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Bharathidasan



 
 
Bharathidasan (April 29, 1891 - April 1, 1964; also spelt Bharatidasan) was a twentieth century Tamil
Tamil language

Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has Official language in India, Sri Lanka and Singapore....
 poet and rationalist whose literary works handled mostly socio-political issues. His writings served as a catalyst for the growth of the Dravidian movement in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 States and territories of India of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai . Tamil Nadu lies in the southern most part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by Puducherry , Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh....
. In addition to poetry, his views found expression in other forms such as plays, film scripts, short stories and essays. He was mentored by Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathi (after whom he called himself "Bharathidasan").






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Bharathidasan (April 29, 1891 - April 1, 1964; also spelt Bharatidasan) was a twentieth century Tamil
Tamil language

Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has Official language in India, Sri Lanka and Singapore....
 poet and rationalist whose literary works handled mostly socio-political issues. His writings served as a catalyst for the growth of the Dravidian movement in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 States and territories of India of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai . Tamil Nadu lies in the southern most part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by Puducherry , Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh....
. In addition to poetry, his views found expression in other forms such as plays, film scripts, short stories and essays. He was mentored by Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathi (after whom he called himself "Bharathidasan"). But Bharathidasan, unlike Bharathi rarely used words derived from Sanskrit
Sanskrit

Sanskrit is a historical Indo-Aryan language, one of the liturgical languages of Hinduism and Buddhism, and one of the 22 official languages of India....
 in his works; also Bharathidasan's works were more political.

Life

Bharathidasan was born in Pondicherry. His original name was Subburathinam. He underwent formal education in Tamil literature, Tamil grammar and Saiva Sidhantha Vedanta
Vedanta

Vedanta is a spiritual tradition explained in the Upanishads that is concerned with the self-realisation by which one understands the ultimate nature of reality and teaches the believer's goal is to transcend the limitations of self-identity and realize one's unity with Brahman....
 under reputed scholars. He also studied at the Collège Calvé in Pondicherry. In 1909, he was introduced to Subramanya Bharathi, and his interactions with the Mahakavi had a major impact on him. He initially worked as a Tamil teacher in the French territory of Karaikal
Karaikal

Karaikal is a city and a municipality in Karaikal district in the Indian States and territories of India of Puducherry.Several explanations are offered for the word 'Karaikal'....
.

He actively participated in the Indian Independence Movement
Indian independence movement

The term Indian independence movement incorporates various national and regional campaigns, agitations and efforts of both Nonviolent and Revolutionary movement for Indian independence philosophy....
 and through his writings openly opposed the British and the French Government. He was sentenced and imprisoned by the French Government for voicing views against the French Government that was ruling Pondicherry then. He was a strong supporter of Periyar and an important member of the Suya-Mariyadhai (meaning Self-Respect) Dravida Movement (also known as the Anti-Brahmin movement), founded by Periyar. Biggest leader Pavalareru Perunchitthiranaar's Friend.

During the Atheist's conference in Chennai
Chennai

Chennai , formerly Indian renaming controversy , is the fourth largest metropolitan area of India and the capital city of the Indian states and territories of India of Tamil Nadu....
, he signed a document having the words "I am an undying atheist".

Throughout his writing career he was encouraged by political leaders such as Annadurai
Annadurai

Annadurai can refer to:* C. N. Annadurai, an Indian politician* Mylswamy Annadurai, an Indian scientist...
 and M. G. Ramachandran
M. G. Ramachandran

Maruthur Gopala Ramachandran , popularly known by his initials M. G. R. , was a Tamil people film actor, film producer and politician. As a well known Tamil activism, he served as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu from 1977 until his death in 1987....
. In 1954 he was elected to the Pondicherry Legislative Assembly. He remained a prolific writer until he died in 1964 in a hospital in Chennai.

Literary Works

Bharathidasan penned his works under different pseudonym
Pseudonym

A pseudonym, , is a fictitious alternative to a person's legal name. In some cases, pseudonyms are adopted because it is part of a cultural or organizational tradition, as in the case of Religious names used by members of some religious orders and "cadre names" used by Communist party leaders such as Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin....
s such as Puduvai Kalaimakal, Desopakari, Desabhaktan, Anantapotini, Swadesamitiran, Tamilarasu, Tupleks, Kirukkan, Kindalkaran and the name by which he known today - Bharathidasan. As he was a staunch follower of Anti-Brahmanism
Anti-Brahmanism

Anti-Brahminism, also spelled as Anti-Brahmanism, is discrimination, hostility or prejudice directed against the Brahmin Indian caste system, as opposed to Anti-Hinduism which rejects Hinduism as a whole....
, many of his works were anti-Brahmin in nature. Often he talked of "Tamil Race" and "Aryan Race" as polar opposites.

His works include
  • Srimayilam Suppiramaniar Thuthiyamuthu
  • Sanjivi Parvathin Saaral
  • Edhirpaaraadha Mutham
  • Kaadhal Ninaivugal
  • Nalla Theerppu
  • Alagin Sirippu
  • Kudumba Vilakku
  • Pandiyan Parisu
  • Irunda Veedu
  • Tamil Illakiyam
  • Amaidhi - Oomai
  • Saumiyan
  • Kavingyar Pesugiraar
  • Kadhala Kadamaiya
  • Hindi Ethurppu Paadalgal
  • Kannagi Puratchik Kaapiyam
  • Manimekalai Venpa
  • Panmanithiral
  • Tenaruvi Isai Paadalgal


Awards and Recognitions

  • Bharathidasan was conferred with the title of "Puratchi Kavingyar" (meaning the "Revolutionary Poet") by Periyar. He won the Golden Parrot Prize in 1946 for his play Amaithi-Oomai (Peace and Dumbness). He was given the Sahitya Academy award posthumously
    Posthumous recognition

    File:US Flag-ceremony.JPGA posthumous recognition is a ceremonial award given after the recipient has died, usually in honor of an action associated with his or her death....
     in 1970 for his play Pisiranthaiyar
  • In 9 October 2001, a commemorative stamp of Bharathidasan was released by the Postal Department in Chennai.


Commemoration

The state government of Tamil Nadu gives the Bharathidasan Award annually to a Tamil poet.

External links