Chief Minister Stalin Unveils Week-Long Tribute to Poet Bharathidasan
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Synopsis
Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has announced a week-long celebration from April 29 to May 5 to honor the birth anniversary of poet Bharathidasan, a key figure in the Dravidian movement known for his significant contributions to Tamil literature.
Key Takeaways
- The celebration will honor the contributions of Bharathidasan.
- A week-long event called Tamil Week will be observed from April 29 to May 5.
- Literary competitions will engage students and promote Tamil culture.
- A Bharathidasan Young Creator Award will recognize emerging writers.
- Traditional Tamil arts will be showcased throughout the week.
Chennai, April 22 (NationPress) The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M.K. Stalin, declared on Tuesday a week-long celebration to honor the birth anniversary of the 20th-century Tamil poet Bharathidasan, recognizing him as “a revolutionary poet” of the Dravidian movement.
“The contributions of Bharathidasan to Dravidian culture and his ageless songs are priceless. He laid the groundwork for the movement's principles and took great pride in the Tamil language. His compositions were fundamental to the Self-Respect Movement spearheaded by Periyar,” stated Stalin in the Assembly.
He reminisced that Bharathidasan's literary works were nationalized in 1990 by former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi. “Even now, Bharathidasan endures through his writings. His words resonate in the hearts of all Tamils. He expressed profound concepts in accessible language and inspired many young poets to engage with Tamil literature. We proudly refer to them as the ‘Bharathidasan lineage’,” he mentioned.
As he announced the celebration, Stalin stated that a Tamil Week would take place from April 29 to May 5, featuring a range of events statewide to celebrate the Tamil language and pay homage to Bharathidasan’s legacy.
He noted that literary events and poetry readings would be conducted in every district of Tamil Nadu, featuring participation from notable poets. A Bharathidasan Young Creator Award will also be introduced to honor an emerging writer excelling in the Tamil language. A symposium focusing on esteemed Tamil literary figures is also planned.
To motivate students, speech, essay, and poetry contests will be organized in schools and colleges. Traditional Tamil music, dance, and art forms will be highlighted throughout the week, he added.
Stalin emphasized that the celebration would be recognized as Tamil Resurgence Week, providing a platform to showcase the richness of the Tamil language to the globe.
“Let us disseminate Bharathidasan’s ideologies throughout Tamil Nadu and continue his legacy through these events. This government is committed to safeguarding and promoting the Tamil language and culture. Long live Tamil, long live the Tamil people,” he proclaimed.
Bharathidasan, born in Puducherry on April 29, 1891, was profoundly influenced by the Tamil poet and freedom fighter Subramania Bharathi. He was an active participant in the independence movement and opposed both the British Raj and the French colonial administration.
