Bharathidasan 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. 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. 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.
