Sandals and I

Introduction to Mudnakudu Chinnaswamy (Summary)

Mudnakudu Chinnaswamy (22 September 1954) is a well known Kannada Poet, hailing from Mudnakudu village in Chamarajanagar District of Karnataka State India. He has two post graduate degrees viz., M.Com., and M.A.(Kan), with a D.Litt. (Doctor of Literature) in Social Sciences. He was a Finance Executive by profession and retired as Director (Finance) & Financial Advisor from Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation in March 2014. Poetry is his passion but he has worked in other genres of literature as well, besides having a wide range of interests in culture, social work and theatre. He has brought out 40 books so far which include eight collections of poetry, seven of essays, three plays and two collections of short stories.His poems have been anthologized, and his poetry-readings in Karnataka and abroad have fascinated varied audiences. Rowena Hill also is well-known to Kannada readers as she studied in Mysore University for a few years and has translated medieval Bhakti poetry (Naming The Nameless) and a few plays of Chandrashekhara Kambara. She has selected 48 poems of Mudnakudu and has translated them, very ably, into English and Spanish (Poemas de Mudnakudu Chinnaswamy ).

Sandals and I Poem 

When I go to the temple

Never leave the slippers out

I'm outside myself

Slippers seen in the cobbler's legs

Like when a man bites a dog

Becomes news

 

Unfolding and spreading slippers

Everyone's legs

Creep over me

I'm a plant

It is my mouth

I do not know

To the water of the dry lake

Like a crane that feels like a sack

I foresee

On the tip fingers

Stand and peer into God's image

I have stolen

 

Between tens of heads

A shiny crown

Growing into a cushioned bed

Fanny

Once a diamond-crowned crown

Luncheon, January

Morning light

When the fountain of Fontana

As the iron of the ear

Ground crumble, hunger

Cotton is cooked

 

Loyal though away I do not know Incense I grinned at the smoke

Hinting at God

Dashboard circulator

They would look at me often without eyelashes

My will is God alone

In the womb

The flower is the soul of the recipient

Near the loosened slippers

Outside

Stand up for ever

Peep the globe

My soul that refreshes

Inside God

Sandals and I Summary

When I go to the temple, I don't take off my sandals, I keep myself away, and by saying he exposes the cruel face of untouchability.

The poet says that those who insult the cobbler's caste cannot live without shoes.

A statue of God adorned with glorious decorations inspires more impatience than devotion (religious worship) to the poet.

The idol of God, adorned (make more beautiful or attractive) with glorious (beauty ) decorations, is more impatient than poetry

He also likes the Garudagamba, standing in the open field, without any decorations, face to face with God

The shape of the stone forms is evident in our attitude to our divine (like God, ದೈವಿಕ

) nature

The stone form is a metaphor (image) for boldness and rationality (the quality of being based on) in the face of the divine and the stern

Standing in front of God, the untied sandal is a decoration for the mind of the meditator.

Although it is true that laws cannot destroy untouchability, the use of the instrument of legislation (laws) is necessary in a democratic system

Experience of being brutally (harsh,ಕ್ರೂರವಾಗಿ

) suppressed (forcibly put an end to) in the civilian environment of the modern world is unable to identify itself with the environment

It becomes clear against the inhumane socio-political system that cannot make it dear

From a contemporary (modern) standpoint, Dalits have a concession in the constitution that reservation alone is not possible to instill self-respect among Dalits

It is not enough to publish open placards saying that the practice of untouchability is a crime against humanity and treason

The caste system and its religiously sanctioned caste system must be destroyed. Dalits will not be saved if they get access to temples.

While this may help in the fight for the rights of the oppressed (abuse, crush) castes that can be filled with a little self-confidence, this is the first step in the fight

It is not only an attempt to defy inequality but the development of Dalits has to be defined by the standard of health food income and desires

Breaking down caste fences, creating ideological (teaching) awareness, and fighting inequality have to go hand in hand for caste annihilation (being completely destroyed).

The poet who denies his existence by such external markings as the identity of the slippers reveals his existence and uniqueness in front of the root of his inner thoughts

This poem explores the necessity of ideological possibility along with inner toughness to reverse the dark declaration of untouchability.