A NRI's dilemma-an interesting poem.

[suraju06]

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Friends,

I received this as a forwarded post from a member in another forum where I am a member. Though it is that of a Gujarati who has settled in US, I think many of our members will be able to identify themselves with the dilemma of the author of the poem. So I present this here:

The NRI Poem .... ना इधर के रहे .... ना उधर के रहे - by an ABCD (American
Born Confused Desi, most probably a Gujju).

ना इधर के रहे ,
ना उधर के रहे,
बिच में लटकते रहे

ना India को भुला सके,
ना America अपना सके
इंडियन अमेरिकन बन के काम चलाते रहे

ना गुजराती को छोड़ सके
ना अंग्रेजी को पकड़ सके
देसी accent में गोरो को confuse करते रहे

ना turkey को पका सके
ना ग्रेवी बना सके
मुर्गी को दम देके thanks giving मनाते रहे

ना Christmas tree बना सके
ना बच्चो को समजा सके
दिवाली पर Santa बनके तोहफे बाँटते रहे

ना shorts पहेन सके
ना सलवार कमीज़ छोड़ सके
Jeans पर कुरता और स्नीकर्स पहेन कर इतराते रहे

ना नाश्ते में Donut खा सके
ना खिचड़ी कढी को भुला सके
Pizza पर मिर्च छिड़ककर मज़ा लेते रहे

ना गरमी को भुला सके
ना Snow को अपना सके
खिड़की से सूरज को देखकर Beautiful Day कहेते रहे

अब आयी बारी Baroda जाने की तो
हाथ में पानी का शीशा लेकर चलते रहे

लेकिन वहां पर.............

ना भेल पूरी खा सके
ना लस्सी पी सके
पेट के दर्द से तड़पते रहे
हरड़े और एसबगुल से काम चलाते रहे

ना मच्छर से भाग सके
ना खुजली को रोक सके
Cream से दर्दो को छुपाते रहे

ना फकीरों से भाग सके
ना Dollar को छुपा सके
नोकरो से पीछा छुड़ाकर भागते रहे

ना इधर के रहे
ना उधर के रहे
कमबख्त कही के ना रहे
बस "ABCD "
औलाद को और Confuse बनाते रहे
*

 

[Anand Manohar]

Dear Rajuji

Nice one. I do read Hindi and appreciate the essence - but isn't this supposed to be
a predominantly a TAMIL forum?

Would be better [ as Tmt VR does] to post an English / Tamil translation.

Nice one anyway - I will send you one from Sri T.P.Kailasam - I suppose you've
heard about him / read his works - I'm sure you will like them.

Guruvethunai
Yay Yem

 

[kk4646]

friends,

i received this as a forwarded post from a member in another forum where i am a member. Though it is that of a gujarati who has settled in us, i think many of our members will be able to identify themselves with the dilemma of the author of the poem. So i present this here:

The nri poem .... ना इधर के रहे .... ना उधर के रहे - by an abcd (american
born confused desi, most probably a gujju).

ना इधर के रहे ,
ना उधर के रहे,
बिच में लटकते रहे

ना india को भुला सके,
ना america अपना सके
इंडियन अमेरिकन बन के काम चलाते रहे

ना गुजराती को छोड़ सके
ना अंग्रेजी को पकड़ सके
देसी accent में गोरो को confuse करते रहे

ना turkey को पका सके
ना ग्रेवी बना सके
मुर्गी को दम देके thanks giving मनाते रहे

ना christmas tree बना सके
ना बच्चो को समजा सके
दिवाली पर santa बनके तोहफे बाँटते रहे

ना shorts पहेन सके
ना सलवार कमीज़ छोड़ सके
jeans पर कुरता और स्नीकर्स पहेन कर इतराते रहे

ना नाश्ते में donut खा सके
ना खिचड़ी कढी को भुला सके
pizza पर मिर्च छिड़ककर मज़ा लेते रहे

ना गरमी को भुला सके
ना snow को अपना सके
खिड़की से सूरज को देखकर beautiful day कहेते रहे

अब आयी बारी baroda जाने की तो
हाथ में पानी का शीशा लेकर चलते रहे

लेकिन वहां पर.............

ना भेल पूरी खा सके
ना लस्सी पी सके
पेट के दर्द से तड़पते रहे
हरड़े और एसबगुल से काम चलाते रहे

ना मच्छर से भाग सके
ना खुजली को रोक सके
cream से दर्दो को छुपाते रहे

ना फकीरों से भाग सके
ना dollar को छुपा सके
नोकरो से पीछा छुड़ाकर भागते रहे

ना इधर के रहे
ना उधर के रहे
कमबख्त कही के ना रहे
बस "abcd "
औलाद को और confuse बनाते रहे
*

onnumay puriyalay....!!

