Tamil Poet: Socio political reformer & Tamil Poet Bharathidasan ✒ Santha Born on 1891 in Pondicherry, April 29; named Subburathinam by his parents Kanakasa bai and Lakshmi. In 1892, started his early education from his tutor Tiruppulisami Aiya. In 1902, starts composing poems. In the year 1908, he studies Tamil grammar and literature under the scholars Pu. A.Periasami and Bangaru Pattar. Stands first in the state in the Teachers Training Examination. Meets the great Poet Subramania Bharathi at the wedding of Venu Nayakkar. By 1909, he becomes a teacher in a Government school at Niravi in Karaikkal. In 1910, he is drawn towards the Indian Nationalist Movement because of his contact with the freedom fighters Bharathi, V.V.S.Iyer, Dr. Varadarajulu and Sri Aurobindo who were in self exile at Putucceri. Helps Bharathi to publish his journal Intiya. Actively connected with the publication of nationalist journals like Manikkodi, Tainatu, Tecopakari, and Tecacevakan. In 1916, death of Bharathidasan’s father occured on January 16. In 1918, he wins a case against the French Government which got him sentenced to imprisonment for 15 months on a charge of treason. In the year 1920, having been inspired by Gandhiji’s message, promotes the sale of khadi by carrying bundles of the cloth on his shoulders. In the same year his marriage to Palaniamma, daughter of Paradesiar happened. By 1921, the following events occured. Death of Subramania Bharathi on September 11 and Birth of first daughter Saraswathi, on September 15. In 1926 he composes the devotional poems entitled Sri Mayilam Cuppiramaniar Tutiyamutu. In 1928, he joins the Self – Respect Movement of Periyar E.V. Ramasamy. Starts writing poems to propagate the rationalistic ideas of the great social reformer. Birth of the poet’s son Gopathi (Mannar Mannan) Nov. 3. In 1929, he writes poems, essays and stories in Kutiyaracu and Pakuttarivu Puratci leading organs of rationalistic thought. By 1930, he releases a volume of poems including “Ciruvar Cirumiyar Teciyakitam”, “Tontar Nataippattu”, “Katar Irattinappattu”, Publication of Cancivi Parvatattin Caral and Talttappattor Camattuvappattu. Becomes the chief editor of the weekly Putuvai Muracu on December 10. In the year 1931, he writes the essay “Cevvay Ulaka Yattirai” in Putuvai Muracu, on January 5. Birth of the second daughter, Vasantha. In 1933, birth of the third daughter, Ramani. Participates in the “Conference of the Atheists” organised under the presidentship of Ma. Singara Velar and writes in the conference register that he is a confirmed atheist. Takes the credit of writing the first poem on family planning. In the following year 1934, he stages the drama ‘Iranian Allatu Inaiyrra Viran’ under the Chairmanship of Periyar E.V.Ramasamy. Writes Mavalipuraccelavu” after a boat trip to Mamallapuram with P.Jivanantam, Kuttuci Gurusamy, Kunjitam, Mayilai Seeni Venkadasamy, Mayuram Natarajan, Swami Chidambaranar and Narana Duraikkannan. In 1935, with the help of Thambusami Mudaliar, he releases Sri. Suppiramaniya Bharathi Kavita Mantalam, the first journal of verse in India. He also writes the dialogue and songs for the Tamil film Ramanujar. In 1937, Puratcikkavi, a short epic, written by him isreleased by L.Durairaj. A TO Z INDIA ● SEPTEMBER 2021 ● PAGE 9