P10423 LESSON -3

Bharathiar's Paanjaali Sabatham

    Poetry once had kings as heroes and religion as subject matter. Bharathi changed this trend and started composing poems on common people and elevated them by his poetic skills. This lesson is about Bharathiar's 'Paanjaali Sabatham' a turning point in the story of Mahabharatham and also the beginning of the war of Bharatham. In Paanjaali Sabatham, Bharathiyar sings about Indian indepence. The heroine Paanjaali represents Bharatha Devi. Using the well-known story of Mahabharatham the poet conveys the implied message of Independence. Having lost their rights and been defeated on their own motherland, Indians are compared to the Pandavas and the whites, to the Gauravas. This symbolism is effectively handled by Bharathiar in his Paanjaali Sabatham.

    The seven central units introduce the author and analyse the content, the characters and the poetic devices used by Bharathiyar

    Paanjaali Sabatham comprises two parts, the first with two sections and the second three sections. Each part starts with a prayer to Goddness Parasakthi or Vaani. The Story starts with the pride of Asthinapuram, and Duriyothanan's a jealousy at the fame of Pandavas. With the help of Sakuni, he entires them into gambling. This leads to their loss of wealth, land and even the brothers and the wife.

    The literary greatness of Paanjaali Sabatham lies in its description of nature. Bharathiyar describes Asthinapuram in glowing terms enjoying and revelling in the natural environment.

    By learning this lesson you will reflect on the ideas contained in this work, you will appreciate the social changes and reformations. Even old stories can be used, to awaken the Tamils to a new life. Thirst for freedom, social equality, women's emancipation, and progressive ideas from a contemporary outlook are presented using ancient literature. Simplicity in poetic style, Tamilisation of the environment in this work which is different from Viyasa Bharatham and Villibaratham and the freedom call for women through a woman, are the highlights of this lesson.