Courteous greetings on the occasion of 128th birth anniversary of Tamil language famous writer, poet Late Kanakasabai Subburathinam. He was deeply influenced by Tamil language poet Mahakavi Chinnaswami Subramania Bharathi and named himself as Bharathidasan. His writings served as a catalyst for the growth of the Dravidian movement in Tamilnadu. 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 has adopted the song of invocation to Goddess Tamil written by Bharathidasan as the state song of Puducherry.
Bharathidasan was born to Kanagasabai Mudaliar and Lakshmi Ammal in a well-to-do merchant family of Pondicherry. His original name was Subburathinam. He underwent formal education in Tamil literature, Tamil grammar and Saiva Siddhanta Vedanta under reputed scholars. He studied at the Collège Calvé in Pondicherry. In 1909, he was introduced to Subramaniya Bharathiyar, and his interactions with the Mahakavi had a major impact on him. He initially worked as a Tamil teacher in the French territory of Karaikal.
Bharathidasan penned his works under different pseudonyms such as Paavendar, Puduvai Kalaimakal, Desopakari, Desabhaktan, Anantapotini, Swadesamitiran, Tamilarasu, Tupleks, Kirukkan, Kindalkaran and the name by which he known today — Bharathidasan.
Though initially Bharathidasan composed devotional songs, later he joined the Self-Respect Movement of Periyar E.V.Ramasamy and wrote poems and drama to propagate the rationalist ideas of the great social reformer. He was the first poet who wrote on family planning. He also penned script, dialogue, songs for Tamil films.
Kudumba Vizhakku, Azhagin Sirrippu, Sera Thandavam and Irunda Veedu are his notable masterpieces. His poem ‘Tamil Vazhthu’ is being sung as prayer song at educational institutions.
