Subramania Bharati

• Subramania Bharati, also known as Mahakavi Bharati, was a pioneering Tamil poet, writer, and social reformer.
• Born on December 11, 1882, in Ettayapuram, Tamil Nadu.
• He was given the title “Bharati” at the age of 11 in recognition of his poetic skills
• Despite his father’s wishes for him to pursue a career in engineering, Bharati was drawn to literature and social issues

Contributions:

• Panchali Sapatham: A retelling of the Mahabharata episode, emphasizing the plight and strength of women.

• Kuyil Paatu: A series of poems inspired by the song of the koel bird.

• Kannan Paatu: Poems dedicated to Lord Krishna, blending devotion with social messages.

• Due to his revolutionary activities, he was forced to live in exile in Pondicherry, a French colony, from 1908 to 1918

• Bharati passed away on September 11, 1921

Govt reverence:

• The statue of Subramania Bharati in New Delhi is located at Ramana Maharishi Marg in Lutyens’ Delhi.
• 1960: A commemorative coin was issued on September 11, 1960, to mark the anniversary of Bharati’s death
• 2016: Another commemorative coin was released in February 2016, celebrating Bharati’s contributions to Indian literature and the independence movement2