Subramanya Bharathiyar

Lineage

Mahakavi Bharathiyar was born to Chinnasami Subramanya Iyer and Elakkumi (Lakshmi) Ammaal as “Subbayya” on December 11, 1882 in the village of Ettayapuram in TamilNadu.

Education

He was educated at a local high school called “The M.D.T. Hindu College” in Tirunelveli. From a very young age he learnt music and at the age of 11, he was invited to a conference of Ettayapuram court poets and musicians, for composing poems and songs. It was here that he was conferred the title of “Bharathi” (“One blessed by Saraswathi – the Goddess of Learning).

Significant incidents in Bharathi’s life and his Contribution to the Nation

• Though he was offered a lucrative position as the poet in the Ettayapuram court, he refused the offer and used his adeptness at poetry to the best of his ability to coax the masses in the South to join the great Indian struggle for independence.
• Bharathi, curious to see the outside world, left for Benares in 1898. During his stay in Benares, Bharathi was exposed to Hindu Spirituality and nationalism. This broadened his outlook and he learned Sanskrit, Hindi and English.
• He met Sister Nivedita, Vivekananda’s spiritual daughter. There is a very interesting incident connected with this meeting. When Sister Nivedita enquired about Bharati’s wife Chellammal and his children, he said that he was not in the habit of bringing them along with him to various places. Sister Nivedita asked him, “So, are you going to get freedom for India?” – meaning how could a person who did not give enough freedom to his wife and his own children work for the freedom of the country? Without any kind of ego, Bharati immediately admitted his mistake and this was the trigger point for his composition “Gummiyadi..”  From Sister Nivedita arose another of Bharathi’s iconoclasm, his stand to recognise the privileges of women. He visualised the ‘new woman’ as an emanation of Shakti.
• Bharathi fought against the caste system in the Hindu society. Although born into an orthodox Brahmin family, he gave up his own caste identity. One of his great sayings meant, “There are only two castes in the world: One who is educated and one who is not”. He considered all living beings as equal and to illustrate this he even performed upanayanam to a young harijan man. He also scorned the divisive tendencies being imparted into the younger generations by their elderly tutors during his time. He openly criticised the preachers for mixing their individual thoughts while teaching the Vedas and the Gita.
• Bharathi took interest in the world of journalism and worked as an editor of various newspapers and weeklies. Bharathi joined as Assistant Editor of the Swadeshamitran, a Tamil daily. He was the first in India to introduce caricatures and political cartoons to his newspapers. He also started to publish his poems regularly. From religious hymns to nationalist anthems, from contemplations on the relationship between God and Man to songs on the Russian and French revolutions, Bharathi’s subjects were diverse.
• Bharathi immersed himself not only in writing but also in political activity. In Madras, he organised a public meeting to celebrate Swaraj (independence) Day. His nationalistic poems Vandhe Mataram, Enthayum Thayum and Jaya Bharath were printed and distributed free to the audience.
• Faced with the prospect of arrest, Bharathi escaped to Pondicherry which was under French rule. From there he edited and published India – the weekly journal, Vijaya – a Tamil daily, Bala Bharata – an English monthly, and Suryothayam – a local weekly of Pondicherry. The British tried to suppress Bharathi’s output by stopping remittances and letters to the papers. Both India and Vijaya were banned in British India in 1909.
• Bharathi was the first one to welcome Shri Aurobindo in Pondicherry. They had many sessions together consisting of Spiritual discussions, Vedas and Tamil language

Bharathi’s clarion call for freedom

Inspired by the French National anthem, he composed the song, ‘Viduthalai, Viduthalai’ which was not only a clarion call for freedom from alien rule but also addressed the need to unite a people across caste barriers.

Vidudhalai! Vidudhalai! Vidudhalai!
Parayarukkum Ingu Theeyar Pulaiyarukkum Vidudhalai
Paravarodu Kuravarukkum Maravarukkum Vidudhalai
Thiramaikonda Theemai atra Thozhil Purindhu Yavarum
Therndha Kalvi Gnanam Eidhi Vazhvam Indha Naattiley

Bharati looked at the motherland as his own mother. When Bharati went to Kadaiyam (village in Ettayapuram where Bharati was born), he started rolling on that ground with love and ecstasy. To all the onlookers, he was a mad man behaving abnormally. When one of his friends asked him about this, he said that he was lying on his mother’s lap and enjoying the affection and love of the mother. Such was his passion for the motherland. He also had an exceptional love and devotion towards his mother tongue Tamil language, which he considered as the sweetest of all the languages known to him though he was fluent in many languages including Bengali, Hindi, Sanskrit, French and English.

