ScooReviews
Dear Earth: A Book Reciting 2300-Year-old Poem
Here’s a review of 2300-year-old Tamil poem book translated into English by Geeta Dharmarajan of Katha India. For teachers ad students alike.
"Dear Earth” introduces a 2,300-year-old magical poem from the pages of Tamil literature to the readers. This is a “Kindness” book whose focus is on Mother Earth – our only home, and the home that we need to love, respect and nurture.
“Dear Earth” is written by Avvaiya, a centuries-old poet who travelled from one place to another in South India, and whom even the kings reached out to for advice. It has now been translated from Tamil to English by Geeta Dharmarajan, Founder, NGO Katha. The spell-binding artwork by Murali Nagapuzha captivates the readers’ attention, gently channelizing the love for the book to love for Mother Earth. The book is not only a treat to the eyes but also tugs at your heartstrings. The poem lends itself to deep reading for meaning, making the readers sensitive to our environment, our Earth, our home.
Additional information on Avvaiyar and Tamil literature make this delightful book rich with cultural wisdom and encourages young minds to Think, Ask, Discuss, Act and Achieve (TADAA!).
Geeta says, "Katha believes that books play a very crucial role in everyone’s life. In our endeavour to ensure that the love for reading remains an integral part of the lives of our future decision-makers, Katha’s bouquets of books, from a range of cultures and languages, lend themselves to choose reading for deeper meaning. Our books nurture creativity and imagination and promote critical thinking – all of which are 21st Century skills that can help us shape a more equitable, caring and sustainable world. What better way than to start with our home – Mother Earth!”
The poem book is available in English [https://books.katha.org/product/dear-earth/] for pre-order on www.books.katha.org (INR 175). An e-version of the title is available for immediate purchase on Amazon Kindle [https://www.amazon.in/dp/B08GXXQBH5] (INR 99).
Visit books.katha.org to take a look at their collection showcasing a diverse range of issues and subjects and encouraging children to read in various bhashas (languages).