul Nadim mostly wrote in Kashmiri language and his first Kashmiri poem in 1942 'Maej Kashir' was dedicated to the Valley.

There is a collection of about 150 poems written by Nadim, which includes English, Hindi, Urdu and Kashmiri. His notable poems include: 'Bombur Te Yambarzal' (opera), 'Trivanzah' (monologue), 'Gris Kur' (Peasant Girl), 'Dal Hanzni Hund Vatsun' (The song of the Dal lake boatwoman), 'Lachhi Chu Lakhcun' (experimentation).

He was also honoured with the Sahitya Academy Award in 1986 for 'Shihul Kul', a collection of his poems.

While mentioning "our government shall encourage balanced use of all kinds of fertilizers including the traditional organic and other innovative fertilizers", and explaining that "this is a necessary step to change the prevailing incentive regime, which encourages excessive use of chemical fertilizers, Sitharaman recited 'Bhumitiruthi Unn" - a Tamil word derived from the verse 81 of 6th Century women Tamil poet and saint Avvaiyar.

Describing the meaning of the saying, Sitharaman said that one must "first tend to till one's land and then eat. "One must eat only after work."

Avvaiyar who lived during the Sangam period is considered contemporary of poets Paranar, Kabilar and Thiruvalluvar. She is known as the author of seven verses in NaaYa Yiaai, 15 in Kua Yuntokai, four in Akananuru and 33 in Purananuru. Legend has it that she was a court poet of Tamil chieftains.

On clean air, the Finance Minister said the problem is a matter of concern in large cities having population above one million. She said the government proposes to encourage those states which are formulating and implementing plans for ensuring cleaner air in cities with population above one million.

While stating that parameters for the incentives would be notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate change and allocation for this purpose is "Rs 4,400 crore for 2020-2021, the Minister recited the verse of Tamil poet and philosopher Thiruvalluvar, commonly known as Valluvar.

Translating the Tamil verse in English, Sitharaman said: "A good nation is characterized by disease-free society and wealth creation efforts".

Thiruvalluvar was a celebrated Tamil poet and philosopher. He is best known as the author of 'Thirukkuaa', a collection of couplets on ethics, political and economical matters, and love. The exact date of Thiruvalluvar is unclear while his work 'Tirukkuaa' has been dated variously from 300 BCE to about the 6th century CE.

Tirukkural is the primary work credited to Thiruvalluvar. It contains 1,330 couplets, which are divided into 133 sections of 10 couplets each. The first 38 sections are on moral and cosmic order, the next 70 are about political and economic matters, and the remaining 25 are about pleasure.

In her speech's Part-B section, Sitharaman recited two lines from 4th Century Sanskrit poet and dramatist Kalidas's notable work 'Raghuvansa'.

Describing it in English, the Minister explained: "Surya (the Sun), collects vapour from little drops of water. So should the kings they collect only for people's wellbeing.

Kalidas was a classical Sanskrit writer, widely regarded as the greatest poet and dramatist in the Sanskrit language. His plays and poetry are primarily based on the Vedas, the Ramayana, the Mahabharata and the Puranas. His period is learnt to be 4th-5th century CE and his notable works were 'Abhijnansakuntalam', 'Raghuvansa', 'Meghadutam' and 'Kumarasambhavam'.

(Rajnish Singh can be contacted at rajnish.s@.in)

( With inputs from IANS )