Rich homage paid to Mahakavi Bharathi

MADURAI/PUDUCHERRY: Scores of people and Tamil scholars paid rich tributes to Mahakavi C Subramania Bharathi on his 102nd death anniversary on Monday. The poet freedom fighter was remembered across the state and Puducherry.

People and students paid homage to Bharathi on the premises of Sethupathi Higher Secondary School, Madurai, where he worked as a teacher for few months. The legendary poet did a short stint as teacher of Tamil in 1904 in the school, which remains in the heart of the Madurai city since 1889.

However, the anniversary assumes greater significance at Ettayapuram, in Thoothukudi district, where the poet was born, as several people paid a visit to the poet’s house and paid homage on the occasion.

At a programme organised by Bharathiyar Memorial Trust at Nadar Middle School in Kovilpatti, many students drew rangoli of the poet’s image and took pledge to offer equal education to all.

P Muthu Murugan, founder of the Trust, presided over the programme. Earlier, school headmistress Selvi welcomed the gathering.

Moreover, many young students dressed up like Bharathiyar and recited his patriotic poems. They also took out a rally to Bharathi’s manimandapam there, sources said.

In Puducherry

Meanwhile in Puducherry, Assembly Speaker R Selvam paid floral tributes to legendary poet and veteran freedom fighter Bharathi. Speaker Selvam paid homage to the statue of the poet here. Ministers, legislators and delegates of different outfits also paid tributes.

The poet had a sojourn in Puducherry during the then French rule for 11 years from 1908. He composed several patriotic songs and also hymns in praise of several temples here. The Puducherry government acquired the house where the poet lived in 1973 and set up a museum and a research centre, which has been well sought out.