Bharati’s death certificate says he passed away on September 12

Bharati who survived an attack by the elephant at Parthasarathy Temple in Triplicane died of illness past midnight of September 11, 1921. His death time was officially recorded as 1 am which means he technically passed away on September 12. However, since it was before dawn, his death anniversary is observed on September 11 instead of 12. 

Social activists are of the opinion that the error committed by the calendar makers shouldn’t continue and be corrected at least from next year. Muthumurugan, founder of Bharati Memorial Trust, Kovilpatti, said that the dispute existed for several years until recently. Later, we received the death certificate of Bharati through an RTI, he said. 

Muthumurugan also said that Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa too inaugurated a stone tablet at Bharatiyar Memorial in Ettayapuram in which it has been clearly mentioned that September 12 was when Bharati passed away. “Hence calendar makers and other private organisations who observe the death anniversary of Bharati should mark the date as September 12. It should be corrected on the websites too,” said Muthumurugan.