Tvk

 

[sudeshwer]

I recd this in my forum also from one of our members. since I know hindi I appreciate. if you translate the same into english, you may not get the apt meaning

 

[sarang]

I spent one evening-night in amvadabad patronising many roadside eateries - chaats, bhels, puris, sweets, paans without worrying or getting पेट के दर्द. The next day at vrishali, picking hot rotis and jilebis from small huts on mud plates, and degreasing hands with ash and washing with water poured from a jug.

A similar observation from a tamil brahmin expat will be interesting.

Friends,

I received this as a forwarded post from a member in another forum where I am a member. Though it is that of a Gujarati who has settled in US, I think many of our members will be able to identify themselves with the dilemma of the author of the poem. So I present this here:

The NRI Poem .... ना इधर के रहे .... ना उधर के रहे - by an ABCD (American
Born Confused Desi, most probably a Gujju).

ना इधर के रहे ,
ना उधर के रहे,
बिच में लटकते रहे

ना India को भुला सके,
ना America अपना सके
इंडियन अमेरिकन बन के काम चलाते रहे

ना गुजराती को छोड़ सके
ना अंग्रेजी को पकड़ सके
देसी accent में गोरो को confuse करते रहे

ना turkey को पका सके
ना ग्रेवी बना सके
मुर्गी को दम देके thanks giving मनाते रहे

ना Christmas tree बना सके
ना बच्चो को समजा सके
दिवाली पर Santa बनके तोहफे बाँटते रहे

ना shorts पहेन सके
ना सलवार कमीज़ छोड़ सके
Jeans पर कुरता और स्नीकर्स पहेन कर इतराते रहे

ना नाश्ते में Donut खा सके
ना खिचड़ी कढी को भुला सके
Pizza पर मिर्च छिड़ककर मज़ा लेते रहे

ना गरमी को भुला सके
ना Snow को अपना सके
खिड़की से सूरज को देखकर Beautiful Day कहेते रहे

अब आयी बारी Baroda जाने की तो
हाथ में पानी का शीशा लेकर चलते रहे

लेकिन वहां पर.............

ना भेल पूरी खा सके
ना लस्सी पी सके
पेट के दर्द से तड़पते रहे
हरड़े और एसबगुल से काम चलाते रहे

ना मच्छर से भाग सके
ना खुजली को रोक सके
Cream से दर्दो को छुपाते रहे

ना फकीरों से भाग सके
ना Dollar को छुपा सके
नोकरो से पीछा छुड़ाकर भागते रहे

ना इधर के रहे
ना उधर के रहे
कमबख्त कही के ना रहे
बस "ABCD "
औलाद को और Confuse बनाते रहे
*

 

[Haridasa Siva]

Poem padkar bahut mazaa aayaa. I laughed out loud. Thanks for posting. I agree that the fun would be lost if translated.

Reg. Saarang's request, I give the start:

thayir saatham kidaippathillai
thayir seyyavum vazhi illai
local thayir pidikkavillai
tamil naattu thayir marakkavillai

idli saappida aasai
kidaippatho hamburger
saambarai ninaiththukkondu
sauce saappidum nilai

filter coffee manamenge
instant coffe dinaminge
degree coffee thedi
dip tea kudikkirene...

 

[Naina_Marbus]

A different kind of NRI dilemma - the posting below is a scanned image of a recent letter (April 2012) in a tamil magazine published in North America.
Any body has answers?

If ok, Madam RR could help to post an enlarged image? But just double-clicking would anyhow enlarge it.

 

[mskmoorthy]

This is an enlarged image of post #7
http://www.tamilbrahmins.com/general-discussions/9015-nris-dilemma-interesting-poem.html#post139801

 

[Naina_Marbus]

Thanks Sri mskmoorthy.

 

[biswa]

Sometimes I wonder when discussing NRIs, why is it fashionable only to get the goat of the "American" NRIs. How about the Malaysian Tamils, Fijian Tamils or even Sri Lankan Tamils? Or is everything all hunky-dory there?

 

[Naina_Marbus]

Sometimes I wonder when discussing NRIs, why is it fashionable only to get the goat of the "American" NRIs. How about the Malaysian Tamils, Fijian Tamils or even Sri Lankan Tamils? Or is everything all hunky-dory there?

I don't think there is anything 'fashionable'. If anybody from those countries want to post relevant materials, I am sure they are free to do so, and we can all chip in for the discussion.
It may just be that a larger database of people/materials are readily available to be shared from the NRIs from Americas. Of course we have Madam Renuka from malaysia.

