Font size:
Print
Subramania Bharati
Context:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release a complete and annotated version of C. Subramania Bharati’s works in New Delhi on Wednesday.
Significance of the Release:
- Bharati’s birth anniversary on December 11 is an opportunity to honour his enduring influence on Indian thought, literature, and social reform.
- Bharati was a prominent leader in the Independence movement and a prolific writer and poet.
- His writings were nationalised by the Madras government in 1949, an unusual honour, recognising the importance of his work.
About:
- Born: December 11, 1882, in Ettaiyapuram, Madras Presidency, India.
- Died: September 12, 1921, in Madras (now Chennai).
- Subramania Bharati, known as Mahakavi Bharati, was a poet, journalist, freedom fighter, activist, and social reformer.
- His contributions spanned literature, activism, and nationalism, embodying the spirit of Bharatiya pride.
- Nationalism: The name “Bharati” reflects humility and places the nation before self, evoking pride in being Bharatiya.
- Language: Bharati was a polyglot, fluent in 32 languages, including three foreign languages, and he took immense pride in being a Tamil poet.
- He believed that Indian languages, including Tamil, were equal to English in their cultural and literary richness.
- Philosophy on Literature and Languages: Bharati wrote in both Tamil and English, advocating for the philosophical and poetic richness of Tamil literature. He stressed that the Tamil language had a grand literary tradition, urging Indians to appreciate their own languages and heritage.
Anti-Colonial Stance:
- While opposing colonial rule, Bharati respected foreigners who admired and valued India’s culture, such as Sister Nivedita, an Irish woman who contributed significantly to Indian education.
- He dedicated his work Swadesa Geethangal to her, acknowledging her as a true embodiment of Bharat Mata.
Vision for Freedom and Equality:
- Bharati’s vision of freedom went beyond colonial liberation, extending to freedom from hunger, gender discrimination, untouchability, and narrow religious dogma.
- He rejected the caste system, promoting equality among all people, regardless of caste. He performed the upanayanam ceremony for a Dalit man, elevating him to the Brahmin caste as a symbolic act of equality.
Champion of Women’s Rights: Bharati was a strong proponent of women’s rights and education. He envisioned women playing a central role in societal transformation, advocating for their participation in politics and social change.
