??????? ?????? - ???????? ?????(Arivile Thelivu-Nenjile Urudhi) Have Clarity in Thinking & Strength in Heart:
Honouring ?????? ?????????-The Rational Revolutionist Poet who espoused the importance of cultivating inner resilience of mind and to think through to decipher the logic in all situations that we confront in life
As we respectfully remember Mahakavi Chinnaswami Subramania Bharathi, on his 140th birth anniversary on Dec 11th. it is also important that we take a moment to introspect on his writings and life, who's raison d’etre and focus was the uplifting of the common man & woman from the dogmas of societal conditioning that curtail our growth.
Popularly known as "Mahakavi Bharathi" ("Great Poet Bharathi") he was way beyond his times - as a - visionary, revolutionary, socialist, philosopher and more than anything-a true human being with an inclusive & collective consciousness.
Hailing form the rational and progressive state of Tamilnadu in southindia, he along with his reputation as a poet and freedom fighter, was also a prominent social reformer. He was vocal against the divisive caste system and consistently spoke about women’s issues.
He avidly supported advocating for women’s equal rights and was outspoken on the fallacy of the bigoted, caste system and its idiotic rites rituals & rules created in the name of religious doctrines as a means only to control and divide humanity.
He also refused to identity with his Brahmin (supposedly to be of a high caste in the social hierarchy created by man in the name of religion) upbringing in order to make a point that all were equal.
He declared that there were only two castes-men and women and nothing more than that.
Bharatiyar’s writing portrayed his views about women and his admiration of their strength. He wrote about how men enslave women with the threat of violence which they practised over those who did not obey and described a woman as “the civiliser and, therefore, the spiritual superior of man.
His influence on Tamil literature is phenomenal. Although it is said that he was proficient in around 14, including 3 non-Indian foreign languages. His favorite language was Tamil. He was prolific in his output. He covered political, social and spiritual aspects in his writings.
The songs and poems composed by Bharathi are often used in Tamil cinema Songs & Carnatic Music concerts & have become staples in literary,musical repertoire of Tamil artistes throughout the world. He paved the way for modern blank verse.
Bharathi was also an active member of the Indian National Congress. In 1908, an arrest warrant was issued against Bharathi by the government of British India for his revolutionary activities forcing him to flee to Pondicherry that was under French rule, where he lived until 1918.
In 1920 he was struck by an elephant named Lavanya at the temple, whom he used to feed every day. Although he survived the incident, his health deteriorated a few months later and he died early morning on 12 September 1921 at around 1 am.
Though Bharathi was considered a people's poet, a great nationalist, outstanding freedom fighter and social visionary, it was recorded that there were only 14 people to attend his funeral. The last years of his life were spent in a house in Triplicane, Chennai(Madras). The house was bought and renovated by the Government of Tamil Nadu in 1993 and named Bharathi Illam (Home of Bharathi) and aslo all of his songs were nationlised.
Though unfortunately he did not live to see India becoming independent he thru his thoughts captured in his lyrics still lives in the minds and hearts of many.
As a versatile poet, who during his lifetime was never celebrated. Only after his works were nationalised long after his death for all to read and listen, people realized what a great man and visionary he was.
A True legacy that continues to date for sure.
Do check reference links to read more on this legend.
Also below are some of his immortal poems both in tamil and with its explanation in english for your perusal:
On inclusiveness
????? (The Drum) :
This is probably Bharathi's best poem. It is written as if a bird is advising men on inclusiveness. In this poem, Bharathi tackles four different issues in this poem - poverty, racism, caste-ism and women suppression.
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Kelada Maanida vaa..
emmil kizhor meloar illai...
ezhaigai yaarumillai...
Selvam eriyoar endrum illai...
Vaazhvugal thaalvumillai...
endrum maanbudan vaazhvomada...
Meaning: Listen to me, great human beings... Amongst us, no one is inferior or superior, poor or rich... No life is trivial... So, let's live a life of dignity
On Racism - Colour:
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Vellai nirathoru poonai yengal
Veetil valaruthu kandeer
Pillaigal pettratha poonai avai
Saambal niramoru kutti karunj
Saanthu niramoru kutti
Paalin niramoru kutti
Yentha niramirunthaalum avai
Yaavum orethara mandro?
Intha niramsiri thendrum iggthu
Yetra mendrum sollalaamo?
Vannangal vetrumai pattaal athil
Maanudar vettrumai yillai
Yenngal seikaikalellaam ingu
Yaavarkkum ondrenal kaaneer
Meaning: There was a white cat in our house. She gave birth to many kittens and each of them was a different colour. One was in the colour of ash. The other was in the colour of blackened mortar. The third was in the colour of a snake. And the last was milk white. Though they might be of different colours, aren't they siblings and are equals? And won't it be a farce to treat them differently for their colours? Men are no different. Their skins might be of different colours, but thoughts and values make them the same(A great analogy for racism and to overcome that.)
