C. Subrahmanyam Bharti एलासम एलिनेलाई एडुमनल आर्ये i.e. India will provide the way to get freedom from every bondage of the world.

The poems of the national poet C. Subrahmanyam Bharati, known as Mahakavi Bharatiyar, are full of patriotism.

Freedom fighter, social reformer C. Subrahmanyam Bharti is considered a bridge of unity between North India and South India. Bharathi was born on 11 December 1882 in Ettayapuram in a Brahmin family. His mother died when he was only 5 years old. Soon his father also passed away. He adapted the grief of losing his parents into his poetry. His fame spread all around.

At the age of 11, during the Kavi Sammelan, his king, impressed by his intelligence, gave him the title of Bharti. He married Chennamma in 1897. In 1898, he went to Banaras for higher education where he had an encounter with Hindu spirituality and patriotism. Stayed with his aunt for 4 years and acquired knowledge of Sanskrit, Hindi and English. National consciousness became stronger after Harishchandra Bhartendu came in contact with Harishchandra Mandal and Dr. Annie Besant. Influenced by Swami Vivekananda and sister Nivedita, he joined the freedom movement in 1900 AD.

Bankimchandra Chattopadhyay’s song Vande Mataram influenced C. Subrahmanyam Bharti to such an extent that he translated Vande Mataram into Tamil and took it to every home in Tamil Nadu. Participated in the Congress session held in Surat in 1907. Over time, he got inclined towards Maharishi Aurobindo. To avoid arrest he went to Pondicherry. While staying there, he kept awakening the flame of freedom through poetry and prose.

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C. Subrahmanyam Bharti considered three things important for achieving and protecting independence –

1. school for children,
2. tools for tomorrow’s factories
3. paper for printing newspapers

C. Subrahmanyam Bharti first work was published in Vijaya magazine in 1909. His poetic works – Swadesh Geetangal, Janmabhoomi contain patriotism as well as challenge to the British Empire. His compositions Kupilpattu, Kannan Pattu, Chuyacharitai, Techiya Ketankan, Panchalichapatam are quite famous. Along with Tamil, he also had command over Hindi, Bengali, Sanskrit and English.

C. Subrahmanyam Bharti considered Tamil as a sweet language. He was called a national poet because of his compositions of poems imbued with patriotism. The vision for independent India is also reflected in his works. These translated lines of his poems remained popular –

1. We will say Vande Mataram.
2. Yes again and again and again.
3. Will worship the land of India.
4. We will say Vande Mataram.

C. Subrahmanyam Bharti came in contact with Gandhi in 1917. On his return from Pondicherry, he was sent to jail on 20 December 1918 for his participation in the freedom struggle. Participated in the non-cooperation movement in 1920. He died on 12 September 1921 due to injuries sustained from an elephant in a temple in Madras.

The Government of India decided to celebrate his birthday as Language Day. On his 100th death anniversary, the Government of India announced the establishment of a chair in his name in Banaras Hindu University in which Tamil studies will be promoted.

The whole of India is proud of C. Subramaniam Bharti. We are determined to create the India of their dreams.

Author – Vijay Singh Mali

Principal Shri Dhanraj Badamiya Government Girls Higher Secondary School Sadri (Pali) mobile 9829285914 vsmali1976@gmail.com