A new statue of Subramania Bharati, an early 20th century Tamil poet fondly called Bharathiyar, was unveiled in Jaffna earlier today on the occasion of his 139th birth anniversary.
The sculpture was erected in Vaddukoddai and was commissioned by Chidambaram Mohan, the chairman of the Jaffna-India Friendship Forum.
University professors and other religious priests were also present in the unveiling ceremony.
In another event in Arasady, Nallur, the Indian Assistant High Commissioner Raakesh Natraj laid a wreath around a Bharathiyar statue in observance of the poet’s birth anniversary.
The Mayor of Jaffna V.Manivannan, Commissioner Jayaseelan and Jaffna Tamil Sangam chairman Laleesan also participated in the ceremony and placed flower garlands around the likeness of Bharathiyar.
Bharathiyar was born in Ettayapuram, Thoothukudi district, in 1882 and worked as a teacher before he became a full-fledged writer and poet.
Although he died prematurely in 1928 in Chennai aged 28, his output was prolific and he later came to be regarded as the greatest modern Tamil poet.
He inspired several generations of writers and poets, most notably Kanagasabai Subbu, who took the name Bharathidasan out of his love for Bharathi’s works.
Bharathi’s oeuvre is extensive in range, encompassing works on language, love, morality, nationalism and anti-casteism, among others.
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