PM Modi releases compendium of complete works of great Tamil poet Subramania Bharati

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi released the compendium of complete works of great Tamil poet and freedom fighter Subramania Bharati at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, New Delhi . Paying his tributes to the great Tamil Poet Subramania Bharati on his birth anniversary, Shri Modi said today was a great opportunity for India’s culture and literature, memories of India’s freedom struggle and for the pride of Tamil Nadu. He added that the grand culmination of the publication of the works of Mahakavi Subrahmania Bharati was done today.

The Prime Minister lauded the extraordinary, unprecedented and tireless work of six decades for the compilation of ‘Kaala Varisaiyil Bharathiyar Padaippugal’ in 21 volumes. He added that the hard work of Seeni Vishwanathan ji was such a penance, which will benefit many generations to come. Shri Modi remarked that Shri Vishwanathan’s penance reminded him of Maha-Mahopadhyay Pandurang Vaman Kane, who had spent 35 years of his life in writing the History of Dharmashastra. The Prime Minister expressed confidence that the work of Shri Seeni Vishwanathan will become a bench-mark in the academic world and congratulated him and his colleagues for his seminal work.

Referring to ‘Kaala Varisaiyil Bharati Padaippugal’, the Prime Minister said that the volume does not merely comprise the works of Bharatiji, but it also includes insightful background information about his literature or literary journey and an in-depth philosophical analysis of his creations. Each volume includes commentary, explanations and detailed annotations. Shri Modi said, “This edition will prove to be of great help to research scholars and intellectuals in understanding the depth of Bhartiji’s thoughts while providing a perspective into the time period he belonged to.”

Extending warm wishes on the Gita Jayanti, the Prime Minister hailed Shri Subramania Bharati for his profound faith in the teachings of the Gita and an equally deep understanding of its wisdom. “He translated Gita into Tamil, providing a simple and accessible interpretation of its profound message,” Shri Modi said, adding that the occasion of Gita Jayanti, birth anniversary of Subramania Bharati ji and the publication of his works is nothing short of a remarkable confluence akin to the ‘Triveni.’

Referring to the concept of ‘Shabda Brahma’ from Indian philosophy, the Prime Minister said India has always regarded words as more than a medium of expression, highlighting their limitless power. “The words of the sages and thinkers reflect the essence of their contemplations, experiences and spiritual practices, making it our responsibility to preserve them for future generations.” Shri Modi said that this tradition of compiling significant works remains relevant today. For example, the writings of Maharishi Vyasa, systematically preserved in the Puranas, still resonate. Mentioning a few examples, he said that Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar’s Writings and Speeches, and Deen Dayal Upadhyay’s Complete Works have greatly contributed to society and academia. Shri Modi further added that efforts are going on to translate the Thirukkural into multiple languages, which will exemplify India’s dedication to preserving and promoting its literary heritage, adding that he got an opportunity to release the Thirukkural in Tok Pisin during the visit to Papua New Guinea and its Gujarati translation at his official residence.

Lauding Subramania Bharati as a great thinker who worked with an eye on the needs of the country, Shri Modi said that he worked in every direction that the country needed at that time. He added that Bharathiyar was not just the heritage of Tamil Nadu and Tamil language, but a thinker whose every breath was dedicated to the service of Maa Bharati who dreamt of the rise and pride of India. The Prime Minister underlined that the Government worked continuously with a sense of duty to spread the contribution of Bharathiyar ji to the people. He added that in 2020, despite the whole world being affected by the Covid pandemic, the Government ensured the celebrations of the 100th death anniversary of Subramania Bharati in a very grand manner. He further added that he himself was a part of the International Bharati Festival. Shri Modi stressed that he had constantly presented the vision of India to the world through the thoughts of Mahakavi Bharati within India and abroad. Highlighting Kashi as the living and a spiritual bond between himself and Subramania Bharati, the Prime Minister noted that the time spent and the relationship of Subramania Bharati had become a part of Kashi’s heritage. He added that Shri Bharati came to Kashi to gain knowledge, and stayed there forever and many members of his family still lived in Kashi. Recounting that Bharathiyar was inspired to groom his magnificent moustache while living in Kashi, Shri Modi remarked that Bharathiyar wrote many of his works while living in Kashi. The Prime Minister, representing as the Member of Parliament from Varanasi, welcomed the sacred work and added that it was the good fortune of the Government that a chair dedicated to the contribution of Mahakavi Bharathiyar was established in Banaras Hindu University.

