Great Works Of Subramania Bharathi In Pondicherry

Subramania Bharathi has given his great works when he was in Pondicherry. His “Vedarishigal Kavidai” and “Patanjali Yoga Soothiram” were attempts at ves libres, a poetry form which probably Bharathi learnt through his acquaintance with the French literature. His frequent early morning visits to Thiagarajapillai madu provided him the inspiration to write the “Thirupalli Ezuchi” and “Kalai Pozhudu”. He also published the “Bharathi Arupatharu”. The Muttiyalupettai mango grove that belonged to the Krishnasamy Chettiar provided him the scenario for his “Kuyil pattu”. The cyclone of 22nd November 1916 prompted him to write the “Thikkukal Ettum Cithari” and the “Kattradikuthu Kadal Kumuruthu”.

The first part of “Panchali Sabatham” appeared in 1912. His “Puthia Athichoodi” appeared in 1914 and “Pappa Padal appeared in February 1915 issue of “Gnana Bhanu”. In November 1916, appeared the third volume of his poems.

On 20th November 1918, while he was on his way to Villiyanur, he fell into the hands of the British who were all along maintaining a close watch over him. He was detained at the Cuddalore sub-jail where he remained till 14 December (for 24 days). After his release, he went to Kadayam near Tenkasi. All his subsequent attempts to have his work published did not meet with adequate public response.

In 1920 he returned to Madras to work in “Sudesamithran”. Once on a visit to the Thirivellikeni temple, he was attacked by the temple elephant, as a result of which he died on 12th September 1921 when he was only 39. It is significant that although his stay in Pondicherry lasted only a little more than 10 years, this period turned out to be the most creative in his life-time, thus linking inseparably his name and Poetic accomplishments with Pondicherry.

Subramania Bharathi and Pondicherry

Our home town has the pride of nurturing great poets in its lab. The history gives us a brief list about their literary works when they were in Pondicherry. Subramania Bharathi is a great name in the modern Tamil Literature as well as in the Indian freedom movement. Our Pondicherry is so lucky to have given him place during the freedom struggle. Now let us glimpse his days in Pondicherry.


Although born at Ettayapuram in Thirunelveli district, Subramania Bharathi was one of the first to seek refuge in Pondicherry in 1908 to escape from British incarnation. He lived here under the patronage of Kuvalai Kannan, S. Swaminatha Dikshidar and Sundaresayyar, who were the readers of “India”, a journal with which Subramania Bharathi was closely connected while in Madras. Within a month the “India” press was clandestinely brought to Pondicherry from Madras; the journal which had stopped appearing from the last week of September 1908 reappeared from October 20. He soon settled in a south facing house at Easwaran Dharmarajakoil Street. Sri Aurobindo arrived at Pondicherry in April 1910 and since then Bharathi came more and more under the influence of Sri Aurobindo. A few months later came V.V.S. Iyer. Va.Ra. Aravamudayengar who is popularly known as “Amuda” and Kanakasuburathinam who was later famously known as “Bharathidasan” were the dedicated disciples of Subramania Bharathi. In 1911, when Sub-collector Ashe was shot dead by Vanchi Iyer at Maniyachi, Subramania Bharathi was protected by Sundaresayyar, Ponnu Mugesapillai and Sundaresa Chettiar.