This
lesson presents a brief life-history of the poet Subramania Bharathi. It is
given under five main headings (1) Bharathi's birth and childhood, (2)
Bharathi's youth amidst poverty, (3) Bharathi's career in journalism and his
involvement in the freedom struggle of India, (4) Ten years of Bharathi's life
in Pondichery and (5) the last three years of Bharathi. Bharathi's birth and
childhood highlights Bharathi's interest in composing
poems even as a child and his dislike for formal education. Bharathi's
youth focuses on how his personality
got shaped during his four year stay at Benares. It also talks about his
career at the court of Ettayapuram chieftain and as teacher at Madurai. The
third main heading devotes itself to a detailed account of Bharathi's
contribution to Indian National Freedom and to social reform though his career
as a journalist.
The
ten years at Pondichery helped Bharathi to continue his struggle against the
British from within the French territory. Life in Pondichery shaped Bharathi's
personality further 'particularly because of the association it brought with
people like Aurobindo and VVS Iyer. The ten years turned out to be a very
productive period with significant literary contributions and activities of
social reformation. The last three years, dealt with in the fourth section talks
don't the stiff opposition to his reformative zeal shown by the people of
Kadayam, where he happened to live. It also talks about other disappointments
faced by Bharathi. The sources from where he expected help failed to render any
support. His plan about publishing his work did not materialise. Yet he
conducted himself with dignity. The last section talks about his return to
Madras as a sub-editor of 'Swadesa Mitran'and about his end following a
brief illness.