Ritual songs and folksongs of the Hindus of Surinam

14 Janëū ii [Corentijnpolder, Nickerie, 1967]

more ājā⁴ ke kaṭhina karejā to bana ke paṭhāväį ho
more ājā hi gharahį vidyāmān to bana ke paṭhāväį ho
more bāraha barasa ke umiriyā daradi nahį lāgäi ho
more ājā ke kaṭhina karejā daradi nahį lāgäi ho
more bāraha barasa ke umiriyā to bana ke paṭhāväį daradi nahį lāgäi ho
ghumi calo ai ghumi calo avaro se ghumi caläu (ho)⁵
beṭā bāraha barisa ke umiriyā tu bana ke sidhārëu ho
tore ājā ke kaṭhina karejā to bana ke paṭhāväį ho

- My paternal grandfather's heart is hard, so he is sending (me away) to the forest.⁶
My paternal grandfather is himself a learned person right (here) at home, still he is sending (me away) to the forest.
My age is (only tender) twelve years - (my paternal grandfather) feels no sympathy.⁷

4 The song continues very long by repetitions and in each repetition the women singers replace the word ājā (paternal grandfather) by terms for other male relatives.

5 Added by the translator to maintain uniformity.

6 To the āśrama, the hermitage of a preceptor.

7 Literally, ‘(there) comes no (feeling of) pain (or pity) (in his heart)’.

[p. 62]

IV.

My paternal grandfather's heart is hard; he feels no sympathy.

V.

My age is (only tender) twelve years; still he is sending (me away) to the forest and feels no sympathy.

VI.

- Turn round, son; turn round. Again (we insist), turn round (and come back).

VII.

Son, your age is (only) twelve years (and yet) you are departing for the forest.

VIII.

Your paternal grandfather's heart is hard, so he is sending (you away) to the forest.