On Casteism
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Saathi pirivugal solli- athil
Thazhvendrummelendrum kolvaar
Neethip pirivugal seivaar angu
Niththamum sandaigal seivaar
Saathik kodumaigal vendaam anbu
TGhannil sezhithidum vaiyam
Aathara vuttringu vaazhvom tholil
Aayiram maanpurach seivom
Meaning: Men are divided by caste. They consider themselves superior and above the law, while they treat others with contempt. But men, don't be divided by caste and don't suppress others. Love them, love them all. Only through love, can the world prosper. Unite and support each other. And work towards a better world.
领英推荐
On Women Epowerment - Gender equality
Apart from his aversion for casteism or racism, Bharathi was also a strong advocate of women's emancipation and empowerment, at a time when even the enlightened West was yet to hear of Feminism. Here goes his dream :
PUDHUMAI PENN (The Modern Women)
Nimirndha nan nadai naer konda paarvaiyum
Nilathil yaarkkum anjaatha nerigalum
Thimirndha gnana cherukkum iruppadhaal
Semmai maadhar thirambuvadhu illaiyaam.
(Her head held high, and looking every one in the eye,
Unafraid of any one because of innate integrity,
Possessing assuredness born of courage of conviction,
The Modern Woman never feels inferior to any)
The Poet then goes on to celebrate the advent of this Modern Woman and the rise of Feminism:
Penmai vaazhga endru koothiduvoamada
Penmai velga endru koothiduvoamada
(We will sing Long Live Womanhood and dance.
Let us hail the victory of Womanhood and rejoice)
I am doubtful if any other Poet in any other language has exulted in women's emancipation or empowerment with so much intensity as Bharathi did in his poems.
On Fearlessness , Aging & Death:
??????????(Fearless):
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Achchamillai Achchamillai Achchamemba thillaye
Uchchi meedhu Vaana idinthu Veezhukindra Pothinum
Achchamillai Achchamillai Achchamemba thillaye
Meaning: We have no fear, we know nothing about fear and no matter what happens, even is the sky shall tremble and fall down do the earth and on our heads, we shall face it with courage and we shall fear nothing.
Active Aging
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Thedi soru nitham thindru; athil
Thinnai kathaikal pesi; manam
Vaadi thunbam miga uzhandru; pirar
Vaada pala seyalkal seithu; narai
Koodi kizha paruvam eithi; kodum
Kootrukku iraiyana pin maayum
Vedikkai manitharai pole; naan
Veezhven endre ninaithaayo ?
Meaning: Like those who seek food everyday, who sit on verandahs and chat about worthless things, who bury themselves in misery, who do things that cause trouble to others, who grow old and become grey, who become slaves to their own lives and then die in vain, I shall not. I shall not fizzle out of here in vain.(And he did not).
On death
????????? ????????(Speaking to Yama):
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Kaalaa! Unai naan siri pullene mathikkiren; endhan
kaalaruge vaada! satre unai midhikkiren!
Meaning: Lord Yama, I do not fear you like the others. I do not consider a threat to me. Come beside my feet and I shall kick you to show you that I do not fear you.
Universal Vision
Apart from being a Revolutionary, Bharathi also possessed an Universal Vision and a celebration of the human spirit, in which he very much resembles the great American Poet Walt Whitman. To Bharathi,not only human beings, but even common place birds like crows and sparrows, and inanimate objects like hills or the sea, become integral to the unalloyed grandeur of his Cosmic Consciousness. He proudly proclaims:
Kakkai Kuruvi engal jaathi - neel
Kadalum malaiyum engal koottam
Nokkum thisaiyellam naam andri vaerillai
Nokka nokka kaliyaattam
(Crows and sparrows are our fellows,
The sea and the hills are our kinsmen.
Wherever I look, I find none but myself,
Mere looking around brings boundless joy)
PAPPA PATTU : Which means A Song to the Girl Child. Here the poet tells the girl child of so many modern ideas.
Paadhagam seibavarai kandaal
Naam bayam kollal aagathu pappa
Moadhi midhithu vidu pappa
Avar mugathil umizhndhu vidu pappa.
( If you ever come across scoundrels resorting to misdeeds, you should never fear them. On the other hand you trample them under your feet, and spit triumphantly on their faces)
Jaathigal illayadi Pappa - kula
Thaazhchi uyarchi sollal paavam
Needhi uyarndha madhi kalvi - anbu
Niraya udayavargal maelor.
(There are no castes, Pappa. Calling some inferior or superior on the basis of one's race is a sin.Those who are just, highly intellectual, educated and possess love a plenty are all belong to the upper caste)
REF LINKS
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/books/features/mahakavi-bharathiyar-an-inspiration-to-everyone/articleshow/27211482.cms
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