Poems of முடியரசன்


Dealing with the poems of முடியரசன் this lesson explains the contents, the beauty of imagination and similes, and the human graces of love and affections exalted by him.

Between the first introductory unit and the last sixth summarising unit there are five units. They deal with the biographical sketch of முடியரசன்; his love for the mother tongue, the greatness of labour, love and affection, the beauty of nature and the life of nobility.

முடியரசன் was born at Periakulam in the old Madurai district on 7.10.1920. His original name of துரைராசு was converted into pure Tamil as முடியரசன். Formally educated and having served as a teacher of Tamil he lived upto the principles stated in his poems. Between the years 1954 and 1966 he wrote a number of poems, collected and published in three volumes.

The poems of முடியரசன் set against the background of the dominance of a foreign language deal with love for the mother tongue and the need for introducing it as the medium of instruction and writing in chaste Tamil. The entry of languages other than Tamil in natural settings in Tamil nadu such as marriage, death and temple worship is vehemently criticised by him. He even opposed ‘new poetry’ deviating from the Tamil tradtion. Diginity of labour, sufferings of the labourers and the problem of untouchability also formed the subject of his poems.

முடியரசன் believed in the mutually dependent nature of love and poetry. The love of modern women and the sweetness of language used by children were sung by this poet.

The beauty of nature is heightened by his rich imagination and his similes and imagery. அழுக்காறாம் எறும்பு ஊரும் treats jealousy as ants. The crescent moon is compared with the slice of the popular vegetable called பூசணி (the pumpkin).

முடியரசன் pays tribute to the savants of Tamil, like பாரதி. பாரதிதாசன். திரு.வி.க., கா.அப்பாத்துரை and கலைவாணர்.

From this lesson you will understand the greatness of முடியரசன் as a poet of merit in Tamil in modern times. Love for Tamil has emerged as a dominant feature of முடியரசன் கவிதைகள்.