Mahakavi Bharathi's Essays (Awakening the Power of Society)

 

Book : 

Mahakavi Bharathi's Essays

(Awakening the Power of Society)

 

Translators                : Dr. A. Manavazhahan       

                 Mrs. S.Malathi

 

 EDITORIAL

 
 Dr. A. Manavazhahan
Associate Professor
Sociology, Art & Culture
International Institute of Tamil Studies
Taramani, Chennai -113.

 

Bharathiyar lived on this earth only for a short time. But what he has done to benefit the world is too enormous; his writings have endured through the centuries, and Bharathiyar's thoughts have the power to measure the globe. Bharathi's innovative art created new techniques in writing while also expressing a sense of humour and passion, all without violating the tradition's originality. Bharathi contributed modernity to literature as a pioneer of Tamil poetry and prose. Bharathi, who lived up to 39 years old, only inspired the people of India with passionate thoughts and poems. They were more effective weapons that instilled feelings in the people, such as a sense of freedom, nationalism, and self-respect.

             Bharathi's poems are emotionally immersed, while his articles exhibit deep wisdom. Essays are not inferior to poetry, but they provide profound insights and worldly perspectives. However, the fact that Bharathi’s essays could not achieve the heights of his poetry, of is astonishing. Unfortunately, many of the people today's generation believe Bharathi's writings are nothing more than poetry. There are several causes behind this. Bharathi's admirers also appreciated only performing Bharathi's poems on stage and only including poetry in the school curriculum.

 Bharathi stated of the prose, as Kamber informed them in the poem, that it should have all four qualities of clarity, gentility, brightness, and morality. Among these, morality requires that it flow freely and without interruption. There is no proper flow in today's prose, but there is more wobbling. The hand will write in a linear Tamil manner if there are honesty and courage in the heart and if the Tamil power, a passion for the Tamil language, is anchored in the heart. His works also show that Bharathi was the one who kept Tamil power in mind while maintaining his honesty and courage.

 

Bharathi's essays are on the diversity of social development, Indian liberation, national unity, caste equality, religious harmony, passion for the Tamil language, the awareness of Tamil culture, Tamil Nadu's development, women's liberation, academic vision, industrial development, and Labour awareness. Bharathi's texts have crossed the borders of western and eastern countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, South Africa, Russia, Japan, and China. Bharathi's societal concepts are still needed today, regardless of language, race, or country. Based on this need, the Government of Tamil Nadu has announced a plan to publish Bharathi's works in a vintage print. As part of the project, translating Bharathi's essays into English was done.

 The book ‘Bharathiyar Katturaigal (Full)’, published in Tamil by Poompuhar Publications, was used for this English translation project. A few articles from the Sahitya Akademi published under the title 'Mahakavi Bharathiar katturaigal' were taken. These articles are not available in Poompuhar publication's book. The part of the article has been significantly edited from its original Tamil contents to make it easier for readers to understand.

 Simplicity and profound thoughts are the beauty of the article, which is Bharathi's creative principle. However, in the style of his essay, we had to pay extra attention to translating them, as there were a lot of long sentences for a large paragraph size and more usage of the dialects of a particular community. Additional explanations are provided for such dialects to make it easier for readers all over the world to grasp. The ideas expressed by Bharathi in the articles have been translated verbatim, with no changes or omissions.

 When referring to the important two duties of Tamil scholars, he says as follows, 

  “We should seek to promote honey-like

  Tamil concepts all across the world.”

 “Texts of eminent foreign scholars 

  Need to be translated in Tamil.”

 In these duties, we have not translated the beauty of Tamil into other languages to the extent that they had imported many of the valued intellectuals' ideas into Tamil. Bharathi, the great Tamil poet, was not as well-known in other languages and among foreigners as Indian poets like Ravindranath Tagore and Western poets like Shelley and Walt Whitman were in Tamil. In light of this, the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Thiru. M.K. Stalin has announced plans to print Bharathi's texts. He also presented this project to the International Institute of Tamil Studies. I want to express my gratitude to the Chief Minister on behalf of the Tamil scholars.

 Thanks to Thiru. Makesan Kasirajan IAS, Secretary to the Government, Department of Tamil Development, who was instrumental in the quick release of the project. Thiru. S. Saravanan IAS, the Director, International Institute of Tamil Studies and Department of Tamil Development, gave me a chance and guidance. He has my gratitude.

  Mrs. S. Malathi, a Research Scholar at the International Institute of Tamil Studies, has been helpful in the project's announcement and completion in a short period. Thanks to her.

 

CONTENTS

 

Society

            1. Don't give up good nature.                                     1

            2. Dowry bail or groom price                                      4

            3. Hawk vision                                                            6

            4. Garland                                                                   9

            5. Body                                                                       12

            6. Wealth – 1                                                               17

            7. Wealth -2                                                                20

            8. Old World                                                               34

            9. Trial                                                                         37

            10. Multifarious things                                                41

            11. The way to civilize animals                                   43

            12. Reforming Animals                                               47

            13. Animals and birds                                                 49

            14. Why? – Council (Committee)                               53

            15. City                                                                       55

            16. Infinite power                                                       57

            17. Wolf and pet dog                                                  60

            18. The Sound of life                                                  63

 

Profession - Workers

            19. Future                                                                    67

            20. The relationship between Profession and wealth  70

            21. A few words for the Labours                               73

            22. The Pride of Labourers                                         78

 

Caste – Religion - God

            23. Value                                                                     81

            24. Meeting of Hindus                                                84

            25. Who are the Hindus?                                            87

            26. Four Kinds of Race                                              91

            27. Paraiyar                                                                 94

            28. Panchamar                                                             96

            29. Who is a Brahmin?                                                98

            30. Hereafter                                                               102

            31. Whom to worship?                                                106

            32. Chidambaram                                                        107

            33. The word of Jesus Christ                                      112

            34. Kamadhenu                                                           116

            35. Idiotic Devotion                                                   121

 

Tamil –Tamils –Tamil Nadu

            36. The status of Tamil                                               125

            37.  For the Tamils                                                      128

            38. Science in Tamil language                         131

            39. Awake Tamil Nadu                                               133

            40. Civilization of Tamil Nadu                                   137

            41. The Language Formed With The Breeze.             145

42. Tamil                                                                     147

 

Women’s Dignity and Liberation

            43. Tamil Nadu women                                              149

            44. Brave Mothers                                                      151

            45. Freedom of Women                                              154

            46. For Tamil Nadu Women                                       159

            47. Sisters!                                                                  163

            48. The Pathetic State of Widows in India                172

            49. The Chaste Woman                                               176

            50. Marriage Laws in Modern Russia                         179

            51. The State of Muslim Women                                183

            52. Liberation of women in South Africa                   188

 

Education - Arts

            53 National Education                                                190

            54. Subjects                                                                 195

            55. Village Schools                                                     209

            56. Matter of Music                                                    213

            57. Instrumental music                                                223

            58. Women's Songs                                                     227

            59. Abhinaya                                                               231

            60. Japanese Poetry                                                     236