Foreword
It is with great pleasure that I write this foreword for this beautiful anthology of lyrics penned by Dr. R. Radhakrishnan. Lovely poems indeed and I loved reading the references to temples, episodes etc.
Growing up in Mumbai and attending an English-medium school run by nuns, I was often teased by my uncles about my inability to read or write fluently in Tamil, my mother tongue. My mother, who patiently taught me the script at home, became my resource for understanding the meanings of the Tamil lyrics I danced to. She always regretted that our English education kept us in the dark about the rich Tamil literary heritage that should be a source of deep pride. I therefore hold immense respect for Dr. Radhakrishnan—for mastering a language as profound as Tamil, which is deemed even older than Sanskrit, while simultaneously excelling in academic pursuits beyond the literary idiom.
I am extremely grateful to Dr. Radhakrishnan for graciously composing lyrics on demand for many of my thematic productions with the Abhinaya Dance Company. With only concepts and rough English verses provided, his creativity shone through. He meticulously researched the episodes or ideas referenced and transformed them into verses enriched with alliteration, rhyme, and poetic beauty. A brief chronology of some of his works for us follows:
- 2000: Rama – the Epitome of Sacrifice; lyrics on the Saivite devotee Karaikkal Ammaiyar (Samsara – the Web of Life)
- 2001: The Revenge of Amba (Jagriti – Awakening)
- 2003: Karna and Kunti (Surya – the Sun God); Navarasa Lakshmi for Sindhu’s arangetram
- 2005: The Soul of a Friend (Saakhyam – Friendship)
- 2014: Arjuna’s Grief (Arjuna – A Warrior’s Tale)
- 2017: A Woman’s Lament (Rasika Kumar’s Shakti Unveiled)
This first volume of Dr. Radhakrishnan’s lyrics once again demonstrates his extraordinary scholarship and devotion. Each poem is not written impulsively, but with painstaking attention to authenticity—every word, every description is carefully crafted to honor the deity or theme. His meticulous approach ensures that each work resonates with depth and precision.
Congratulations on this remarkable achievement. I look forward to reading many more of your compositions in the volumes to come.
Mythili Kumar