Publisher's Synopsis
Volume 4: Bharati's Autobiographical and Other Poems "You are Rati, the Goddess of Love! I surrender myself to you . . ." What better source than Bharati's own, autobiographical poems, called Kanavu (Dream) and Bharati Arubattaru (66 stanzas in Bharati's life), would be able to tell us truthfully about the poet's life? This 4th Volume is a collection of autobiographical poems, as well as other poems on several themes, including Love, Nature, and Greetings to the great people of his times. Of these, the poems that he wrote on his wife, Chellamma, form an important part, as they depict the special contribution made by the poet's wife to his life and work. She was beautiful, understanding, and totally dedicated to her husband; she managed the poet's difficulties and transformed his life into the life of a deva. Katchi (Vision) was formerly published as Vachana Kavithai (Prose Poem), and is a work of monumental literary and spiritual significance. Katchi may be considered modern Veda Mantras that Bharati wrote in Tamil. The language and content of these mantras are new creations in form, style, and imagination, unique in the history of Tamil literature. This book is a work of historic importance: the fourth and final volume in the new, four-volume STANDARD EDITION of Mahakavi C. Subramania Bharati's poems. Edited by his granddaughter and leading Bharati scholar, S. Vijaya Bharati, this Standard Edition represents the first authoritative publication of Bharati's works since the poet's death in 1921. Bharati's poems are published in comprehensive and error-free form, organized according to the various themes addressed in his writing, and presented to the reader as the poet meant for them to be read. The Editor has meticulously prepared these volumes in authentic and modern Tamil spelling that accurately conveys the rhythm of Bharati's poetry, while remaining easy of access to the modern reader. These volumes include invaluable commentary on the poet's life and analysis of his work, and they reproduce key historical documents that reflect the history of Bharati's writings. As such, they are suitable for all Bharati-lovers - from the general reader interested in Bharati's poetry, to scholars in search of an authentic, reliable, and authoritative text. C. SUBRAMANIA BHARATI (1882-1921) was the most important writer and thinker of the twentieth century in the Tamil language. Now known as an Indian National Poet, Bharati holds the unique title of Mahakavi, the greatest of poets. Bharati's writings sparked a renaissance in Tamil literature, and his importance for the Tamil language and literature today can only be compared to that of Shakespeare in the English-speaking world. At the time of Bharati's premature death in 1921, when the poet was 38 years old, much of his work remained unpublished. After his death, Chellamma Bharati, the poet's wife, was keenly interested in publishing her husband's writings, and brought out two volumes of his work through Bharati Ashramam; but she was prevented from continuing with her efforts by poverty and the difficulties of her position as a woman, and a widow, at that time. Later attempts were made by Bharati's half-brother Viswanatha Iyer (Bharati Prachuralayam) and the Government of Madras. In 1954, the government "gave" the poet's works to the people of India. Since that time, numerous commercial publishers have taken advantage of the opportunity to publish the works of this well-known and important writer. The result has been a proliferation of books filled with errors, including the publication of works that were never actually written by Bharati at all. The poet's great granddaughter, Mira T. Sundara Rajan, has noted that these problems violate the poet's moral rights of attribution and integrity. The principle of respect for the poet's moral rights is the fundamental basis on which the STANDARD EDITION has been prepared, and is now offered to the public.
