A BRAVE NEW WORLD: BHARATHIDASAN SONGS

by Dr M. Rajaram

  • Category Poetry
  • Format Paperback
  • Imprint Rupa
  • Price 495
  1. ISBN: 978-93-5702-116-6
  2. Pages: 320 pages
  3. Date: 5th December 2023

ABOUT THIS BOOK

Bharathidasan was a great poet of 20th century. He was endowed with remarkable creativity and
fascination for poetry. He composed songs even at the age of eleven.
He was a major figure in the history of modern Tamil poetry next to Bharathiyar. He was a social
revolutionary matchless in power of excellence. A great volume of his poetry contains his abundant
love for Tamil. His immortality and universal outlook are revealed in the songs composed by him with
messages of foresighted vision relevant for all times. His songs are unique in their content and style.
His immortality consists in songs he composed, pregnant with meaning, vision and foresight, embellished
by a message relevant to all times. He echoes the voice of the downtrodden, the oppressed and the
exploited. He dreams of a ‘brave new world’ in which all people co-exist with peace and prosperity.
His songs on social themes are the finest. ‘Appeal of the Labourers’, ‘Let Us Make the New World’,
‘World Is Yours’, ‘Human Power’, ‘Song of Common Man’, ‘Song of Equality’, etc. are most powerful.
They also reveal the ever vigilant humanist in him who fought against blind conventions and rusted
customs.

He lays emphasis on man, his independent spirit and his duties and responsibilities. He appeals to
the fellowmen to establish a free and just society wherein man can develop his total personality.
He praises the dignity of labour.
His nature poetry is highly impressive. In his nature songs, he portrays the beautiful parks, paddy
fields, tanks full of flowers. His songs like ‘Nature’, ‘Skylark’, ‘Moon’, ‘Beauty’, ‘Dawn’, etc., are beautiful
lyrics dealing with never-dying beauty of nature. They are simple in diction and rich in imagery.
Truly Keatsian in concept, Bharathidasan reminds us, ‘A thing of beauty is a joy forever.’

AUTHOR OF THE BOOK

Bharathidasan (1891–1964) was a 20th-century Tamil poet and writer whose works were mostly
about socio-political issues including caste, women’s liberation and rationalism. Deeply influenced
by great Tamil poet and writer Subramania Bharathi, he named himself ‘Bharathidasan’, meaning
disciple of Bharathi. Bharathidasan’s writings served as a catalyst for the growth of the Self-Respect
Movement in Tamil Nadu. His views found expression in plays, film scripts, short stories and essays.
He was called ‘Puratchi Kavingyar’ (revolutionary poet) by the great rationalist leader and social
reformer, Periyar E.V. Ramaswami.
Dr M. Rajaram is a scholar-civil servant whose research papers have received much acclaim at the
national level. He has authored more than 40 books. He is the author of best-selling titles including
I Sing the Glory of This Land: Translated Verses of Bharathiyar, Thirukkural: Pearls of Inspiration,
Kalki’s Ponniyin Selvan and Oriental Wisdom: Life Skills in Avvaiyar Poems.