Bharathidasan

Bharathidasan[1] (IPA: /ˈbɑːˌrʌθiˈðɑːˌsʌn/; born K. Subburathinam[1] 29 April 1891 – 21 April 1964), was a 20th-century[2] Tamil poet and rationalist writer whose literary works handled mostly socio-political issues. He was deeply influenced by the Tamil poet Subramania Bharathi and named himself "Bharathi dasan" meaning follower or adherent of Bharathi.[3] His greatest influence was Periyar and his self-respect movement.[4] Bharathidasan's writings[5] served as a catalyst for the growth of the Self-Respect Movement in Tamil Nadu. In addition to poetry, his views found expression in other forms such as plays, film scripts, short stories and essays. The Government of Puducherry union territory has adopted the song of Invocation to Mother Tamil, written by Bharathidasan as the state song of Puducherry (Tamil Thai Valthu (Puducherry)).

In this Indian name, the name Kanagasabai is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Subburathinam.
Bharathidasan[1]
BornK. Subburathinam[1]
29 April 1891
Pondicherry, French India
(now in Puducherry, India)
Died21 April 1964(1964-04-21) (aged 72)
Madras, India
(now Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India)
OccupationTeacher, Tamil poet, Tamil activist
PeriodPure Tamil movement
SpousePazhani Ammal
ChildrenSaraswathi Kannappan (Daughter)
Mannarmannan (Son)
Vasantha Dhandapani (Daughter)
Ramani Sivasubramaniyan (Daughter)
ParentsFather: Kanagasabai
Mother: Lakshmi
Signature

Life

Kanaka Subburathinam was born[2][6] in Puducherry (earlier called Pondicherry) on 29 April 1891 to parents Kanagasabai and Lakshmi Ammal. He was deeply influenced by the Tamil poet and freedom fighter, Subramania Bharathi,[2] who mentored him and hence Subburathinam named himself "Bharathi dasan" meaning follower or adherent of Bharathi. He is popularly known as Bharathidasan[1] (Tamil: பாரதிதாசன்). A twentieth century Tamil poet, Bharathidasan was an active participant in the Indian independence movement, he opposed both the British Raj[2] and the French colonial government.[2] He was imprisoned[2] for voicing his views against the French Government that was ruling Pondicherry at that time. Bharathidasan was a poet in his own right, writing mostly on socio-political issues like women’s liberation, rationalism, and against caste discrimination. He was greatly influenced by the great rationalist leader and social reformer, Periyar E. V. Ramaswami.[2] Bharathidasan became one of the key figures in the Dravidian rationalist movement.[5][2][7] He was bestowed the titles ‘puratchi kavinjar’ (revolutionary poet) and 'paa vendhar' (king of poetry) to honor his excellence in Tamil poetry and he was widely known by his titles. Bharathidasan works were nationalized meaning brought into public domain[2] in 1991 by the then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu M. Karunanidhi. Bharathidasan's works can be found at the open access Tamil literature repository Project Madurai.[8]

He remained a prolific[9] writer and poet till he died in 1964.[2] He was awarded the Sahitya Academy Award[2] posthumously for his Tamil play[5] Pisiraandhaiyaar.[2] One among his famous lines is ‘அறிவை விரிவு செய், அகண்டமாக்கு’, ‘Arivai virivu sei, agandamakku’ meaning “Expand knowledge – make it universal”. Named after this great poet, it has been Bharathidasan institute of management's endeavour to expand and universalize knowledge.

Named after the revolutionary poet Bharathidasan, the Bharathidasan University was set up in 1982 as an offshoot of the University of Madras. The motto of the University “We will create a brave new world” has been framed from Bharathidasan’s poetic words “புதியதோர் உலகம் செய்வோம்”. The University endeavours to be true to such a vision by creating in the region a brave new world of academic innovation for social change.

List of poems made into film lyrics
  • Thamizhukum Amudenru per[10][11]
  • Sanke Muzhangu
  • "Thunbam Nergayil" (set in Desh by Carnatic musician Dandapani Desikar and used by film composer R. Sudarsanam in Or Iravu in 1951)[12]
  • Thesa gnanam
  • Neelavana aadaikul
  • Valiyor silar
  • Muzhumai Nila
  • Chithirai
  • Pallikudam
  • Kalyanam aagatha penae
  • Kaatrilellam
  • Kandavudal kadal
  • Vaanukku nilavu
  • Paazhai pona manam [13]
  • Vaana mazhai neeye
  • Avalum Naanum Amudhum Thamizhum[14]

Awards and recognitions
Bharathidasan on a 2001 stamp of India

*Bharathidasan was conferred with the title of "Puratchi Kavingyar" (meaning the "Revolutionary Poet") by Periyar.

  • He won the Golden Parrot Prize in 1946 for his play Amaithi-Oomai (Peace and Dumbness).
  • He was given the Sahitya Academy Award,[2] posthumously in 1970 for his play Pisiranthaiyar (He died in 1964 but he was given this award in 1970 after he died).
  • On 9 October 2001, a commemorative stamp of Bharathidasan was released by the Postal Department in Chennai.

Legacy

References
  1. Birth name: K. Subburathinam, the person's given name: Subburathinam, father's given name: Kanagasabai. (K. Subburathinam by the prevalent patronymic initials as prefix naming system in Tamil Nadu and it is Subburathinam Kanagasabai by the patronymic suffix naming system.) He named himself "Bharathi dasan" meaning follower or adherent of Bharathi, and he is predominantly known as Bharathidasan.
  2. "Bharathidasan's Biography". Tamil Virtual University; tamilvu.org. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  3. "பாரதிதாசன்". itstamil.com. 2 July 2013.
  4. "பாரதிதாசன்".
  5. "Self respect movement (Dravida Iyakkam) plays by Bharathidasan, C.N. Annadurai, M. Karunanidhi and others". Tamil Virtual University. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  6. "Bharathidasan's biography, his works (via Wayback Machine)". Bharathidasan's 125th Birthday Commemoration 2015 Website, Bharathidasan University, bdu.ac.in. Bharathidasan University. Archived from the original on 20 October 2016. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  7. "Bharathidasan (பாரதிதாசன்)". goodreads.com. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  8. "Project Madurai". projectmadurai.org. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  9. "P.Susheela – special songs". psusheela.org. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
  10. "Bharathidasan's poems set to music (lyrical poems)". Bharathidasan's 125th Birthday Commemoration 2015 Website, bdu.ac.in; Bharathidasan University via Wayback Machine. Archived from the original on 19 August 2017. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  11. Sriram V (19 April 2018). "Bharathidasan, Dandapani Desigar and the Travancore Sisters". Madras Heritage and Carnatic Music. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  12. Complete List Of Bharathidasan Songs | Lyricist Bharathidasan Song Database. spicyonion.com (19 June 2015). Retrieved on 2018-11-20.
  13. A. R. Rahman (17 June 2016). "Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)". iTunes (Apple Inc.) (in Tamil). VMS Music Records & Publishing. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
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