The mention of his books and questions asked about them light up 98-year-old freedom fighter I. Mayandi Bharathi’s eyes.
“The books I have published speak a lot about our freedom struggle and values such as patriotism and determination, which youngsters and adults alike need to learn and imbibe at present,” he explains, while showing copies of books he has published.
The oldest living freedom fighter in Madurai, Mr. Bharathi currently resides in a small one-room house near Town Hall Road and is helped with food and care by his foster daughter and her family who live above his house.
“He uses most of his pension in publishing books and is very keen that people should know about the country, its history and freedom movement. He always has a lot to say to people and does not charge a penny when called to address functions,” says L. Kala Bharathi, his foster daughter.
“I have also made it a point to listen to his speeches as well as collect his old writings and document them,” she adds.
Among the 15 books published by him, most are collections of his old articles from his stint as a writer and editor with the Communist Party of India journal Janashakti from 1944 to 1963 and the CPI (M)’s Tamil daily Theekathir from 1964 to 1991. “There are very few freedom fighters still alive and I want to tell as many people as possible the struggle our country went through,” Mr. Bharathi says.
He currently receives a central pension and a freedom fighter’s pension which support him and his enthusiasm to publish his books.
“I have, however, been asking for a house under the freedom fighter’s quota but nothing has materialised so far. I live in a very small portion and it becomes very tough when academicians and young students come to meet me as there is not much space to interact with them,” he explains.
