Musings on the Life & Times of Chinnaswamy Subramania Bharathi
Narasimhan Vijayaraghavan
59
Chellamma always found Bharathi speaking in a loud voice with his friends while sitting in the thatched shed on the roof. He said ‘What have we got to hide . We speak openly. About all things on the intellectual plane. And that makes it easy”. Unusually, one day Chellamma noted that Bharathi and a ‘friend’ ( who called himself that) were chatting in hushed tones. Try as hard as she could, nothing was audible. No guffaws or laughter as was usually the case. It wax quite strange and Chellamma did not fail to note it.
“ They both came down. I fed them full. They enjoyed the meal. Praised me sky high. Had the betel leaves on offer. And quietly walked out in the hot sun. Even when Bharathi went to Ghosh hunting, he never failed to tell me. Today, he went of in a jiffy. Without telling me where to. That added to the strange behaviour with the ‘friend’. “ But, out of decorum, Chellamma kept quiet and did not ask them where they were of to. As it was not courteous behaviour.
“It was several hours past. I lit the lamp in our prayer room. Cooked the dinner and waited. We were close to midnight. Still he was not to be seen. A day passed and I sent word to his close friends’ houses as Aravindar , Iyer avd Srinicasachariar to check on his whereabouts. They were surprised at such enquires and sent word that he may have gone to any one of nearby places, as Muthialpet or Villoanur and I should not worry too much
And then I was asked with whom he went out. When I named him, they were shocked. They said that he was no ‘friend’ of Bharathi. He was in fact an agent or informer of the British and literally made a living by betraying the Swadeshis and ferrying them across Pondy border, on one pretext or another, into the eager laps of the Britishers. Panic buttons were pressed. I sent a telegram to my father who came rushing . He scolded me for being paranoid saying Bharathi was too big to be captured. The consequences would be terrible and Britishers knew better. I still was very worried, more so, when I was exposed to the antecedents of the ‘friend’ and his nefarious activities.
Most friends and relatives kept asking almost every 5 minutes whether Bharathi was back, when two days had passed. Just then, there was a Boom Boom horn outside. It was a motor car. An unusual vehicle for us. Out came Bharathi in a sparkling white dhoti, bush shirt and his customary Mundasu on his head and a coat. In walked he, with his lawyer friend. I heaved a sigh of relief though it was worrisome to see him come with his advocate friend.
Bharathi was his casual self and enquired of his father in law. The advocate intervened and said, “Oye Bharathi, let me tell them the dramatic happenings. Chellamma mami was right. Her paranoia was not misplaced. It was real. The so called ‘friend’ persuaded Bharathi to come to Chennai for a visit claiming that the warrant out for Bharathi was already recalled. Bharathi who was so keen to step on his Bharath Bhoomi succumbed to the bait and happily accompanied him. They were more than half way across, close to the border, when I happened to be crossing them. Quite providentially. I saw Bharathi with this fellow. I sensed trouble. I knew, as a practising advocate, that the warrant was still wide open. And if Bharathi were to hop across the border to Madras Presidrncy, he would be lapped up as a welcome prisoner. Britishers would be delighted to have him imprisoned . And that too without the wobbly support or assistance of the not so willing French administration. It would be a coup of sorts.
When I asked the ‘friend! why was Bharathi being taken across the border, he was evasive and avoided a direct responses. My lawyer’s antenna went on overdrive and I convinced Bharathi that we could always make a visit another day. And that I had some pressing issues to discuss with him concerning the safety, security and welfare of Swadeshis. Bharathi agreed and I parked him in a friend’s place as the other ‘friend’ quietly yet unwillingly took leave. I finished a couple of other engagements and now driven Bharathi down to Pondicherry.
