Preface
Proverbs are perhaps as old as human civilization. As man started living in groups,
new relationships came into vogue – both with people and places and the nature
around them. This ‘togetherness’ of living might have provided a rich platform for
the wise to observe the evolving group behaviour keenly and hypothesize on how
and how not to conduct oneself for a better living.
Every society and every language have proverbs. They are not the exalted words
written by literary savants. They are mere utterances of the common man. They are
the very ideas, views, and conceptions of evolving man. They are the manifestations
arising from everyday life. They are, perhaps, a reflection of the “common
consciousness” of mankind expressed in ordinary language. But their greatness lies in
their pithiness. At the same time, they are statements of profound wisdom.
They constitute oral literature of every society. Yet, owing to their enlivening and
refreshing nature, they survived for generations. Quite often, the underlying meaning
of the proverbs in different languages appears similar. But their expression acquires a
native tang, for they have evolved out of one’s own living experience amidst a particular
society and its dynamics. They are mostly influenced by local experiences. They,
thus, acquire an aura of ‘nativism’. And so, they sound dearer to its clan. They mean
so much to the society from which they emerged. But it is this native thwack that at
times makes it difficult for outsiders to appreciate them.
For instance, the underlying profundity of the saying–Mrugasira kartelo musileddu kuda
rankestundi–can be well appreciated only by those who know what Mrugasira karte
stands for, the energy status of a musileddu – old ox, and what its ranke–bellowing–
denotes. As Mrugasira karte succeeds Rohini Karte that is known for its scorching
temperatures and baking heat wave, it brings in its wake cool pre–monsoon winds
and showers. These cool showers obviously rejuvenate even the old bull that suffered
the worst during the preceding karte. And as the shower so softly touches the old ox,
it also bellows in ecstasy. This whole truth has been decocted into that pithy statement.
Thus, proverbs are to be understood, not in isolation, but only in conjunction with
the prosaic activities of mankind against the backdrop of changing nature and its
products.
The Brown Academy of Alpha Foundation has taken up the task of transliterating
the proverbs into Roman script and present them in a book form with a commentary
in English, for the benefit of those who cannot read Telugu script. We shall feel satisfied
if it serves its intended purpose. Feedback is solicited.
GRK Murty
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