00B- YADUGIRI AMMAALL'S FOREWORD

 

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by arasi » 12 Jul 2011, 23:09

Yadugiri dedicates this book to the lotus like feet of her father.
(bhArathiyin thOZharAga viLangiya en pithA Sri.SrinivasAchAriyin pAda kamalangaLil ich chiRu nUlai samarppikkiREn)



Yadugiri's FOREWORD

Next only to the love of parents for their children, is the love gurus have for their students. The teacher's love and care for their wards is abundant, indeed.
About forty years ago, I had the great fortune of being Bharathi's disciple and a favored 'daughter'. I'm thrilled to share my experiences with you today.

At that time, patriots were called svadESis. Those who moved to Puduvai to escape arrest and those who went to live there even otherwise--were kaviyarasar BharathiyAr, va ve su Iyer, Aravinda Ghosh, the publishers of Bharthi's weekly INDIA--my father and Thirumalachari and others. There were frequent visitors too.
My father and Bharathi were close friends in Chennai, also our families.
Bharathi came to our house often. He would sing or recite his creations to us. There was no particular time or rhyme about his visits. Sometimes, I'd be occupied with my studies or will be reciting the nAlAyiram that my mother taught me. Whenever Bharathi came, my attention would turn to him. If I heard him sing upstairs, I would try to copy singing the first line of the verses. If Bharathi noticed it, he would ask me to come upstairs and give me the piece of paper on which the verse was written. I had safeguarded those in a book of mine. As luck would have it, the book was ruined by getting caught under a broken wall in Puduvai in the terrible storm in naLa varusham on kArthikai 6th (1916).
Since I was a mere child when I knew Bharathi, I did not have the capacity to appreciate his lofty thoughts which sparkled in all that he said. With what I can recollect, I realize that every word of his was precious--his thoughts were something which the world could learn from and some, beyond our comprehension.
It was my duty every time he came to see us, to offer him a Sembu ( little pot ) full of water and betel leaves and areca nuts. Va ve su came with bharathi regularly in the evenings, occasionally in the mornings. It was not so with Bharathi. He appeared at any time of the day.
There were many students, friends, relatives and others who knewof his greatness. They adored him and praised him no end. Yet, all put together, they could not bring him the peace of mind which could have made him sing his heart away without a care in the world. Still, Bharathi mostly spent histime adoring Nature and its beauty and in conversing joyously with others.
Bharathi was a fierce reformer. He used to say: 'tamizh world' has just opened its eyes and is like an infant, learning to turn on its belly and hasn't developed its ability in looking around in all four directions...
He was intense in wanting to uproot many old so-called traditions. Smt. Chellamma often differed from him on this. Chellamma kept her orthodox ways in the kitchen. While she was cooking, observing 'maDi', Bharathi, after washing his hands and feet, would enter the kitchen and handle the utensils. "paTRu! Don't touch them!", Chelamma would object. Bharathi would not care and an argument would follow but Bharathi prevailed. Chellamma would keep quiet after that.

Bharathi ate at anyone's house when he was invited to a meal. Religion or caste did not mean anything to him. Whatever he said in his verses, he observed in his life. His thoughts were translated into his deeds. However tough it seemed, he was tireless in doing this. He did not care what others said about his behavior either.

Bharathiyar sang his songs with such bhAvam. He sang majestically. It gave goose bumps to those who heard him. He has described his life in some of his songs. How many precious songs he has created in simple kummi tunes, folk tunes and in hindusthAni mode!
Nowadays, great artistes sing his songs in many rAgAs and varNa meTTus. Still, those who have heard him sing will not be as thrilled. His majesty and his becoming one with hi ssong is something no one can match.
Bharathi's glory has spread far and wide today. We hear his poems everywhere. I heart often aches to think that he did not live to see all this. Then I console myself. Though he is gone,.he has left behind his greatness in his writings for us to cherish him eternally.
We could not do much for Bharathi's peace of mind then. At least now, tamizh folks should make it their duty to support poets who still live among us.
I felt I should share what I know about Bharathi with others. These impressions were written in 1938-39. They are going to see the print now. I am not a woman of today, a college-educated one. I was schooled at home by my father. I humbly request that 'periyOrgaL' (lofty readers) forgive me for my inadequacies and see only the essence of what I have presented here.


ma. gO. Yadugiri

Bangalore
28-7-1954

CONTINUED  IN 

introduction.html