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T.A. Venkateswaran

“A great national poet, he left a blazing trail during his brief sojourn of 38 years on earth from 11 December 1882 to 11 September 1921. Politically, India was under the British rule and presented a disgusting sight as it seemed to be enjoying slavery in which it was languishing. Subramania Barathi rose like fire, roared like a lion and shone like a star in the horizon,” said T.A. Venkateswaran delivering a lecture on Barathiar. Noted scholar Sriman Challa Sivasankaram chaired the session.

Barathiar, besides poetry, also wrote many columns in Tamil and English on all international happenings that had an impact on India. He was an editor and cartoonist. He wrote stories and articles, which often reflected his life and times. He was a social reformer and a political activist. Apart from his mother tongue Tamil, he was very proficient in Sanskrit, English, French, Hindi, Hindustani and Telugu. He translated a portion of the Vedas into Tamil and English, Classics in French into Tamil, Tamil hymns into English and many other things, said Venkateswaran quoting excerpts from his works.

He further explicated that Barathiar’s idea of freedom was not just liberation from foreign rule. He was an advocate of women empowerment and was rooted in the values of ancient Indian scriptures but still was alive to the need of scientific development and cried for a happy blend of both. He was in a great hurry to take his beloved country beyond the morass of his times. Venkateswaran elaborated on Barathiar’s meetings with Sister Nivedita and Aurobindo and other great personalities.

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