MWC_Edition115

March 10_AS

“Naan Yen Pirandein” - Why was I born? - That is the song for the day. The song is part of "Rasaayana Rojakkal", a K.M Musiq production on women empowerment.
The lyrics were written by the poet, Vaali. The song is about a girl shunned by society because of her dark skin and abject poverty. About her agony on being lonely and persecuted and how she redeems herself from these obstacles and oppression.
I had not heard of this song, until Rahman posted it on his page on Internaltional Women's Day.
This song is also used as a background score in the video "Possibilities" by "Akshaya Patra". The film was released on Children's Day and shows how a child can be forced to make wrong choices in life, in order to survive.

http://www.top10cinema.com/…/the-possibilities-featuring-a-…

While this song is in the context of a girl child, the basic theme on "Why am I born?" applies to all of us.
Well, all of us at some point of time question our existence. Why am I born? What is the purpose of my life? I am reminded of a book I read few years back - "Many Lives and Many Masters" by Brian L. Weiss. It is a true story of a psychiatrist, his learnings from past life therapy he conducted on a young patient. He writes, each of us are here to learn something, a specific thing, it could be patience, trust, love. And then we are reborn to learn something else. Each lifetime gives us a lesson and then we move on to another.

While we are on our never ending quest to understand the purpose of our life, let us slow down, stop and enjoy this beautiful song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2rGhnGuCy0

Lyrics and Translation

Pachcha karu yaavum paavakkaru alla
Neeyum naanum yaaru kuththam kora solla
Poththal ulla moongilla saththamulla paattu varum

Kannangaru megam thaan
uyir vaazha payir vaazha mazhai kottuthey
Oru ooril oru gudisai
Nadhiyoram pachcha maram pala varisai
Kallamillaa Vellanthiyaa
Oorusanam Irunthathayya

Aalangaaththu Oasaiyiley
Moththa sanam thookkaththiley
Boomi Romba Thoorathiley
Yaar Arivaar Kaaranaththa?
Yen Piranthaai? Yen Piranthaai? Yen Piranthaayo??

Aariro....Aariro...Aaraariro...(Lullaby)

Naan yen piranthen?
Kan yen thiranthen?
Enakkey theriyaathey

O! Iraiyoan padaippil
Yethuvum azhage
Un kann ariyaathey!

Naan yen piranthen?
Kan yen thiranthen?
Enakkey theriyaathey...

Pachcha karu yaavum paavakkaru alla
Neeyum naanum yaaru kuththam kora solla
Poththal ulla moongilla saththamulla paattu varum
Kannangaru megam thaan
uyir vaazha payir vaazha mazhai kottuthey

Naan yen piranthen?
Kan yen thiranthen?
Enakkey theriyaathey...

Yaaro yaar arivaaro?
Yenna solvaaro sol...
Yaaro yaar arivaaro?
Yenna seiyvaaro sollu...sollu...sollu...

Naan yen piranthen?
Kan yen thiranthen?
Enakkey theriyaathey....

All those fetuses are not sinned
Who are you and I
to find a fault in?
A hole in the bamboo stick
Brings out a good song

Even the clouds turn dark and black
to bring the rain back
for survival of crops and
for survival of mankind!

A hut in a village
Green trees lined up by the river
And there lived people
that are Open and innocent...

In the sound of the banyan tree
Everyone in deep sleep
Earth is so far away
And who would know the reason?
Why are you born? Why are you born? Why are you born?

Why am I born?
Why did I open my eyes?
I do not know

In God’s creations
Anything is beautiful and
Your eyes won’t know that!

Why am I born?
Why did I open my eyes?
I do not know...

All those fetuses are not sinned
Who are you and I,
to find a fault in?
A hole in the bamboo stick
Brings out a good song

Even the clouds turn dark and black
But they bring the rain back
For survival of crops!
For survival of mankind!!

MWC_Edition103

February 26_KV

When all else fails, there's no better friend to turn to than yourself. One should learn to trust his own mind and find the strength within.

Today's song talks about finding the answer within yourself. Listening to that little voice inside you; which is always true to you.

