Aspjack at 09:31, 24 March 2026

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{{Short description|Tamil poet, writer, freedom fighter, social reformer (1891–1964)}}
{{indian patronymic|Subburathinam|Kanagasabai}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{More citations needed|date=July 2017}}
{{original research|date=January 2018}}
}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}
{{Infobox writer
| name = Bharathidasan<ref name="Patronymic_India" />
| image = Bharathidasan (cropped).jpg
| image_size =
| caption =
| birth_name = K. Subburathinam<ref name="Patronymic_India" />
| birth_date = 29 April 1891
| birth_place = [[Puducherry (city)|Pondicherry]], [[French India]] (now [[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]], [[India]])
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1964|4|21|1891|4|29}}
| death_place = [[Madras]], [[Madras State]] (now [[Chennai]], [[Tamil Nadu]]), [[India]]
| spouse = Pazhani Ammal
| children = Saraswathi Kannappan (Daughter) Mannarmannan (Son) Vasantha Dhandapani (Daughter) Ramani Sivasubramaniyan (Daughter)
| occupation = Teacher, [[Poet|Tamil poet]], [[Activist|Tamil activist]]
| period = [[Pure Tamil movement]]
| signature = Bharathidasan-signature.png
| parents = Father: Kanagasabai Mother: Lakshmi
}}

'''Bharathidasan'''<ref name="Patronymic_India">Birth name: K. Subburathinam, the person's given name: Subburathinam, father's given name: Kanagasabai. (K. Subburathinam by the prevalent [[Patronymic#India|patronymic initials as prefix]] naming system in Tamil Nadu and it is Subburathinam Kanagasabai by the [[Patronymic#India|patronymic suffix]] naming system.) He named himself "Bharathi dasan" meaning follower or adherent of Bharathi, and he is predominantly known as '''Bharathidasan.'''</ref> (IPA: {{IPAc-en|ˈ|b|ɑː|ˌ|r|ʌ|ð|i|ˈ|ð|ɑː|ˌ|s|ʌ|n|}}; born '''K. Subburathinam'''<ref name="Patronymic_India" /> 29 April 1891 – 21 April 1964) was a 20th-century<ref name="TVU_BD_bio">{{cite web |title=Bharathidasan's Biography |url=https://www.tamilvu.org/ta/library-l9210-html-l92100hs-146401 |website=Tamil Virtual University; tamilvu.org |access-date=4 December 2022}}</ref> [[Tamil language|Tamil]] poet and [[rationalist]] writer whose literary works handled mostly socio-political issues. He was deeply influenced by the Tamil poet [[Subramania Bharathi]] and named himself "Bharathi dasan" meaning follower or adherent of Bharathi.<ref>{{cite web|title=பாரதிதாசன்|website=itstamil.com |date=2 July 2013 |url=http://www.itstamil.com/bharathidasan.html}}</ref> His greatest influence was [[Periyar]] and his [[Self-Respect Movement|self-respect movement]]. Bharathidasan's writings<ref name="TVU_SRM_authors_plays" /> served as a catalyst for the growth of the [[Self-Respect Movement]] in [[Tamil Nadu]]. In addition to poetry, his views found expression in other forms such as plays, film scripts, short stories and essays. The Government of [[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]] union territory has adopted the song of Invocation to Mother Tamil, written by Bharathidasan as the state song of Puducherry ([[Tamil Thai Valthu (Puducherry)]]).<ref>{{Cite news |date=2006-04-17 |title=Bharathidasan's gift to Tamil and Pondicherry |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/ |access-date=2025-10-01 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