Notwithstanding my anxiety and concerns, Bharathi was quite nonchalant saying that when Parasakthi was with him no harm could come upon him. And all of them were heaping calumny on a good soul without any basis. I tell you that I have since enquired and found that this ‘friend’ had sounded the Britishers that he was successful in getting the quarry and they can wait on the border to have him. Believe me you, if Bharathi had crossed the border, so much as a few inches, he was certain to have been taken to his mother’s in law place viz . jail. It was sheer providence that I saw him and convinced him to come with me, at the nick of time. And of course it must be his Parasakthi who persuaded Bharathi not play truant but agree. All is well they ends well”.
Chellamma and Co were relieved and overjoyed and thanked the unnamed lawyer friend profusely. Bharathi was calm as cucumber and listened to the story as if it was unrelated to him. Two days had not gone when the same ‘friend’ came back. Bharathi received him as if nothing had happened. He treated him with his customary courtesy and in fact bent over backwards to see that no improper or harsh word fell from any of us too.
Chellamma recalled, “ I could not keep calm. My face betrayed the betrayal by the friend. To me, it was intolerable that Bharathi should treat the ‘friend’ as if it was all calm and normal or even accept his apologies which he readily offered aplenty. Bharathi was a large hearted man and typically he recited a verse fitting the occasion. Bharathi can never be anyone other than Bharathi. At times he was infuriating. But on most occasions as I had come to see and know him, since I was just seven years of age, I was not overly shocked.
The verse:
பகைவனுக் கருள்வாய்-நன்னெஞ்சே! பகைவனுக் கருள்வாய்!
௧)
புகை நடுவினில் தீயிருப்பதைப் பூமியிற் கண்டோ மே-நன்னெஞ்சே! பூமியிற் கண்டோ மே. பகை நடுவினில் அன்புரு வானநம் பரமன் வாழ்கின்றான் -நன்னெஞ்சே! பரமன் வாழ்கின்றான். (பகைவ)
௨)
சிப்பியிலே நல்ல முத்து விளைந்திடுஞ் செய்தி யறியாயோ?-நன்னெஞ்சே! குப்பையிலே மலர் கொஞ்சுங் குருக்கத்திக் கொடி வளராதோ?-நன்னெஞ்சே! (பகைவ)
௩)
உள்ள நிறைவிலொர் கள்ளம் புகுந்திடில் உள்ளம் நிறைவாமோ,-நன்னெஞ்சே! தெள்ளிய தேனிலொர் சிறிது நஞ்சையும் சேர்த்தபின் தேனோமோ?நன்னெஞ்சே! (பகைவ)
௪)
வாழ்வை நினைத்தபின் தாழ்வை நினைப்பது வாழ்வுக்கு நேராமோ?-நன்னெஞ்சே! தாழ்வு பிறர்க்கெண்ணத் தானழிவா னென்ற சாத்திரங் கேளாயோ?-நன்னெஞ்சே! (பகைவ)
௫)
போருக்கு வந்தங் கெதிர்த்த கவுரவர் போலவந் தானுமவன்-நன்னெஞ்சே! நேருக் கருச்சுனன் தேரிற் கசைகொண்டு நின்றதுங் கண்ணனன்றோ?-நன்னெஞ்சே! (பகைவ)
௬)
தின்ன வரும்புலி தன்னையும் அன்பொடு சிந்தையிற் போற்றிடுவாய்-நன்னெஞ்சே! அன்னை பராசக்தி யவ்வுரு வாயினள் அவளைக் கும்பிடுவாய்-நன்னெஞ்சே! (பகைவ)
English translation
Pallavi
Show kindness to the enemy, Oh good heart,
Show kindness to the enemy.
Charanam
1.We saw fire in the mid of smoke,
In this earth, Oh good heart,
Saw in this good earth,
Our God with the form of love,
Lives in side enmity, Oh good heart,
Our God lives.
2.Do’nt you know that the good pearl,
Is made inside a shell, Oh good heart,
Does not the flowering Kurukathi *,
Grow in the trash hill -Oh good heart,
3.If deceit enters the contented mind,
Is that heart full , Oh good heart,
If little poison is added to the clear honey,
Will it be still honey, Oh good heart.