Paying tribute to the legendary poet and visionary that Shri Subramania Bharati was, the Prime Minister highlighted his unparalleled contributions to India’s cultural, intellectual and social fabric. He said, “Subramania Bharati was a personality who graces this world perhaps once in centuries. Despite a life of only 39 years, he left an indelible mark on our nation.” Shri Modi said that through his powerful words, he not only envisioned freedom but also awakened the collective consciousness of the people, which is deeply reflected in a couplet penned by him that continues to resonate with us till this date: “Endru thaniyum indha sudhandhira thaagam? Endru madiyum engal adimayin moagam?”, meaning when will this thirst for freedom be quenched? when will our infatuation with servitude end? Lauding Bharati ji’s contributions to journalism and literature, Shri Modi said, “Bharati Ji revolutionized journalism by launching India Weekly in 1906, the first Tamil newspaper to feature political cartoons. His poetry, such as Kannan Pattu, reflects his profound spirituality and deep empathy for the marginalized. His appeal for clothing donations for the impoverished demonstrates how his work inspired action and philanthropy.” Calling him an eternal source of inspiration, Shri Modi lauded his fearless clarity and his timeless vision for a better future that always urged the masses to strive for freedom, equality and compassion.

Lauding Shri Bharathiyar as a man with a foresight, the Prime Minister remarked that even in  times when the society was embroiled in other difficulties, Bharathiar was a staunch supporter of youth and women empowerment and also had immense faith in science and innovation. He added that Bharatiyar had envisioned a communication which would reduce distance and connect the entire country. Reciting lines of Subramania Bharati, ‘”Kashi Nagar, Pulavar Pesum, Urai thaan, Kanchiyil, Kaetpadharkoar, Karuvi Seivoam’; meaning there should be a device through which one can listen to what the saints of Banaras are saying while sitting in Kanchi. The Prime Minister emphasized that Digital India was turning these dreams into reality by connecting India from south to north and east to west. He added that apps like Bhashini had also eliminated all the language related problems. Shri Modi remarked that there was a sense of respect and pride  towards every language of India with a good intention to preserve every language of India, which leads to a way in which service is done for every language.

Praising the literary contributions of Shri Bharati, the Prime Minister termed his work a priceless heritage for the ancient Tamil language. “Subramania Bharati’s literature is a treasure for the Tamil language, one of the oldest languages in the world. When we spread his literature, we are also serving the Tamil language. And in doing so, we are preserving and promoting our nation’s ancient heritage,” he said. Emphasising the efforts made in the past decade to elevate the status of Tamil, Shri Modi said, “In the last 10 years, the country has worked with dedication to honour the pride of Tamil,” adding that he had the privilege to represent the glory of Tamil at the United Nations. “We are also opening Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centers around the world,” he noted.

The Prime Minister expressed confidence that the compilation of poet Subramania Bharati’s works would significantly contribute to the promotion of the Tamil language. “Together, we will achieve the goal of a developed India and fulfill Bharati ji’s dreams for our nation,” he said. Shri Modi concluded the address by congratulating everyone involved in the compilation of and publication of the works.

The Union Minister for Culture, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekawat,  Union Ministers of State, Shri Rao Inderjit Singh, Shri L. Murugan,  Litterateur Shri Seeni Vishwanathan, Publisher Shri V. Srinivasan were present among the dignitaries.

Background

Subramania Bharati’s writings instilled patriotism in people, brought the essence of Indian culture and spiritual heritage of the country to masses in a language that the masses can relate to. The 23-volume set compendium of his complete works has been compiled and edited by Seeni Viswanathan and published by Alliance Publishers. It contains details of the editions, explanations, documents, background information and philosophical presentation, among others, of the writings of Subramania Bharati.