== Life ==
Kanaka Subburathinam was born<ref name="TVU_BD_bio" /><ref name="BDU_BD_bio_works">{{cite web |title=Bharathidasan's biography, his works (via Wayback Machine) |url=http://www.bdu.ac.in/bharathidasan/life_history.php |website=Bharathidasan's 125th Birthday Commemoration 2015 Website, Bharathidasan University, bdu.ac.in |publisher=Bharathidasan University |access-date=4 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161020225135/http://www.bdu.ac.in/bharathidasan/life_history.php |archive-date=20 October 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> in [[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]] (earlier called Pondicherry) on 29 April 1891 to Kanagasabai Mudaliar and Lakshmi Ammal. He was deeply influenced by the Tamil poet and freedom fighter, [[Subramania Bharathi]],<ref name="TVU_BD_bio" /> who mentored him and hence Subburathinam named himself "Bharathi dasan" meaning follower or adherent of Bharathi. He is popularly known as '''Bharathidasan'''<ref name="Patronymic_India" /> ([[Tamil language|Tamil]]: {{lang|ta|பாரதிதாசன்}}). A twentieth century Tamil poet, Bharathidasan was an active participant in the [[Indian independence movement]], he opposed both the [[British Raj]]<ref name="TVU_BD_bio" /> and the French colonial government.<ref name="TVU_BD_bio" /> He was imprisoned<ref name="TVU_BD_bio" /> for voicing his views against the French Government that was ruling Pondicherry at that time. Bharathidasan was a poet in his own right, writing mostly on socio-political issues like women's liberation, rationalism, and against caste discrimination. He was greatly influenced by the great rationalist leader and social reformer, [[Periyar|Periyar E. V. Ramaswami]].<ref name="TVU_BD_bio" /> Bharathidasan became one of the key figures in the [[Self-Respect Movement|Dravidian rationalist movement.]]<ref name="TVU_BD_bio" /><ref name="TVU_SRM_authors_plays" /> He was bestowed the titles ‘puratchi kavinjar’ (revolutionary poet) and 'paa vendhar' (king of poetry) to honor his excellence in Tamil poetry and he was widely known by his titles. Bharathidasan works were nationalized meaning brought into public domain<ref name="TVU_BD_bio" /> in 1991 by the then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu [[M. Karunanidhi]]. Bharathidasan's works can be found at the open access Tamil literature repository [[Project Madurai]].<ref>{{cite web|title= Project Madurai|url=https://www.projectmadurai.org/index.html|access-date=27 November 2022|publisher=projectmadurai.org}}</ref>

He remained a prolific<ref name="BDU_BD_works_links">{{cite web |title= Bharathidasan: Introduction, links to his works (master list) |url=http://www.bdu.ac.in/bharathidasan |website=Bharathidasan's 125th Birthday Commemoration 2015 Website, bdu.ac.in; Bharathidasan University via Wayback machine |access-date=4 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170220223306/http://www.bdu.ac.in/bharathidasan/ |archive-date=20 February 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref> writer and poet till he died on 21 April 1964,<ref name="TVU_BD_bio" /> a week before his 73rd birthday. He was awarded the [[Sahitya Academy Award]]<ref name="TVU_BD_bio" /> posthumously for his Tamil play<ref name="TVU_SRM_authors_plays">{{cite web |title=Self respect movement (Dravida Iyakkam) plays by Bharathidasan, C.N. Annadurai, M. Karunanidhi and others. |url=https://www.tamilvu.org/courses/degree/p102/p1024/html/p1024334.htm |website=Tamil Virtual University |access-date=4 December 2022}}</ref> ''Pisiraandhaiyaar''.<ref name="TVU_BD_bio" /> One among his famous lines is ‘அறிவை விரிவு செய், அகண்டமாக்கு’, ‘Arivai virivu sei, agandamakku’ meaning “Expand knowledge – make it universal”. Named after this great poet, it has been [[Bharathidasan institute of management|Bharathidasan institute of management's]] endeavour to expand and universalize knowledge.

Named after the revolutionary poet Bharathidasan, the [[Bharathidasan University]] was set up in 1982 as an offshoot of the [[University of Madras]]. The motto of the university “We will create a brave new world” has been framed from Bharathidasan's poetic words “புதியதோர் உலகம் செய்வோம்”. The university endeavours to be true to such a vision by creating in the region a brave new world of academic innovation for social change.

