12/11 - The day Amara kavi Bharathi came to my mother India

At this time, when the world is worried about 9/11 and its aftermath, lets , we Tamils all over the Globe, remember fondly 12/11 - Dec. 11th - the Birthday of our Mahakavi - Amara kavi Subramanya Bharathi.

It is easy to imagine and write poems and prose all hues in the airconditioned comforts of a home or office or a palatial hotel now-a-days! But in those testing times , when the nation was under foreign occupation, when writing or expressing anything about your nation or being simply nationalistic was suspected or treated as treason, This man, our Hero rose like a Phoenix from the ashes and wrote - some truly magnificent poetry which was breathtaking and rejuvenating at that troubled age and remarkable and very relevant and quite beautiful even today. That is what is poetry in the true literary sense of the term.

Bharathi like some other very important people in the history of Mother India, left this world when he was hardly 39. May be the almighty thinks that this is enough for these special individuals to be in this earth. (to remember a few illustrious ones - Adi Shankara at 32, Srinivasa Ramanujam (mathematician) about 32 again, Vivekananda again at 32...)

Obviously , its not how l...o...n...g... one lives , but how long he lives after his death and how he lives his life here, thats what really counts.

Mahakavi Subramaniya Bharathiyaar was born in the year 1882. At age 11, in the court of the King of Ettayapuram, he was given the title "Bharathi". The King and the poets in the court were astonished by Bharathi's prodigious poetic talents. Bharathi died at a young age of 39 (in 1921). But he left a legacy that is truly invaluable. A legacy which can't be measured by time or litreture or thoughts.. or in any terms

Today people make a huge hue and cry by self proclamation of doing service to Tamizh. Some claim to write notes for the tamil grammer. they claim to have framed the word "Nenjukku Needi".. But the true owner of it is this Man, Mahakavi. He was the one to wrote

Nenjukku Neediyum Tholukku Vaalum
Nirainda sudar manipp Poon,
Panjukku Ner Pala thunbangal Yaam ival,
Paarvaikku Ner Perum Thee.

He loved tamil so much that he usually referred to it as his Mother.

yaamarintha mozhikazhi-le tamizhmozhi-pol
inithavathu engum kaaNOm

But at the same time, Bharathiyaar was fluent in many languages (incl. Hindi, Sanskrit, Kuuch, English, Telugu, Malayalam etc.) and frequently translated works from other languages (Bengali, English) into Tamizh, thus showing that one can love one's language/culture and yet be appreciative of other languages/cultures. He referred to Telugu as

sundara telunginil paatisaithu

His thirst for freedom inspired many. A true leader's job is to inspire others. He displayed that in every sense. His breath was nationalism. He feared no death. He once wrote

Ada kaala unai naan siru pullena madikkiren
En Kaalaruge vaada, unai satre midikkiren

While Bharathiyaar was not ashamed of proclaiming the richness of his language, he was always an Indian first. He championed national integration, when India had not yet achieved nationhood. He was staunchly opposed to casteism.

In his song "VaanDhe maatharam enbom, Engal maanila thaayai vanagudum enbom"
he wrote:

jaathi madhangkazh paarome - uyar
janmam ith thesathiL yeithina raayinum
Vethiya raayinum Onre andri
Veru kulathina raayinum Onre

Long before our beloved president, Bharathi was the one to realise that if we want to change the course of the nation, its best to empower children. He wrote:

Jaadigal Illai adi paappa
Kula thaazhchi uyarchi sollal Paavam
needi uyarnda madi kalvi
ANBU niraiya udayavargal MELOR.

Just as he did not discriminate based on caste, he did not discriminate between religions as well. He sung the praise of many a Hindu god/godess, and at the same time he wrote devotional songs on Jesus Christ and Allah. Mahakavi Bharathi was a visionary who thought India should be a modern industrial nation, where all citizens (irrespective of gender, religion or caste) would be equal. He envisioned a great India:

Paarukkulle Nalla Naadu, Engal Bharatha naadu

I think Bharathiyaar's contribution to Tamizh and Indian literature is second to none. He showed that you can be a devouted Hindu and still sing the praise of Jesus or Allah. He showed that the love for your language and heritage need not come in the way of your patriotism. I think every Indian should remember This great Indian tomorrow, and draw
inspiration from his words.

Ini varum aandugalilaavadu avan kanavai niraivetruvomaaga.

Pengalukku sama urimayaainum sari,
singala theevinukkor palam amaipadaayinum sari,
vangathil odi varum neerin migaiyal maiyathu naadugalil payir seivadanalum sari

Seidu mudippom.

Velli ppani malayin meedulavuvom
adi melai kadal muzhudum kappal viduvom
palli thalam anaithum koil seiguvom
ENGAL BHARADA DESAMENDRU THOL KOTTUVOM
ENGAL BHARADA DESAMENDRU THOL KOTTUVOM

Aayudam seivom, kalvik kaagidam seivom
Aalaigal vaippom kalvi salaigal vaippom
OOYUDAL SEIYOM THALAI SAAYUDAL SEIYOM
unmaigal solvom pala Vanmaigal seivom

VaanDhe maatharam enbom,
Engal maanila thaayai vanagudum enbom
VaanDhe maatharam enbom

Adutha muraiyaavadu pona May Madathai ninaivil kondu, Bharathi sorkalai ninaivil kolvom

Aayiram undingu jaathi, Enil
Anniyar Vandu pugal enna Needi
Ondru pattal undu Vaazhve
"NAMMUL OTRUMAI NEENGIDIL ANAIVARKKUM THAAZHVE"

Naalai Dec 11, kaalathal azhiyaada Nam "Amaran - Maha Kavi Subramanya Bharathiyin" Piranda Naal. Bharathi kooda Kadavul madiri daan Kaala Desa Doorathai Kadandadanaal.

As I write these, feel like reading some of his poems. If you too feel like, visit
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Delphi/9687/

Remember, Its not how l...o...n...g... one lives , but how he lives his life here, thats what really counts.


- Murali