In a trailblazer’s footsteps

Speakers recalled Subramania Bharathi’s contributions to literature and culture

The four-day Poet Bharathiar Festival saw a variety of music and theatre events being performed. Photo: K.V. Srinivasan

The Poet Bharathiar Festival, a four-day literature, music and theatre event, organised at Bharathiar Illam in Triplicane, came to a close on Wednesday.

Many personalities associated with Tamil literature, music and theatre participated. On the final day of the programme, eminent speakers waxed eloquent on Subramania Bharathi during the presentation of the Bharathiar Award 2013.

Former Vice-Chancellor of Thanjavur Tamil University Avvai Natarajan said Bharathiar introduced innovative aspects into Tamil literary realm with his empathy for persons in need. “He paved a new way with poetry,” he said.

Thirupanandal Kasi Mutt Sundaramurthy Thambiran Swamigal pointed to the contribution of Bharathiar in shaping the thoughts of the Tamil speaking world. “His Tamil poems enriched the language and combined Indian nationalism with spirituality. The poems simplified complex political ideas and helped us internalise the significance of national integration. But there are new challenges to such ideas because of modern developments,” said Sundaramurthy Thambiran Swamigal.

Suki Sivam, who received the Bharathiar Award 2013, said Bharathiar’s ideas nurtured and developed him “like mother’s care.”

“Some ideas in the works of Bharathiar may seem to contradict each other. But such ideas actually reflect Bharathiar’s quest for knowledge, news and concern for Tamils suffering in other parts of the world,” said Mr. Sivam.

Residents too found the events informative. “The events helped me understand various dimensions of literary contribution made by Bharathiar,” said P.T. Balaji, a resident from Mylapore.