On 100th Death Anniv, PM Modi Announces Spl Subramania Bharathi Chair At BHU For Tamil Studies

The great leader, reformer, freedom fighter, journalist and fighter died due to prolonged illness on September 11, 1921.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (File Photo)

Chennai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that a special Subramania Bharathi chair will be set up at Banaras Hindu University on Saturday, the 100th Death Anniversary of the freedom fighter. The PM also lauded Subramania Bharathi as a "great scholar, visionary and freedom fighter" while addressing the inauguration of Sardardham in Ahmedabad. 

According to reports, Subramania Bharathi, popularly known as Bharathiyar, has a strong connection with Varanasi since he studied in the city for a few years. Hence, a special chair will be set up to honour Subramania Bharathi at BHU for Tamil studies, the PM said.

Bharathi was born as Subbiah on December 11, 1882, in Ettayapuram of the current Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu to couple Chinnaswamy Iyer and his mother Lakshmi Ammal. Subbiah started writing poems and at the age of 11. He received appreciation and the title “Bharathi” from the assembly scholars of Ettayapuram Durbar. 

Yet despite his high excellence, his parents did not stop the age-old practice of child marriage. In June 1897, Bharathiyar was married to a child-bride Chellammal. However, within a few years, he left his wife in Ettayapuram and left for Banaras to pursue his education. In Varanasi, he learnt Sanskrit, Hindi and English.

However, after receiving knowledge in several languages, he did not settle for a regular job but instead started writing patriotic songs and joined as a journalist and sub-editor in Swadesamitran in 1904 to fight against the British. Later, he started a paper "India '' in Tamil and to give a revolutionary ardour Bharathiyar published the first edition paper in red. His writing was also fiery and the revolutionary contents soon made a warrant waiting for him at the office door and he had to soon move to Puducherry to escape the British. However, even during his exile, he interacted with many important leaders and later he also got a chance to meet Mahatma Gandhi in 1919.

Nevertheless, his revolution did not stop with the freedom movement but Bharathi was also against the caste system. He removed his "scared" thread and made Dalits wear them. He advocated the temple entry of Dalits and truly believed that unless Indians unite together there was no other way to achieve freedom. He was also a believer of women's rights and was against gender-based oppression. 

The great leader, reformer, freedom fighter, journalist and fighter died due to prolonged illness on September 11, 1921.