The entire set of works of nationalist poet Subramania Bharati is ready for publication in chronological order, a rare distinction that has eluded many other literary figures and leaders in the country.
Compiled by Seeni Viswanathan, noted Bharati scholar, the collection would be brought by Chennai-based Alliance Publications in 16 volumes, running to over 10,000 pages.
Beginning with his letter as a teenager in the form of a poetic entreaty, seeking financial assistance from the king of Ettayapuram on January 24, 1897, as a student of MDT Hindu College in Tirunelveli, the collected works end with ‘Rabindra Digvijayam’, published on August 25, 1921. The article on Rabindranath Tagore’s visit to foreign countries was probably his last.
Bharathi was 16 when he wrote the letter as his father’s business venture had then come a cropper. It was later published in Kalaimagal, a literary magazine.
“I began my work in 1960 and I have succeeded in collecting 90 per cent of his works. I have verified every single piece of writing, including manuscripts,” said 81-year old Seeni Viswanathan. He said the letter was proof that Bharathi’s earlier works were written in a tough style. Though Mr. Viswanathan published 12 volumes from time to time on his own — between 1998 and 2010 — he has now decided to give the entire body of work to V. Srinivasan of Alliance Publications.
“When he came to us in search of ‘Parobakaram’, a short story Bharathi had written and published in ‘Vivekabodhini’, run by my grandfather, I requested him to allow me to bring out the books as several volumes. He immediately agreed,” said Mr. Srinivasan.
The first volume is a biography of Bharathi by Mr. Viswanathan and the last is the story of his journey in search of Bharathi’s works. One volume is devoted to Bharathi’s articles on music.
Even though other Bharathi scholars, including R.A. Padmanabhan, Periyasami Thooran and Elasai Manian, had published the poet’s works, Mr. Viswanathan’s publication will be the first to include all the writings known to be his.
Mr. Viswanathan said he could get copies of ‘India’, a magazine edited by Bharathi, only from Kolkata. Copies of ‘Swadesamitran’, a newspaper to which he regularly contributed, were available in the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library in Delhi.
“Bharathiyar also used pen names like Kalidasan and Sakthidasan while working for Swadesamitran. His English works were published in Annie Besant’s Commonweal, New India and The Hindu ,” said Mr. Viswanathan, acknowledging the help and encouragement rendered by Thuglak Editor Cho Ramaswamy and industrialist Nalli Kuppusamy Chetti.
Mr. Srinivasan said he had already printed a few copies and sought an appointment with Chief Minister Jayalalithaa to present to her the first set.
The entire body of literature running into 10,000 pages includes his letters, newspaper articles