==List of poems made into film lyrics==
*Thamizhukum Amudenru per<ref name="spl">{{cite web|title=P.Susheela – special songs|url=https://psusheela.org/tam/special.htm|website=psusheela.org|access-date=11 November 2016}}</ref><ref name="BDU_BD_music_songs">{{cite web |title=Bharathidasan's poems set to music (lyrical poems) |url=http://www.bdu.ac.in/bharathidasan/songs.php |website=Bharathidasan's 125th Birthday Commemoration 2015 Website, bdu.ac.in; Bharathidasan University via Wayback Machine |access-date=4 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170819130522/http://www.bdu.ac.in/bharathidasan/songs.php |archive-date=19 August 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
*Sanke Muzhangu
*"Thunbam Nergayil" (set in [[Desh (raga)|Desh]] raga by Carnatic musician [[Dandapani Desikar]] and used by film composer [[R. Sudarsanam]] in ''[[Or Iravu]]'' in 1951)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://sriramv.com/2018/04/19/bharathidasan-dandapani-desigar-and-the-travancore-sisters/ |title=Bharathidasan, Dandapani Desigar and the Travancore Sisters |author=Sriram V |date=2018-04-19 |website=Madras Heritage and Carnatic Music |access-date=2023-01-11}}</ref>
*Thesa gnanam
*Neelavana aadaikul
*Valiyor silar
*Muzhumai Nila
*Chithirai
*Pallikudam
*Kalyanam aagatha penae
*Kaatrilellam
*Kandavudal kadal
*Vaanukku nilavu
*Paazhai pona manam <ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20130809062113/http://spicyonion.com/lyricist/bharathidasan-songs/ Complete List Of Bharathidasan Songs {{!}} Lyricist Bharathidasan Song Database]}}. spicyonion.com (19 June 2015). Retrieved on 2018-11-20.</ref>
*Vaana mazhai neeye
*Avalum Naanum Amudhum Thamizhum<ref name="aymarr">{{cite web|author1=A. R. Rahman|author-link1=A. R. Rahman|title=Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)|url=https://itunes.apple.com/in/album/achcham-yenbadhu-madamaiyada/id1123604755|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160921041535/https://itunes.apple.com/in/album/achcham-yenbadhu-madamaiyada/id1123604755|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 September 2016|website=[[iTunes]] ([[Apple Inc.]])|publisher=VMS Music Records & Publishing|access-date=11 November 2016|language=ta|date=17 June 2016}}</ref>

==Awards and recognitions==

[[File:Bharathidasan 2001 stamp of India.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Bharathidasan on a 2001 stamp of India]]
*Bharathidasan won the Golden Parrot Prize in 1946 for his play Amaithi-Oomai (Peace and Dumbness).
*He was given the [[Sahitya Academy Award]],<ref name="TVU_BD_bio" /> posthumously in 1970 for his play Pisiranthaiyar.
*On 9 October 2001, a commemorative stamp of Bharathidasan was released by the Postal Department in Chennai.
*He was conferred with the title of "Puratchi Kavingyar" (meaning the "Revolutionary Poet") by Periyar.

==Legacy==
* [[Tamil Nadu]]'s state government gives the Bharathidasan Award annually to a Tamil poet.
* The Government of [[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]] union territory has adopted Bharathidasan's song of Invocation to Mother Tamil as the state song of Puducherry.
* A state university named [[Bharathidasan University]] was established in [[Tiruchirappalli]].
* [[Bharathidasan institute of management]], one of India's top B-schools, was established in [[Tiruchirappalli]].

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Bharathidasan}}
{{Wikisource|ta:பகுப்பு:பாரதிதாசன்| பாரதிதாசன்}}
{{Wikiquote|ta:பாரதிதாசன்| பாரதிதாசன்}}
* Tamil Wikisource- works by Bharathidasan [[wikisource:ta:பகுப்பு:பாரதிதாசன்|பாரதிதாசன்]]
* Works by Bharathidasan ( [[Tamil language|Tamil]]: பாரதிதாசன்) at the open access Tamil Literature repository: [https://www.projectmadurai.org/index.html Project Madurai]
* {{Commons category-inline}}
{{Sahitya Akademi Award For Tamil}}

{{Authority control}}

{{Indian Independence Movement}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bharathidasan}}
[[Category:1891 births]]
[[Category:1964 deaths]]
[[Category:Anti-Brahminism]]
[[Category:Dravidian movement]]
[[Category:People from Pondicherry]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Sahitya Akademi Award in Tamil]]
[[Category:Tamil activists]]
[[Category:Tamil poets]]
[[Category:Children's writers in Tamil]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian poets]]
[[Category:Tirukkural commentators]]
[[Category:Poets from Puducherry]]
[[Category:Indian Tamil people]]

Bharathidasan - Revision history

Aspjack at 09:31, 24 March 2026