4.After thinking of life, if we think of low state,
Is it proper for life, Oh good heart,
If we think of low state for others, Sastras tell,
That we would get destroyed, Oh Good heart
5.He came similar to the kauravas,
Who came for war, Oh good heart,
But the one who stood before them,
With a whip was Lord Krishna, Oh good heart.
6.In your heart think along with loveabout,
Even the tiger which comes to eat you, Oh good heart,
For our mother the primeval power took that form,
Worship and salute her, Oh good heart.
*Neelothphala flower
Chellamma says Bharathi was an Atma GnanI. But it was sad that such a forgiving poet was often called as ‘Pithhan’ or a ‘ Mad Man’. It was so hurtful that his elder daughter could not resist asking Bharathi himself. “ Appa, you are praised sky high for your goodness of heart, Swadeshi spirit and extraordinary poetic skills. Then why do some people call you a Paithiyakaran – Mad- or Pithhan? We feel so hurt. And do not know how you can hear it and walk off or brush it aside. Why can’t you stand up and take them on. and if you do and did, no one dare call you that anymore”.
Bharathi guffawed and belted out a loud laughter. And said, “ My dear Thangammal. Why are you so perturbed. Please understand Lord Sivaperuman is called as Pithhan. You should feel good and proud that your father is called by the name Sivaperuman loves. Can there be a better certificate give to me, a mere mortal a Manudan- a homo sapien as me.
And then he sang this Kilipattu:
திருவைப் பணிந்து நித்தம் செம்மைத் தொழில் புரிந்து
வருக வருவதென்றே – கிளியே! – மகிழ்வுற் றிருப்போமடி!
வெற்றி செயலுக் குண்டு விதியின் நியமமென்று,
கற்றுத் தெளிந்த பின்னும் – கிளியே! – கவலைப் படலாகுமோ?
துன்ப நினைவுகளும் சோர்வும் பயமு மெல்லாம்
அன்பில் அழியுமடீ! – கிளியே! – அன்புக் கழிவில்லை காண்!
ஞாயிற்றை யெண்ணி யென்றும் நடுமை நிலை பயின்று,
ஆயிர மாண் டுலகில் – கிளியே! – அழிவின்றி வாழ்வோமடீ!
தூய பெருங்கனலைச் சுப்பிர மண்ணி யனை
நேயத்துடன் பணிந்தால் – கிளியே! நெருங்கித் துயர் வருமோ?
English Translation:
Let us worship “thiru” (Lakshmi) everyday, do creditable work, and then wait for whatever is in store for the events to happen. Let us be happy with the outcome as it occurs.
When we do honest work, it will meet with success. That is what natural law dictates. We learnt that from our experience. Then why worry?
Misery inducing thoughts, fatigue, and fear will be destroyed when love exists. Love does not die.
Thinking about the Sun and training to attain equanimity we can live for thousand years in this world without any problem.
If we worship (with love) Lord SubramaNya who is representative of pure fire, misery will not touch us.
Bharathi classified this song as ‘Kilipaattu’ (parrot song). Kilipaattu (கிளிப்பாட்டு) is a genre of Malayalam poems in which the narrator is a parrot, a bee, a swan, and so on. Kilipaattu was popularized by the 16th-century poet Ezhuthachan. Here Bharathi addresses a parrot (figuratively, fellow human beings) exhorting it to have devotion and that success will be guaranteed if we do fruitful work.
In the genre Kilipaattu even though it may be set to Carnatic music tunes, there is no structure such as pallavi, anupallavi, and Charanam characteristic of kritis in Carnatic music. A popular Kilipaattu is “Vallikanavan Perai sung in Kavadi Sindhu format.
