Subramaniya Bharathi - Ettiyapuram, TamilNadu, India
Dec 11, 1882 - Sep 11, 1921
| தேடிச் சோறு நிதந்தின்று-பல சின்னஞ்சிறு கதைகள் பேசி-மனம் வாடித் துன்பமிக உழன்று-பிறர் வாடப் பலசெயல்கள் செய்து- நரை கூடிக் கிழப்பருவம் எய்தி - கொடுங் கூற்றுக் கிரையெனப்பின் மாயும்- பல வேடிக்கை மனிதரைப் போலே-நான் வீழ்வேனென்று நினைத்தாயோ. |
Did you think I too will Spend my days in search of food, Tell petty tales, Worry myself with thoughts, Hurt others by my acts, Turn senile with grey hair And end up as fodder to the relentless march of time As yet another faceless man? |
Subramaniya Bharathi is a renowned poet from
Southern India. He composed poems and songs in the Dravidian language
Tamil, which have gained popularity in schools, movies, and households
across India over the years. His poetry is known for its appeal to the
liberty and strength of the people.
As a person, Bharathiyar was a simple man, interested in his writing
alone. His wife would leave the house to bring food somehow, while he
wrote and brought in little income for the poor family. However, his
writings have earned him the title "Mahakavi," or "Great Poet."
Born to Chinnaswaamy Aiyyar and Lakshmi AmmaaL in 1882 at ETTayapuram,
he lost his mother at 5, and at 11 was invited to a conference of
ETTayapuram court poets and musicians. There he was given the title
Bhaarati for his ability to compose poems and songs - he accepted a
challenge and composed a cindu on the model of kaavaDi cindu of
Annaamalai Reddiyaar. At 15 he married CellammaaL and in 1898, his
father died.
At 22, he became Tamil teacher at Setupati High School in Madurai and
the same year was appointed Assistant Editor of a daily newspaper
called "Swadesamitran." In 1906, he was editor of a weekly magazine
called "India" in Madras and the next year a friend of his,
Krishnaswaamy Aiyyar received from him songs he had composed on
patriotism and published them, titled "SudEsa geetangaL." In 1908 the
government wanted to arrest him, but he escaped to PonDicerry (under
French rule) and published "India" from there. In 1912 he translated
the Bhagavad Geeta into Tamil and composed songs on Krishna (KaNNan
PaaTTu), "Kuyil," and "Pancaali Shabadam" (on Draupadi of the
Mahaabhaarata). When he left PonDicerry in 1918, he was arrested and
later released.
His national integration songs earned him the title "DEsiya Kavi"
(National Poet). He composed Tamil keertanais on love, devotion,
fearlessness, mysticism. His stepbrother C. Vishwanaata Aiyyar and
V.V.S. Aiyyar tell us that he himself set his songs to music and could
sing them well in a variety of raagams. In "Bharata dEviyin tiru
dasangam" he used 10 raagams. His patriotic songs emphasize
nationalism, unity of India, equality of man and the greatness of the
Tamil language, set himself to folk tunes. He sang these himself at
Congress meetings at the Madras beach.
In an article "Sangeeta Vishayam" (Issues in Music), Bhaaratiyaar
rebukes musicians for singing songs of the Trinity, PaTnam Subramania
Aiyyar and others without knowing the meaning because the songs are all
in Sanskrit or Telegu. Without knowing the meaning, singers are unable
to sing with proper expression. He also says songs usually portray
devotion and love and not other emotions like courage, anger, wonder,
fear, and hatred. He emphasized that musicians should not sing songs
which they don't understand and should learn from Hindustani musicians
how to train their voices. He died in an accident on September 11, 1921
at 39.