Our Emblem

Early in our research for It’s Private, we came across this 2,000-year old Tamil poem by Aḷḷūr Nanmullaiyār in which the speaker likens her wayward lover to neruñji in the excerpt below. Sadly, not much is known about this female poet and bard, but several of her poems - and those by over 40 other women - are part of the rich canon of ancient Sangam poetry. We immediately thought that neruñji was not only the perfect symbol for the production but also a fitting tribute to the many South Asian female writers, thinkers, and artists whose lives and works have been erased by history.

புன்புலத்து அமன்ற சிறியிலை நெருஞ்சிக்

கட்கு இன் புது மலர் முள் பயந்தாஅங்கு

இனிய செய்த நம் காதலர் இன்னா செய்தல்

punpulattu amanḍra siriyulai neruñjik

katku in putu malar muḷ payandāṅgu

iniya seyda nam kādalar innā seydal

In this arid wasteland grow dense clusters of small-leaved Neruñji.

Blooming with lovely flowers, but yielding thorns later…

My lover who was once sweet is now cruel!

Aḷḷūr Nanmullaiyār, Kurunthogai, 202

(c. 100 BCE-200 CE)

Tamil Nadu, India

Translation by Kiran James

Source & Further Reading

Herbert, V. (2015, November 13). Ettuthokai – Kurunthokai 201-400. Sangam Poems Translated by Vaidehi. https://sangamtranslationsbyvaidehi.com/ettuthokai-kurunthokai-201-400/