Sunday, April 27, 2008

Subramania Bharathiyaar

Mahakavi Subramaniya Bharathiyaar was born in the year 1882. He was
lovingly called Subbiah during his younger days. 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. Later (1902-1904), Bharathi lived in
Ettayapuram and was the King's close friend. Bharathi was passionately
involved in the freedom movement. He worked as a school teacher and as
a journal editor at various times in his life. Bharathi died at a young
age of 39 (in 1921). But he left a legacy that is truly invaluable.

Bharathiyaar, as the Mahakavi is known in Tamizh, lived in an era when
India was still under British occupation. His devotion to Tamizh led
him to say:

yaamarintha mozhikazhi-le tamizhmozhi-pole
E-nithavathu engum kaaNOm

(Among all the languages I know, there is
none sweeter than Tamizh)

But at the same time, Bharathiyaar was fluent in many languages (incl.
Hindi, Sanskrit, Kuuch, English 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.


Contd...

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