Subramanya Bharathy
 |
Mahakavi Bharathi 1882-1921 |
Subramanya Bharathi மகாகவி சுப்பிரமணிய பாரதி in
Tamil (
December 11,
1882 -
September 11,
1921) better known as
Mahakavi Bharathiar (
Maha Kavi meaning Great Poet) in
Tamil, is deemed one of the greatest poets of
India. A prolific writer, philosopher and a great visionary of immense genius and perspicacity, Bharathiar was also one of the most prominent leaders of the
Indian independence movement in
South India.
Born on
December 11,
1882 in the
Tamil village of
Ettayapuram, Bharathi was educated at a local high school called "Nellai Hindu School" where his talents as a poet were recognized even at the age of 11. He married Chellamal in
1897. After an early marriage, Bharathi, curious to see the outside world, left for
Kashi in
1898. The next four years of his life served as a passage of discovery, when Bharathy discovered a country in tumult outside his small hamlet.
He had an exceptional love and devotion towards his
mother tongue Tamil language, which he considered as the sweetest of all the languages known to him. He was fluent in many languages including
Bengali,
Hindi,
Sanskrit,
Kutchi,
French and
English and frequently translated works from other languages into Tamil. He had a voracious appetite for learning ancient and contemporary
Tamil literature and had a gifted intellect to derive astonishing truths from ancient poems.
Immersing himself in
Hindu spirituality and
nationalism, Bharathi returned to his Southern home, an
iconoclast who shattered without hesitation, every meaningless social taboo and rule that held sway amidst the orthodox South Indians. By the early
1900s, Bharathi had become completely involved in the nationalist movement and took active part in the
Congress meets through out the country.
During this period, Bharathi understood the need to be well-informed of the world outside and took avid interest in the world of
journalism and the print media of the West. Bharathi joined as Assistant Editor of the
Swadeshamitran, a Tamil daily in 1904. By April
1907, he had started and become the editor of the Tamil weekly
India. and the English newspaper
Bala Bharatham.
These papers not only served the purpose of enlightening the masses on the affairs of the nation and the world outside, but also as a means of expressing Bharathy's stupendous creativity, which began to peak at this time. Bharathi started to publish his poems regularly in these editions. From complex religious
hymns to rousing nationalist
anthems, from contemplations on the relationship between God and Man to Songs on the
Russian and
French revolutions, Bharathi's subjects were truly diverse.
This period produced such masterpieces as
Kannan Paattu (The Song of Krishna), where Bharathi sought to portray The Divine as the source of all of humanity's passions in the most accessible of forms including in the roles of a love-lorn lover, of a mischievous child, of an innocent child, and of a wise teacher.
The poetry and imagination of Bharathy, of this era, has rarely been surpassed in any literature that followed. Bharathi also published two of his most widely read epics during this period
Panchali Sapatham (Draupadi's Vow) a poetic semi-political reflection on greed, pride and righteousness derived from the Indian epic
Mahabharata and
Kuyil Paatu (Song of The Cuckoo) an ode and a tribute to the poet's favourite
Shelley.
As a journalist, Bharathi was the first in India to introduce
caricatures and political cartoons to his newspapers; they were satirical and angry hand-drawn illustrations of the poet that improvised heavily on the works of his inspiration
Thomas Nast.
By 1912, Bharathi was already a legend in
South India and his political meetings in
Pondicherry, where he lived since 1908, were attracting multitudes of young patriots, ready to join the non-violent constitutional agitation against the
British rule. This led to a systematic British suppression of what was dubbed as the "militancy". Several arrests and bans on his newspapers followed. The poet's health was badly affected by the imprisonments and by 1920, when a General Amnesty Order finally removed restrictions on his movement, Bharathy was struggling in penury and failing health resulting in his tragic premature death.
Bharathi was struck by an elephant at Parthasarathy temple, Thiruvallikeni. He however survived the mishap. A few months later his health detoriated and he died on
September 11,
1921, not yet forty years of age. The legacy of the poet however endures.
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Desiya Geethangal (Songs of the Nation தேசிய கீதங்கள்)
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Desiya Iyakka Paadal (Anthems for the Indian Congress தேசிய இயக்க பாடல்கள்)
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Kaaviyangal (Epics காவியங்கள)
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Kuyil Paattu (Song of the Cuckoo குயில் பாட்டு)
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Kannan Paattu (The Song of Krishna கண்ணன் பாட்டு)
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Paanchaali Sabatham (Draupadi's Vow பாஞ்சாலி சபதம்)
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Stothirangal (Hymns ஸ்தொத்திரங்கள்)
His poetry expressed a progressive, reformist ideal. His powerful imagery and the vigor of his verse has come to symbolize Tamil culture in many respects. Bharathiyaar famously espoused greater freedom and respect for women:
Maathar Thammai Ilivu Seyyum:Madamayai Koluthovom:மாதர் தம்மை இழிவு செய்யும்:மடமையை கொளுத்துவோம்
We will destroy the idiocy:Of denigrating womanhood
Perhaps the most widely known and inspiring lines are from a stirring battle song 'Acham Illai Acham Illai':
Acham Illai Acham Illai Acham enbathu Illaiye...
Have no fear; Have no fear; There is no such thing as fear
:When every person in the whole world is set against you:Have no fear; Have no fear; There is no such thing as fear:When we are cast as dust to be dispersed :Have no fear; Have no fear; There is no such thing as fear:When our lives have turned to begging to eat:Have no fear; Have no fear; There is no such thing as fear:When everything we cherish has been lost:Have no fear; Have no fear; There is no such thing as fear:....:When the heavens above have collapsed and are falling on us:Have no fear; Have no fear; There is no such thing as fear
His strong nationalistic sense can be illustrated by this one line:ஆயிரம் உண்டிங்கு சாதி, எனில் அன்னியர் வந்து புகலென்ன நீதி!:We may have thousand sects; However, that does not justify a foreign invasion
Copyright: Tamil Heritage Foundation
*
Bharathiyar Kavithaigal*
Bharathi's Biography*
Selected Bharathiyar Songs*
Subramaniya Bharathy:Some Reflections - Nadesan SatyendraBharathi fought against the
caste system which was widely in vogue during his times. He also gave up his own casteistic identity. He was with an in-depth knowledge of the
vedas and the
Bhagavad Gita. He considered all living beings as equal and performed upanayanam to a
harijan boy and made him an
Iyer. He also scorned the divisive tendencies being imparted into the younger generations by their elderly tutors during his time. He openly criticized the preachers for mixing their individual thoughts while teaching the
vedas and the
Gita. He has written a preface to the
Bhagavad Gita in Tamil.
Bharathi's life as a tragic poet is often stereotyped in biographical sketches and literature. The following are the recurring images of Bharathi - as often portrayed in dramatic depictions of his life.
* A passionate poet, who often displayed his anger at the social system and his arrogance rising out of conviction in the ideas he believed in.
* An honest poet who often faced starvation.
* Highly principled and conscientious.
* A poet who was forgotten by the world. His funeral was attended by only 7 people.
*
Bharathiar - Life & Works*
Bharathi - Timeline*
Bharathi Songs*
Mahakavi Bharathiar Website
