Mahakavi Subramania Bharati & Chellamma
#AuthorIndumatiRaman, My family had close connections
with many musical greats and other celebrities, and I have seen them at home as
guests for dinner or even overnight stays when they came for concerts in the
city. But I was personally close to Chembai Vaidyanathana Iyer and D.K.
Pattammal who have stayed with me in my humble home and shared several
anecdotes with me. I remember ones such poignant story Pattammal told me that
stays with me even today. And that today Tamil Poet Mahakavi Subramania Bharati’s
Birth Anniversary is the day to share this. Those who do not know who this
extraordinary patriot was, do check Wikipedia.
Pattammal has always included Bharati’s patriotic
songs in her concerts. But even more interesting, she has sung them during the
freedom struggle, at public rallies, forcing the British government to warn her
against rousing public emotions.
After one concert dedicated to Mahakavi’s memory, the
hall was empty, and Pattammal and her team packed up to leave. She noticed one
lady in the audience remained sitting, head bowed down. Pattammal gently
enquired why she was not returning home. The lady replied, “I am Chellamma”. Pattammal
hugged her and both dissolved into tears for a long time. No words were spoken.
No words were needed. Chellama was the wife of the maverick national poet
Subramania Bharati whose memory was being celebrated that day. She passed away
in 1955.
Chellamma was widowed at 30. She was unlettered and
had lived as the wife of who society called a ‘madman’. Now she was known as the
widow of a national poet. It is due to her perseverance and vision that we have
published works of Subramania Bharati, and his biography. Her daughters, granddaughter and great granddaughter
have kept the family’s flag of honour and respect flying high.
#DKPattammal #ChellammaBharati #ThangammalBharati
#ShakuntalaBharati #Mahakavi # SubramaniaBharati #BharatiCentenary #TamilPoet
#Patrioticsongs
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