Pallavi
வள்ளிக்கணவன் பேரை வழிப்போக்கன் சொன்னாலும்
உள்ளம் குழயுதடி கிளியே ஊனும் உருகுதடி கிளியே
Valli kanavan perai vazhi pokkan chonnalum
Ullam kuzhayuthadi kiliye , oonum urugathadi kiliye
When the name of husband of Valli is even told by a wayfarer
The mind becomes soft oh parrot, even the flesh melts , oh parrot
Charanam 1
மாடுமனை போனாலென்ன மக்கள் சுற்றம் போனாலென்ன
கோடிச்செம்பொன் போனாலென்ன கிளியே
குறுநகை போதுமடி முருகன் குறுநகை போதுமடி
Maadu mania ponalenna , makkal chutham ponaalenna
Kodi chempon ponalenna kiliyee
Kuru nagai pothumadi, murugan kuru nagai pothumadi
What if cattle and house is lost, what if friends and relations are lost,
What if crores of red gold is lost , Oh parrot
The small smile is sufficient, The small smile of Muruga is suffecient
Charanam 2
கூடிகுலாவி மெத்த குகனோடு வாழ்தந்தெல்லம்
வேடிக்கை அல்லவடி கிளியே வெகுநாளை பாந்தமடி
Koodi kulaavi metha guhanodu vaazhnthathellam
Vedikkai allavadi kiliye, vegu naalai paanthamadi
Meeting and conversing lot and living with Guha,
Is not fun oh parrot, it is a long time relation
Charanam 3
எங்கும் நிறைந்திருப்போன் எட்டியும் எட்டாதிருப்போன்
குங்குமவர்ணனடி கிளியே குமரப்பெருமானடி கிளியே
Yengum nirainthiruppon, yetiyum yettathiruppon
kUmkuma varnanadi kiliye, kumara perumaanadi kiliye
He is filled up everywhere, though near he is beyond touch
He is of the colour of kumkum, Oh parrot , he is God Kumara
Charanam 4
மாலை வடிவேலவற்கு வரிசையாய் நான் எழுதும்
ஒலைகிருக்காச்சுதே கிளியே உள்ளமும் கிறுக்காச்சுதே கிளியே
Maalai vadivelavarkku varisayai nan yezhuthum
Olai kirukaachuthe kiliye , ullamum kirukaachuthe
The row of letters that I write to Vadivela,
Became a scribbling oh parrot. And my mind also got scribbled
Charanam 5
கட்டுக்கொடி படர்ந்த கருஉறு காட்டுக்குள்ளே
விட்டு பிரிந்தாரடி கிளியே (என்னை) வேலன் எனும் பெரோனடி ||
Kattu kodi padarntha karu uru kattukkulle
Vittu pirithaaradi kiliye (yennai) velan yenum peronadi
In the dark forest where wild climbers spread,
He parted with me parrot,He whose name is velan
Slightly different version is given https://www.karnatik.com/c2443.shtml
Seems to be more popular
Pallavi
Valli kanavan perai vazhi pokkan chonnalum
Ullam kuzhayuthadi kiliye , oonum urugathadi kiliye
When the name of husband of Valli is even told by a wayfarer
The mind becomes soft oh parrot, even the flesh melts , oh parrot
Charanam 1
Yengum nirainthiruppon, yetiyum yettathiruppon
kUmkuma varnanadi kiliye, kumara perumaanadi kiliye
He is filled up everywhere, though near he is beyond touch
He is of the colour of kumkum, Oh parrot , he is God Kumara
Charanam2
Malai vadivelarukku, varishayai naan yezhudhum olai kirulladi kiliye
Ullamum kirukkathai
The scribbling on palm leaf that I write to vadivela of the mountain,
Makes my heart also scribble
Charanam 3
Kaattu kodi parantha karuvuru kaattukkulle vittup-
Piranthanadi ennai velananennum peranadi
He left me in the dark forest with wild climbers
And went away, his name is vela
In general, Kilipaattu sounds like recitation of a poem in prose order with a musical melody. Here this song is tuned to the Raagam Maand.
Is there anything more. I could add as Musings on this anecdotal plane.
( Author is practising advocate in the Madras High Court)
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