A beautiful piano ballad, in the strong, mesmerising voice of Christina Aguillera,

"The Voice Within"
http://youtu.be/nA2k79EGHbc

Young girl, don't cry
I'll be right here when your world starts to fall
Young girl, it's all right
Your tears will dry, you'll soon be free to fly

When you're safe inside your room you tend to dream
Of a place where nothing's harder than it seems
No one ever wants or bothers to explain
Of the heartache life can bring and what it means

When there's no one else
Look inside yourself
Like your oldest friend
Just trust the voice within
Then you'll find the strength
That will guide your way
If you will learn to begin
To trust the voice within

Young girl, don't hide
You'll never change if you just run away
Young girl, just hold tight
And soon you're gonna see your brighter day

Now in a world where innocence is quickly claimed
It's so hard to stand your ground when you're so afraid
No one reaches out a hand for you to hold
When you're lost outside look inside to your soul

When there's no one else
Look inside yourself
Like your oldest friend
Just trust the voice within
Then you'll find the strength
That will guide your way
If you will learn to begin
To trust the voice within

Yeah...
Life is a journey
It can take you anywhere you choose to go
As long as you're learning
You'll find all you'll ever need to know

You'll make it
You'll make it
Just don't go forsaking yourself
No one can stop you
You know that I'm talking to you

When there's no one else
Look inside yourself
Like your oldest friend
Just trust the voice within
Then you'll find the strength
That will guide your way
If you will learn to begin
To trust the voice within

Young girl don't cry
I'll be right here when your world starts to fall

MWC_Edition98

February 21_GS

When the little baby takes those first few steps alone, leaving the parental protective hands, it is a joy, a celebration. But as we grow up, we sometimes forget to 'walk alone' and look for more protective hands.

The great poet Rabindranath Tagore said

Walk Alone,

"If they answer not to your call walk alone
If they are afraid and cower mutely facing the wall,

O thou unlucky one,
open your mind and speak out alone.
If they turn away, and desert you when crossing the wilderness,

O thou unlucky one,
trample the thorns under thy tread,
and along the blood-lined track travel alone.
If they shut doors and do not hold up the light when the night is troubled with storm,

O thou unlucky one,
with the thunder flame of pain ignite your own heart,
and let it burn alone"

This is a very famous Bengali patriotic song 'Ekla Chalo re' written by Tagore in 1905 and was used in Indian freedom movement. It is also a favorite song of Mahatma Gandhi. We all would have heard this in many voices from Kishore Kumar to Amitabh Bachan to Shreya Goshal, but I'm sharing this song from one of my favorite band 'Swarathma'. This song also features a Baul musician Lakhan Das Baul.
(There needs to be a separate post on Baul musicians. Read if interested: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baul)

Notice in the video, he is playing an instrument called 'Dotara' used by Baul musicians (http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dotara)

Listen/watch: http://youtu.be/yBK7HgsuTsM

Lyrics/translation courtesy: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ekla_Chalo_Re

We need to remember to walk alone and fight our own battles, no matter what.

MWC_Edition31

December 17_SV

"We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear." - Nelson Mandela

As a tribute to all the children who lost their lives to mindless violence yesterday in Peshawar, I chose Michael Jackson’s Heal the World in the MWC section. Let's make the world a better place for all of us.

Michael Jackson’s video features children living in poor countries suffering from unrest. Though the video itself is old, the thought conveyed by the song is the need of the hour.

‪#‎lyrics‬
There's A Place In Your Heart
And I Know That It Is Love
And This Place Could Be Much
Brighter Than Tomorrow
And If You Really Try
You'll Find There's No Need
To Cry In This Place You'll Feel
There's No Hurt Or Sorrow

There Are Ways To Get There
If You Care Enough For The Living
Make A Little Space Make A Better Place...

Heal The World make It A Better Place
For You And For Me And The Entire Human Race
There Are People Dying If You Care Enough
For The Living Make A Better Place
For You And For Me

If You Want To Know Why There's A Love That
Cannot Lie Love Is Strong
It Only Cares For Joyful Giving
If We Try We Shall See
In This Bliss We Cannot Feel
Fear Or Dread
We Stop Existing And Start Living

Then It Feels That Always
Love's Enough For Us Growing
So Make A Better World
Make A Better World...