His songs for the children in ‘Paappa Paattu’ and ‘Pudhiya Aathichoodi’ evoked a sense of equality, love towards all living beings, casteless society and courage. His simple words conveyed the ethical and moral principles to the young minds effortlessly.

Bharathiyar’s compositions

Subramanya Bharathiyar’s compositions are diverse. He has composed devotional songs, patriotic songs, children’s songs, songs on women empowerment, songs on national integration, Panchali Sabadham, Pudhiya Atthichoodi.

His patriotic songs such as “Vande mataram enbom..” “Endhayum thayum magizhndu kulaavi..” are fiery and passionate about motherland and proud of

– bountiful natural resources

– diversity in people,

– the unity in its thought and of its

– spiritualism

His “Parukulle nalla Naadu..” and “Bharata desam endru peyar solluvaar..” express the depth of his love and the breadth of his vision for India.

Above all, he was a visionary; through his “Sindhinadiyinisai nilavinile..” he visualised the post-independent country’s political scene which holds good even now. His “Aaduvome pallu..” celebrated India’s independence many years before the actual independence happened.

Bharathiyar and Spirituality

Bharathi was a Hindu. But his spirituality was not limited. He sang to the Hindu deities and at the same time he wrote songs of devotion to Jesus Christ and Allah. Bharathi was a vigorous campaigner against casteism.

He wrote in Vandey Matharam:

Jaadhi Madhangalai Parom – Uyar Janmam Id-dheysathhil Eidhinaraayin
Veydhiyaraayinum Ondrey – Andri Veyru Kulattihinaraayinum Ondrey

“We shall not look at caste or religion; all human beings in this land – whether they be those who preach the Vedas or who belong to other castes – are one..”

Once when Bharati was in Pondicherry and there was a ban on his entry in Tamil Nadu (entering Tamil Nadu meant immediate arrest); one person known to Bharati persuaded him to accompany him to Tamil Nadu saying that the ban had been lifted. In all innocence, Bharati acceded to this. One of Bharati’s advocate friends happened to see this and immediately reprimanded him for behaving so foolishly (trying to enter Tamil Nadu when the ban on his entry still existed) and took him back home. The next day, the person who had tried to get Bharati arrested came to his house. Chellammal was wild with anger and started abusing him. Bharati immediately pacified her and composed the song “Pagaivannukku arulvai…”

Bharati lived a life of utter poverty. Once, Chellammal borrowed some rice from a neighbor, to feed her family. Bharati saw some sparrows trying to feed on the rice grains and immediately in all his compassion started tossing more grains to the sparrows though he very well knew that all in his family were starving. Though he lived a life of utter poverty, he was always positive in his thoughts and action. He has translated the Bhagavad Gita in Tamil. His compositions reflected spirituality.

Let us look at some of Bharathiyar’s compositions and relate it to our Swami’s philosophy:

Bharathiyar Song	Swami’s  Philosophy
Muppadhu kodi mugamudaiyal(Engal Thai)	Language of the Heart
Thani Oruvarukku Unavillaienil Jagathinnai Azhithiduvom (Bharatha Samudayam)	National Narayan Seva
Acchamillai achamillai	Why Fear when I am Here
Odi Vilaiyadu Paapa	Educare
Manadhil Urudhi Vendum Vaakinile Inimai Vendum	Speak sweetly and softly
Gummiyadi, Panchali Sabadam	Mahila  wing, Anantpur college
Paarkum Marangellam Nandalala(Kaakai Chiraginile)	See God in everyone
Nenjil uramumindri nermai thiramimindri	Unity of thought, word and deed

Bharathi’s last days

By 1912 Bharathi was already a legend in South India and his political meetings in Pondicherry, were attracting multitudes of young patriots, ready to join the non-violent constitutional agitation against the British rule. Several arrests and bans on his newspapers followed. Bharathi’s health was badly affected by the imprisonments. He was struck by an elephant at Parthasarathy temple, Triplicane, Chennai. His health deteriorated and he died on September 11, 1921.

Mahakavi Subramania Bharathiar was thus, one of the greatest Tamil poets, a prolific writer, philosopher and a great visionary of immense genius. He was also one of the most prominent leaders of the Indian independence movement. His national integration songs earned him the title “Desiya Kavi” (National Poet).

Suggested activities/discussions for Gurus:

1. While narrating the episode of upanayanam for a harijan boy, Gurus can draw the children’s attention to Mass upanayanam in Prashanti Nilayam; about what Swami has said about a true Brahmin and the universality of the Gayatri Mantra.
2. While discussing the sparrow episode in class, gurus can draw the attention of the children to Bhootha Yagna (Pancha Maha Yagnas) and Sarva bhuta daya(ashta pushpas)
3. Bharathiar songs– pdf files available in the CD given along with this study material