 

[sudeshwer]

No.6, Mr Haridasa Siva, I really enjoyed it. well done. keep it up

 

[Raji Ram]

Here is one more! Shall try to post in Thanglish later!

அந்த நாள் ஞாபகம் வந்ததே நெஞ்சிலே,

நண்பனே நண்பனே நண்பனே

இந்த நாள் அன்றுபோல் இன்பமாய் இல்லையே - அது

ஏன் ஏன் நண்பனே?


Bagel என் கையிலே காபி கப் பையிலே;

போண்டா திங்க வழியே இல்லையே!

டிகிரி காபி கிடைக்கலே லாட்டேயும் ருசிக்கலே - அது

ஏன் ஏன் நண்பனே?


பாஸ்தாவே அடிக்கடி உண்ணுவோம் வீட்டிலே;

பிட்ஸாவும் பார்சலாய் ஃப்ரிஜ்ஜிலே!

இட்லியும் சட்னியும் ஞாபகம் வந்ததே - அது

ஏன் ஏன் நண்பனே?


யானையின் சைஸிலே கத்தரிக்காய் உள்ளதே;

யாரிங்கு செய்தாலும் ருசிக்காதே!

துக்கிணி சைஸிலே வெண்டக்காய் உள்ளதே - அது

ஏன் ஏன் நண்பனே?


அப்பளம் பொரித்தாலே பிசுக்குத்தான் ஆகுதே,

அப்புறம் துடைக்கவே முடியலே!

'என்றுதான் இந்தியா செல்வோமோ லீவிலே',

என்று நான் ஏங்குறேன் நண்பனே!

out: ... lane:

 

[Haridasa Siva]

No.6, Mr Haridasa Siva, I really enjoyed it. well done. keep it up

Thank you.

 

[mskmoorthy]

Re #10, Mr. Naina Marbus has already replied in #11. Taking care of elderly parents cut across different cultures and communities. We can all learn and gain (certainly I can) from reading the different experiences. I appreciate Mr. Naina Marbus posting that article.

We saw a wonderful play four years ago (in Williamstown, Ma) titled Broke-ology
written by a recent graduate (African American) of Juliard. The story is about the
conflicts in taking care of an elderly father by his two sons.
The play is set in a single stage and a cast of 4 members (all african-americans)
Here is a brief review that you may enjoy reading it.

Nathan Louis Jackson's Broke-Ology at Williamstown Theatre Festival - Berkshire Fine Arts

 

[renuka]

I don't think there is anything 'fashionable'. If anybody from those countries want to post relevant materials, I am sure they are free to do so, and we can all chip in for the discussion.
It may just be that a larger database of people/materials are readily available to be shared from the NRIs from Americas. Of course we have Madam Renuka from malaysia.

I never really felt like an NRI cos I have been born brought up here for generations and a natural born citizen.

I love Malaysia cos we are still very much our own selves in culture and religion.
And it's only three and a half hours away from India..so when feeling bored take a flight to India.

The Malay language is also a very sweet language which has lots of Sanskrit words.
Curds(Thayir) is called Dadih in Malay..so Sanskrit sounding.

Even in Royal ceremonies the word Paduka is used to denote respect to the royalty.
Brings back fond memories of Bharata worshiping the Paduka of Lord Rama.

I feel real fine here.

I like India too but only one drawback..when I am in India I have to watch what I wear cos when I was in India as a student our professors used to judge a person's character based on what we wear.

Out here in Malaysia I have the freedom to wear anything from a Saree to a Mini Skirt!!LOL

So I am happy being in Malaysia and being nearby to India.

 

[guruvayurappan]

Poem padkar bahut mazaa aayaa. I laughed out loud. Thanks for posting. I agree that the fun would be lost if translated.

Reg. Saarang's request, I give the start:

thayir saatham kidaippathillai
thayir seyyavum vazhi illai
local thayir pidikkavillai
tamil naattu thayir marakkavillai

idli saappida aasai
kidaippatho hamburger
saambarai ninaiththukkondu
sauce saappidum nilai

filter coffee manamenge
instant coffe dinaminge
degree coffee thedi
dip tea kudikkirene...

dear haridas siva !
you may know erupathai vittu parapathi ninaithal pola proverb. you be satisfied with what is available locally which is good for health.
we are giving priority to what we are used &hence all this problem. enjoy our food while visiting INDIA.many of our indian visiting foreign country carrying luggage of our crocery and pickles.edatukku thaguntharpol nadapom .
guruvayurappan

 

[ozone]

Out here in Malaysia I have the freedom to wear anything

I had almost guessed the rest and stopped reading further. Lo, I was wrong

 

[guruvayurappan]

Here is one more! Shall try to post in Thanglish later!

