“The great Tamil poet, philosopher, and optimistic Subramania Bharati wrote that India will not only emerge as a great nation but also inspire others. India will show the whole world a way to get rid of all kinds of bondage.”
– PM Narendra Modi on the legendary Subramania Bharati
Subramania Bharati will always be remembered for inspiring people in the fight against the Britishers. The Indian freedom fighter left his legacy in Tamil Literature. He was not only a poet but a patriot, journalist, philosopher, reformer, and freedom fighter during the pre-independence era.
Bharati’s writings were the medium of his expression. The more he used the English language, it brought him closer to his native language, Tamil. He used his adeptness at poetry to the best of his ability to coax the masses in the south to join the great Indian struggle for independence.
India is forever indebted to Subramania Bharati for his contribution to India in form of literature, freedom fight and inspiring thousands in endless ways. Remembering India’s great mahakavi, on his death anniversary.
Early Life
Son of Chinnasamy Iyer and Lakshmi Ammal, Subramania Bharati was born on December 11, 1882, in Ettayapuram, South India. He lost his father when he was only 16.
Bharati found his mentor and inspiration in Bal Gangadhar. He exhibited a knack for writing poetry at a very young age and started composing poems at the age of eight.
At a later stage in his life, he got married to Chellammal and had two daughters, Thangammal and Sakunthala. He was also the unofficial editor at India Weekly according to the book ‘Subramania Bharati: A Unique Biography’ by VaRa translated in English by Amshan Kumar.
Celebrating his legacy
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has time and again quoted the veteran poet. On the occasion of his 100th death anniversary in 2021, PM Modi announced the setting up of the Subramania Bharati Chair of Tamil studies at BHU, Kashi.
Bharati has inspired and motivated several, including PM Modi. During the International Bharati Festival 2020 address, PM Modi reminded the world of how Bharati never knew of fear. He shed light on how Bharatiyar believed in a healthy mix between the ancient and the modern. PM Modi also mentioned Bharatiyar during the Ekta Diwas Celebrations in 2020 at Kevadia, Gujarat by mentioning one of his poems that praises India.
Pioneer of modern Tamil poetry
A pioneer of modern Tamil poetry, Bharati was also known as ‘Mahakavi Bharathi’. His fondness and love for Tamil is showcased in the way he stayed true to his roots while also looking toward the future. He considered Tamil language and motherland India as his two eyes.
He sang songs about the greatness of ancient India, the greatness of the Vedas and Upanishads, our culture, tradition, and its glorious past. But at the same time, he also warned us that simply living in the past glory is not enough. One needs to develop a scientific temper, a spirit of inquiry, and march towards progress.
Mahakavi Bharathiyar
Also referred to by the name of Mahakavi Bharathiyar, meaning Great Poet of Tamil, Bharati’s name is counted amongst the most celebrated poets of the country. He was an expert at both prose and poetry writing.
Subramania Bharati mostly indulged in secular, political, and spiritual writings. He was also the first Asian poet to sing the glory of the Bolshevik revolution. His poems not only are an ode to nature but contain a child-like innocence. His first poem, a sonnet was published in 1904. His collection of work has been published in 16 volumes.
Bharati: The literary giant
Subramania Bharati is the epitome of how to use one’s voice and abilities for the right reasons. He strongly advocated for the liberation of women, which was far ahead of his time. His patriotic poems aroused the spirit of unity among the people during the British raj. His writings are considered a pioneer in Tamil journalism and literature.
Tamil cinema often uses the songs and poems composed by Bharati. It has become a staple in the literary and musical repertoire of Tamil artists throughout the world. He also paved way for modern blank verse. His love for Tamil is obvious through the many writing describing how beautiful it is.
The Journalist & freedom fighter
Bharati was also a journalist and used his craft to revolt against the colonisers. The British government was looking for the editor of India weekly for publishing articles that were contempt in nature, which forced Bharati to flee to Puducherry (a french colony then) in 1908 to avoid arrest by the British government. It was here that he produced his masterworks Kuyil, Kannan Pattu, and Panchali Sabatham.
He worked as the assistant editor in Swadesamitran newspaper in 1920. As a journalist, he risked his life to take chances.
Respects & Recognition
The Government of India in 1987 instituted the highest National Subramania Bharati Award conferred along with the Ministry of Human Resource Development (now Education), annually conferred on writers of outstanding works in Hindi literature.
Bharathiar University, a state university has been named after the poet in Coimbatore. Subramania Bharati’s commemorative stamp was also issued by the Indian Post in his respect.
Va.Ra wrote a classic Tamil biography on the greatest poet of all time, “Mahakavi Bharatiyar”. It was first serialized in ‘Gandhi’ magazine in 1933-1934 and subsequently revised and published as a book by Sakthi Karyalayam in 1944.
Bharati breathed his last in 1921, in Chennai at the mere age of 38. In the words of PM Modi, in such a short span, he gave so much that today his writings are a guiding light to us towards a glorious future.