Coming back from Canada

Comrade Shanmugalingam* said:

 

Back in the home-village (oor), when we were there,

the vellaalahs* (dominant caste) did not let us study.

 

Now that we are here, and we go to learn.

They tell us to learn Tamil.

 

Back home, they studied

only in English.

 

Here too, in English

they study.

 

What it is:

He stayed here for two weeks,

did not get to meet Kalaichelvan*.

The day before, they spoke on the phone.

‘Come tomorrow morning, I’ll be home’.

Kalaichelvan suggested.

When he went there in the morning

the only thing he could do was

to bring Kalachevan’s body from the sixth floor

down.

 

(July 2006)