Mahakavi Bharathi 137th birthday today
Posted on: 11/Dec/2018 11:42:31 AM
Mahakavi Bharathi was a revolutionary and unique poet who even challenged Death with his lyrics Veezhven ena ninaithayo! (Did you think I will fall before you?). Today is this great poet’s 137th birthday. Though his life was rather short – he lived only 39 years, here are some of the indications of his greatness, the revolutionary and progressive thinking.
Mahakavi Bharathi was a revolutionary poet who breathed freshness and novelty and injected this into his poems. Thus, he paved a new path for the Tamil poets. He was the poet who challenged – ‘Yemakkutozhil kavithai – Imappozhudhum Seradhiruthal’ (Our profession is as a poet and the resolve is never to tire!’)
Poet Bharathi was aware of the literature in other languages, world literature, the happenings and goings-on in the country, political awareness, and a global outlook.
The poet’s creations – Kuyil Paattu, Panchali Sabatham, Bhagavat Geetha sermon. Etc., stand as the high-quality testimony to his prowess as a poet. The poet Bharathi adored Lord Krishna and visualized him in various forms – an infant, friend, servant, love, and teacher!
As most of Mahakavi Bharathi’s poems were written to be sung is Karnatic musical ragas – this has helped that most of the songs have been picturised as film songs with excellent melodious music and still render the divine experience of listening to the enchaining music!
Mahakavi Bharathi`s songs played a great tole indeed during the period of the intense freedom struggle of the country. Especially, the youth were captivated by these poems and were stimulated in the fervour for freedom.
Bharathi’s birthday is not just the formal observance of his memories – it is indeed a great celebration of mankind and its humanity. In fact, it is a unique reading and relishing experience of reading something eternal and not bound in limited periods!
