Bharathidasan
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- The 136th birth anniversary of Poet Bharathidasan was celebrated.
- The “Revolutionary Poet” Bharathidasan was born in Puducherry on April 29, 1891, and passed away on April 21, 1964.
- His birth name was Kanagasubburathinam; influenced by Subramania Bharathi, he changed his name to “Bharathidasan.”
- His prominent titles include Pavendar, Puratchikavi, and Pagutharivu Kavignar.
- He was a social reformist poet who championed the Tamil language, social justice, equality, and rationalism.
- He was closely associated with the ideologies of the Dravidian Movement and the Self-Respect Movement.
- He advocated for progressive concepts such as women’s education, widow remarriage, the abolition of caste, and communism.
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- His maxim, “Until the subjugation of women ends, the subjugation of the land will not end,” highlights the pivotal role of women in bringing about social change.
- His major literary works include Kudumba Vilakku, Pandiyan Parisu, Tamizhiyakkam, Kannagi Puratchi Kappiyam, Tamizhachiyin Kathi, and Pisirandhaiyar.
- His versatility as a writer is demonstrated through works such as the rights-based play Amaithi and the satirical play Irunda Veedu.
- He translated Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice into Tamil, thereby introducing world literature to the Tamil literary landscape.
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- Through periodicals such as Kuyil, he fostered the growth of Tamil literature and disseminated social reformist ideas.
- His verses—such as “Tamizhukkum Amuthendru Per” and “Puthiyathor Ulagu Seivom” underscore the themes of social change and equality.
- Bharathidasan University, located in Tiruchirappalli, was established in his honour.
- The Government of Tamil Nadu honors his literary and social contributions by annually presenting the ‘Pavendar Award’.
- Bharathidasan was posthumously awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1969 for his play, Pisirandhaiyar.
