Tamil Nadu - Tiruchi   

Unedited works of Bharathidasan on display

TIRUCHI: When Bharathidasan’s lyrics got into print for the first-ever time, they contained lyrics that defied the metre rule.

The publishers brushed aside the purists’ criticisms, saying “We have no right to hack the lyrics. They are the poet’s feelings vented out in his way.”

But subsequent editions had to bow down to the lyrical rules, and they came out with edited versions. The unedited publications of Bharathidasan’s works and books on him were on display at an exhibition put up by the Gnanalya Research Library at Bishop Heber College on Monday.

“These books have been collected from various places, including Madurai, Salem and Karaikudi. Bharathidasan’s first prints are very special for its rich contents that were excluded in later editions,” said P. Krishnamoorthy, founder of the library.

Interesting titbits about the poetical journey of Bharathidasan were also displayed alongside the books. Significant years like 1908, when the poet met Bharathiyar, and 1928, when he got himself associated with self-respect movement, were offered.

Several copies of his journal ‘Kuyil,’ which packed in impassioned lyrical works of the poet on the freedom struggle and women empowerment, were part of the exhibition. The most productive year in the poet’s life was 1948, when his works like ‘Mullai Kaadu’ and several anti-Hindi poems were published. His Sahtiya Academy-winning work, ‘Pisiranthayar,’ was also on show.

Other displays were the first editions of his biographies ‘Karruppu Kuyil Neruppu Kural’ by Mannarmannan, the son of Bharathidasan, and other biographical works by popular poets and novelists. “Various editions of Bharathidasan’s works stand as indication of the etymological changes in Tamil literature,” says Mr. Krishnamoorthy.

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