The Hindu Maha Sangham organized a ceremony at the Plaine Verte Municipal Garden in Mauritius to honor Subramania Bharati on his death anniversary. The event highlighted Bharati's contributions to Indian literature and his role in the country's struggle for independence. Born on December 11, 1882, Bharati was a prominent figure in Tamil literature and a fierce advocate for Indian independence.
Subramania Bharati, also known as Maha Kavi or the Great Poet, was a visionary radical social reformer. His poetry, including works like Panchali Sabatham, drew parallels between the Kurukshetra War and India's struggle for independence. Bharati's shorter poems, such as Arinum Aavi Thuthual and Achamillai Achamillai, are celebrated as national anthems of awakening. His poetry inspired many, including Rama Valayden, a Senior Counsel in Mauritius.
Bharati's life was marked by his activism and literary contributions. He was a spirited freedom fighter who wrote thousands of works on various subjects, including nationalism, the Mahabharata, and love songs. Bharati was proficient in multiple languages, including Tamil, Hindi, Bengali, Malayalam, Sanskrit, English, and French. His poetry reflected his pride in Indian culture and his desire for universal brotherhood.
In 1908, Bharati fled to Pondicherry, a French colony at the time, to avoid arrest and prosecution by the British Raj for his nationalist journalism and alleged seditious writings. From Pondicherry, he continued to write in nationalist newspapers, defying British bans. Bharati's publications, including the weekly India and Vijaya, were banned throughout British India, depriving him of a means of livelihood.
Bharati's activism and literary work had a significant impact on the Indian independence movement. He attended the All India Congress in Benares in 1905 and met Sister Nivedita, who inspired him to fight for women's emancipation. Bharati visualized the new woman as an emancipation of Shakti and penned several verses in her praise. He also advocated for Tilak's line of armed resistance against the British.
The British authorities attempted to connect Bharati to the assassination of British Collector Robert Ashe in 1911. However, Bharati was never a direct defendant in the trial. Despite facing severe financial hardship, Bharati continued to write and eventually returned to British India in November 1918. His legacy as a poet and freedom fighter continues to inspire people today.
Rama Valayden, a Senior Counsel in Mauritius, has a personal connection to Bharati, having known him as his great uncle. Valayden's song about Bosnia, inspired by Bharati's Achamillai Achamillai, was incorporated into the play Genosid. The tribute paid to Bharati in Mauritius highlights the enduring impact of his poetry and activism on people around the world.
Key points
- Subramania Bharati was a renowned Tamil poet and Indian independence activist who wrote thousands of works on various subjects.
- Bharati's poetry reflected his pride in Indian culture and his desire for universal brotherhood.
- The Hindu Maha Sangham in Mauritius recently paid tribute to Bharati on his death anniversary, highlighting his contributions to Indian literature and his role in the country's struggle for independence.