அந்த நாள் ஞாபகம் வந்ததே நெஞ்சிலே,

நண்பனே நண்பனே நண்பனே

இந்த நாள் அன்றுபோல் இன்பமாய் இல்லையே - அது

ஏன் ஏன் நண்பனே?


Bagel என் கையிலே காபி கப் பையிலே;

போண்டா திங்க வழியே இல்லையே!

டிகிரி காபி கிடைக்கலே லாட்டேயும் ருசிக்கலே - அது

ஏன் ஏன் நண்பனே?


பாஸ்தாவே அடிக்கடி உண்ணுவோம் வீட்டிலே;

பிட்ஸாவும் பார்சலாய் ஃப்ரிஜ்ஜிலே!

இட்லியும் சட்னியும் ஞாபகம் வந்ததே - அது

ஏன் ஏன் நண்பனே?


யானையின் சைஸிலே கத்தரிக்காய் உள்ளதே;

யாரிங்கு செய்தாலும் ருசிக்காதே!

துக்கிணி சைஸிலே வெண்டக்காய் உள்ளதே - அது

ஏன் ஏன் நண்பனே?


அப்பளம் பொரித்தாலே பிசுக்குத்தான் ஆகுதே,

அப்புறம் துடைக்கவே முடியலே!

'என்றுதான் இந்தியா செல்வோமோ லீவிலே',

என்று நான் ஏங்குறேன் நண்பனே!

out: ... lane:

daer raji ram !
nice. it is really wonderful that brought the picture of the reality.pastah and pizza in fridge -wonder ful.
even when we are preparing our delicious food ,our wards are not ready to enjoying it fearing caloric value and obesity. our Indians are exhausting all the stock of nature bio pot yogurt in super market.
guruvayurappan

 

[guruvayurappan]

A different kind of NRI dilemma - the posting below is a scanned image of a recent letter (April 2012) in a tamil magazine published in North America.
Any body has answers?
View attachment 1757
If ok, Madam RR could help to post an enlarged image? But just double-clicking would anyhow enlarge it.

dear naina_marbus !
this is not the problem of NRI alone . even in India many affectionate sons are facing the same problem .
the same parents who sacrificed their needs for future of their wards,become selfish (or expecting ) and forget that their
children are also having other commitment apart from looking after them.they give more trouble to son who is caring and will not disturb carefree sons.that is why it is said "we find fault with the house that is constructed ".this problem is more with parents having many sons. the parents having single son not having this type knowing that no other option. oru pillai petral oriel soru pala pillai entral theruvil soru . do not listen to such parents
and do you duty according to your conscious
guruvayurappan

 

[suraju06]

Dear Naina_Marbus,

What I posted was the dilemma of a NRI Gujjubhai who is unable to forget India and fully merge with US. It is "severe" nostalgia with no solution. Bur what you have posted is a different cup of tea. The suffering of the writer of that piece of a letter can be any where. He can be even in India somewhere in the north. To get a girl who loves you(and whom you too love) as your wife is a rare gift of God. If that girl happens to be matured enough to- understand that people are made of positive and negative qualities, that old people have an ego which has also grown proportionate to their age, that people are to be loved despite their negative qualities, that people are just to be forgiven and whatever they have done to her is to be forgotten- then such a wife is the rarest of gift from God. Those who are not blessed with such a gift have to suffer and carry the burden.

I am blessed and so I am writing this.

Cheers.

 

[guruvayurappan]

dear raju !
nice to hear your fine words. you should also remember that
you can not satisfy all the people all the time. there are people who are not satisfied with what they got and they will blame for things which is not obtained.life is like cricket (nowadays T 20 ) and result is viewed by others. a true player will play the game for his own satisfaction.manaivi amaivathu ellam eraivan kodutha varam
guruvayurappan

 

[Naina_Marbus]

Dear Naina_Marbus,

.... that people are to be loved despite their negative qualities, that people are just to be forgiven
.

Nice response. It was literally close to what the moderator in that magazine provided...! As you say, one really has to be blessed...

 

[Naina_Marbus]

……We can all learn and gain (certainly I can) from reading the different experiences…

Well put! I couldn't have said it better myself! That is the crux of the issue.

 

[Naina_Marbus]

I never really felt like an NRI cosI have been born brought up here for generations and a natural born citizen…..

So I am happy being in Malaysia and being nearby to India.

One can take a PIO out of India, but can’t take India out of a PIO ?