Mahakavi Subramania Bharathi

  By M Santhnam

                              (M Santhnam is a former Judge  of High Court. He is a Writer and Thinker)
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                Chinnawami Subramania Bharathi (1882 to 1921)was a Tamil poet, Journalist,Indian Independence activist and  Social reformer. He was born  in Ettayapuram in Tamilnadu He served as journalist  in many Tamil news papers. He was a contemporary of Mahatma Gandhi, Tilak, Aurobindo and many others of yester years. An arrest warrant was issued by the British for his revolutionary activities. He went away to Pondicheri and  was working with Aurobindo.  He deposed in a case against VO Chidambaram Pillai who was the first man to introduce a steam Ship in India

                 Even at the age of 11  the poet was given the title of Bharathi , meaning"Blessed by Goddess Saraswati."in his High School   He lost his mother when he was five and his father soon thereafter.  He left for Benares  to be with his uncle. When he was 14 he  married his cousin who was 7 years old. At Benares he learnt Sanskrit, Hindi, Telugu  Malayalam and other languages. He met Sister Nevedita,the spiritual daughter of Swami Vivekananda.   He attended the Indian National congress meeting at Benares He came into contact with the leaders which brought him close to the freedom movement. He roused the freedom spirit of the farmers, laborer and others in Tamilnadu and elsewhere. He wrote poems condemning caste system   He was against suppression of women. Goddess Kai was his favorite deity. He has composed several songs on Kalimata. It is said that  Bharathi had organized a Swaraj Meeting in the Marina Beach in Chennai. Gandhiji was in Madras at that time.  Without any earlier notice Bharathi wanted Gandhiji to address the gathering.  He barged into the room of Gandhi and asked him "Gandhiji I have organized a meeting to day. I wish you  address us. Is it possible?" Gandhiji had earlier engagements and could not come.  Bharathi left the place saying the he may have another opportunity to address the people of Tamilnadu  After he left the place Rajaji who was there told Gandhiji that Bharathi was a Tamil poet actively engaged in freedom movement. Gandhiji replied"He is a precious jewel. Such great patriots should be preserved.

                An school girl once asked her teacher "How did Gandhiji get the title of Father of the Nation"  The teacher could not give an answer. The girl wrote to  the Right to Information Act authorities. They contacted the Prime Ministers Office and national archives but could not get a satisfactory reply. But it is said , that in his poem" Vazhaga Nee Emman" Poet Bharathi had referred to Gandhiji as uplifting the downtrodden masses of India which implied that he was the "Father  of the Nation" 

              When Tagore was honored with Nobel Prize, many thought that poet Bharathi also deserved such recognition.  Poet Bharathi had a miserable end. He was stuck by a temple Elephant  He was living in absolute poverty. He was addicted to opium to quench his hunger. Of course after his death,Bharathi University was started. His house was acluired by the Govt and was converted as a Memorial. His statutes  were placed in Chennai and in the Parliament House.There were many patriots  who have lost their  lives  after extreme scarifies. Bharathi was one among the unsung heroes of  freedom who were not destined to enjoy the freedom they sought so  vehemently.

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