This
is an introductory lesson to a series on Bharathi Dasan. Bharathi
Dasan and Subramaniya ' Bharathi ' are the two great poets of Tamil
of the 20th Century. Bharathi Dasan took his name after Bharathi.
' Bharathi Dasan' means a devout follower of Bharathi. The name
given to Bharathi Dasan by his parents was Subbu Rathinam. Subbu
Rathinam had formal training in Tamil Grammar and Tamil Literature
in his early days. Initially he was interested in devotional and
mythological literature. He even composed many devotional poems.
Later his acquaintance with ' Bharathi' brought about a change in
him. He gave up writing devotional poetry; he also restrained himself
from composing poems for the political freedom of the country. Instead
he focused all his attention and vigor on social freedom. A forcefully
new voice, a fresh approach and a unique style emerged - rendering
his poems ' revolutionary ' and fetching him the title 'பாவேந்தர்';
meaning 'The King of Verses'.
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