CENTRE FOR BHARATHIDASAN STUDIES
Profile
The Centre for Bharathidasan Studies has been sponsored and fully supported by the Government of Tamil Nadu.
The Centre is concentrating on the studies of Bharathidasan, a great revolutionary Tamil poet in whose name this University has been established. The objectives of the Centre include:
To promote research and propagate the ideals of Pavender Bharathidasan.
To establish a collection of his writings at the centre in order to serve as a source of Co-ordination for all research work.
To compile his works and to have a comparative study of his philosophy and poetic techniques, with the scholarly works of east and west.
To translate his works in all major Indian and Foreign Languages.
To conduct lectures, seminars on the poet’s writings.
Faculty
The Centre is headed by an eminent scholar on Bharathidasan Studies Dr. Ira. Ilavarasu. There is another post of Lecturer (Vacant) and a Junior Research Fellow.
Library at the Centre
The Centre has a good Library with some of the rare works of Bharathidasan. The total collections are more than 600 as of now.
Anthologizing Activities
The writings of Bharathidasan some of which appeared in Journals like ‘Desabakthan’, ‘Athmasakthi’, ‘Kumaran’, ‘Uuzhian’, ‘Gandhi’, ‘Navasakthi’, ‘Nagarathootha’, ‘Pakutharivu’, ‘Puratchi’, ‘Manikkodi’, have been collected and under compilation.
Collection of Journals, Manuscripts and letters of Bharathidasan
Many of Bharathidasan’s Writings appeared in the periodicals run by him. Those journals namely Puduvai Murasu (1930-1932), Sri Subramanya Bharathi Kavitha Mandalam (1935), Kuyil (Daily 1948), Kuyil (Monthly 1947-49) Kuyil (233kly 1958-61) Kuyil (Fortnightly 1962) have been collected in the Library by way of donations and Xerox copies.
Bharathidasan’s writings in manuscript forms, available for ‘Manimekalai Venba’, Kannagi Puratchi Kappiam’, notes of lessons written by him when he served as a school teacher, and his letters to S. Gurusamy, Dhanuskoti Raju, Erode Tamilanban, Ponnadiyan and his letters published in various books have been collected.
Collection of his books (First and Second Editions)
Xerox copies of the following rare works of Bharathidasan have been collected. Mayilam Sri Shanmugan Vannapattu (1920), Mayilam Sri Siva Shanmugha Kadavul Pancharatnam (1925), Mayilam Subramaniar Thuthiamudhu (1926), Kadar Rattinappattu (1930), Ciruvar Cirumiar Desia Geetham (1930), Suyamariyadhai Sudar (1931). The first four editions of the first Collection of Bharathidasan’s Poetry (1938-1944) the first editions of all the five parts of Kudumba Vilakku (1942-1950), the first editions of Puratchi Kavi (1937), Irunda Veedu (1944), Eettrappattu (1949), Nalla Muthu Kathai and Agathian Vitta Pudukaradi (1948), Cera Thandavam (1949), and the second editions of Thazhthapattor Samuthuvapattu (1950), Ethirparatha Mutham (1944) have been collected from individuals and libraries and xeroxed. These books are essential for the publication of a ‘Definitive Edition’ of Bharathidasan.
Collection of Unpublished works
The writings of Bharathidasan which have not been published could be classified under:
Poems
Plays
Screen-Play Dialogues
Novels
Commentaries
Pamphlets
Speeches
Music records on Desingurajan
Poems
About 400 Poems, which have not been anthologized, have been collected so far. A chronological list of 17 pages and an alphabetical list of 14 pages have been prepared. These lists will function as an aid to locate the songs easily and also to add any new song in the proper place. These lists and the poems are ready for Publication.
Essays
The articles he has written under various pseudonyms in Puduvai Murasu have not been collected in book form. His essays in Kuyil (Daily) other than his editorials and his writings in journals like ‘Silver Screen’ and ‘Kumaran’ have been collected.
Screen-Play dialogues
Bharathidasan has been the first to enter the silver screen from among the Dravidian leaders. He has written dialogues and songs for the films such as Subadra (1946), Sulochana (1947), Ayiram Thalai Vangiya Apoorva Chinthamani (1947), Ponmudi (1950), Valaiyapathi (1952) and Kavi Kalamegam (1940). Of these only dialogues written for Ponmudi and Valaiyapathi are available. Others have to be found out. Similarly his unpublished plays like ‘Nadu Nattin Varthagan or Natpin Ilakkanam’ and some of his speeches are also to be published separately in book form.
Chronological list of books
The published works of Bharathidasan have been clearly identified and a chronological list with corrected details has been brought out.
His writing have been classified under the three headings.
The poems of Bharathidasan
The plays of Bharathidasan
Prose – writings of Bharathidasan
Poetry collections numbering about 67, the plays number 16 and other prose-writings numbers about 16 have been brought out.
Alphabetical list of all Poems
All the published poems in various books have been alphabetized and brought out in a 67 page book. About 1500 poems have been published so far. Many of these poems have been reproduced in various books; the alphabetical list will enable one to easily locate the books in which these poems appeared.
Annotated Bibliography
Steps have been undertaken to bring out a complete annotated Bibliography of his published works, research papers on the poet, articles and souvenirs. To begin with details have been worked out for about 350 books. The works on Bharathidasan appeared in seminar papers, journals, souvenirs and other books are being collected. This annotated Bibliography will go a long way in aiding researchers to have access to primary and secondary sources of Bharathidasan.
Definitive Editions
Lot of discrepancies has erupted in the various editions of Bharathidasan poetry. These discrepancies can be classified under additions, deletions and changes. A definitive edition incorporating these necessary emendations is the need of the hour. Efforts are on to collect the source material for this purpose. A definitive edition of Bharathidasan’s plays also is warranted. A committee has to be formed to undertake such stupendous and meticulous task.
Other Activities and Future Plan
A book on the various dimensions of the poet is under preparation and it will be published shortly.
The establishment of a Museum in which to exhibit the BARD’s personal effects, letters, portraits and photographs, audio-tapes, first editions, journals etc.
The organisation of cultural programmes in the medium of performing arts and folk arts for a larger public outside the University precincts in Tiruchirappalli and elsewhere.
Efforts are also on for a co-ordinated activity with organizations named after the BARD in India and abroad.