Heal The World Make It A Better Place

And The Dream We Were Conceived In
Will Reveal A Joyful Face And The World We
Once Believed In Will Shine Again In Grace
Then Why Do We Keep
Strangling Life Wound This Earth
Crucify Its Soul Though It's Plain To See
This World Is Heavenly Be God's Glow

We Could Fly So High
Let Our Spirits Never Die
In My Heart I Feel You Are All
My Brothers Create A World With
No Fear Together We'll Cry
Happy Tears See The Nations Turn
Their Swords Into Plowshares

We Could Really Get There
If You Cared Enough
For The Living
Make A Little Space
To Make A Better Place...

Heal The World Make It A Better Place
You And For Me
Heal the world we live in, save it for our children

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWf-eARnf6U

MWC_Edition70

January 24_KV

I watched the Disney film, Frozen, a couple of days ago. Though I didn't really like the movie, I did like one of the songs; written and composed by the hubby-wife duo, Kristen & Robert Lopez; sung by Demi Lovato.

The song's chorus is dramatic, brimming with confidence, inspiring to leave the past behind:

"I don't care what they're going to say..."
"The cold never bothered me anyway."
"Let it go..."

The composers said that this song was inspired by their love for their daughters. They hope that the girls never let fear or shame keep them from celebrating the unique people that they are.

The singer said "It's a really inspiring song that makes you wannabe yourself and be proud of who you really are."

In the movie, Princess Elsa, who sings the song, has magical powers which she's taught to fear. She spends her entire life locked up in her room, afraid to interact with the outside world, even alienates herself with her own sweet little sister. On the day of her coronation, things get a little out of hand & her powers are revealed. People treat her like a monster. Like her powers, she too turns cold, leaves her kingdom and creates her own ice house.
The song is about the character accepting her icy powers, embracing who she really is and being comfortable with herself.

The song is appealing because the words are so uplifting. It is a reflection of how many girls (royalty or otherwise) feel every day, that they're under so much scrutiny; told what to do, how to live their lives; their inner struggles; the compromises (willing/forced); expectation to match up to the social "standards"; that somewhere along this journey they lose their individuality.

Not specific to girls alone, life becomes a drudgery for anyone if there's no freedom to feel comfortable in one's own skin. We cannot make everybody happy in this world; so the best person to start with would be ourselves!

Disney repeatedly brings this point up... Just as it's central character is almost always brought up motherless, that character is also in a struggle to find his/her true self.
(Alladin, Pocahontas, Lion King, Tangled, to name a few...)

Let it go!
http://youtu.be/L0MK7qz13bU

MWC_Edition58

January 12_DN

Warning: More of Gyaan with some music to ponder.

"An important part of the movement is teaching children themselves how to play. The average 3-year-old can pick up an iPhone and expertly scroll through the menu of apps, but how many 7-year-olds can organize a kickball game with the neighborhood kids?"

The lines above hit me as the core of the piece I am linking up as well as pasting below. It is strange that something one would consider common sense needs to be written about as a ‘movement’.

My kids can open up an iPhone and get it going but they still aren’t allowed to play on my laptop. Something that usually shocks most people who start off a conversation with how their one year old knows how to switch on their computer. I will admit that at times I get nervous and wonder if I am doing the right thing. The one bit of solace I get is from their school that doesn’t have any computer aided teaching or interaction at this stage, something that most other schools brag about. So clearly I’m in tune with someone! 

Two points that struck me – One, I don’t believe that they have to get into technology to get a headstart. And two I don’t believe that kids must do as their peers to have a peaceful childhood. Just because a majority are doing it is no reason to follow.

And while we’re there, let me share one of my favourite songs – Cat Stevens/ Yusuf Islam singing "Where do the children play".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiiZrZTrOFY

Well I think it's fine, building jumbo planes,
Or taking a ride on a cosmic train.
Switch on summer from a slot machine.
Yes, get what you want to if you want, 'cause you can get anything.

I know we've come a long way,
We're changing day to day,
So tell me, where do the children play?

Well you roll on roads over fresh green grass,
For your lorry loads pumping petrol gas.
And you make them long, and you make them tough.
But they just go on and on, and it seems that you can't get off.

Oh, I know we've come a long way,
We're changing day to day,
So tell me, where do the children play?

Well you've cracked the sky, scrapers fill the air.
But will you keep on building higher 'til there's no more room up there?
Will you make us laugh? Will you make us cry?
Will you tell us when to live? Will you tell us when to die?

I know we've come a long way,
We're changing day to day,
But tell me, where do the children play?