Maha Kavi Subramaniya Bharathi - A journey of Emotions.

An emotion that a person undergoes is a beautiful journey and is a source of growth. It comes with a lesson to refine and redefine a person for a better version of one self. Choice exists everywhere. An Emotion can either make or break a person. Sometimes we  lose ourselves in the known to find ourselves, more beautiful in the unknown. Almost all emotions are uncomfortable. Because even happiness and joy leave one day.

"A comfort zone is a beautiful place, but nothing ever grows there.” ~Unknown

Maha Kavi Subramaniya Bharathi is a Dheerga darsi. Picking any emotions from 'Aganaanoru' like love, lust, guilt, fear, insecurities, anger, self-realization, happiness, self-control or from 'Puranaanooru' like pride, courage, bravery, any emotion to the check list he has been there. Also philosophy and spirituality was handled by him elegantly.

  Romance. Who doesn’t like to fall head over heels for someone? Either it's love at first sight or slow and steady love. It is a freaking awesome journey. Where ever love is there, there comes hurt. If there is no hurt, the love isn't real. The love. The wait. The devotion. The loyalty. At times, just being a fling and the realisation leading to resentment.  He has divinized his emotions in 'Kannan Pattu'. 'N' number of poems tell about true love, how to love, how to make love. Typical nayika bhavam was handled in few songs of Kannan Pattu, that shows us the glimpse of 'Aganaanoru'. Like 'Pirivatramai' also known as 'Virahathabam'. A beautiful description of the state of a passionate lover when the lady love eclipses herself in shyness. 

"ஓரிரு முறைகண்டு பழகிய பின்-வெறும்
ஒப்புக்குக் காட்டுவதிந் நாண மென்னடீ?
யாரிருந் தென்னை யிங்கு தடுத்திடுவார்-வலு
வாக முகத்திரையை அகற்றி விட்டால்?
காரிய மில்லையடி வீண்ப சப்பிலே -கனி
கண்டவன் தோலுரிக்கக் காத்தி ருப்பேனோ?" - கண்ணம்மா-என் காதலி, முகத்திரை களைதல்

Guilt, lust and grief are present in every one. Reminding us that we are humans and an effort to control, teaching self-control and on setting healthy emotional boundaries. He articulated them well in

"மோகத்தைக் கொன்றுவிடு-அல்லா லென்தன்
மூச்சை நிறுத்திவிடு;
தேகத்தைச் சாய்த்துவிடு-அல்லா லதில்
சிந்தனை மாய்த்துவிடு;"
- மஹாசக்திக்கு விண்ணப்பம்

And  about feeling safe, being in a secured, healthy, mutual relationship and equal efforts to make relationship work with trust.

"கற்பு நிலையென்று சொல்ல வந்தார்,இரு
கட்சிக்கும் அஃது பொதுவில் வைப்போம்;"
-  பெண்கள் விடுதலைக் கும்மி

One of the greatest huddle for any being is fear and to face them. Fear of being alone, fear of the unknown, fear of failure, fear of rejection, fear of monsters under bed, fear of facing one’s own emotions. When in fear, self help is the best help. Both in spotting the fear, then either to fix it by oneself or to ask for help is a choice. Because the common denominator in any situation is one self and there is no replacement. Where there is fear, insecurities are directly proportional. The antidote comes from effort and surrender. He vocalizes the power of effort and surrender gracefully in

"மிடிமையும் அச்சமும் மேவியென் நெஞ்சில்
குடிமை புகுந்தன,கொன்றவை போக்கென்று

தன்செய லெண்ணித் தவிப்பது தீர்ந்திங்கு
நின்செயல் செய்து நிறைவு பெறும்வண்ணம்
நின்னை சரணடைந்தேன், கண்ணம்மா” - கண்ணம்மா-எனது குல தெய்வம்

Any journey comes to an end though we wish otherwise, possessing a lesson in it. The journey of fear is a source of emotional growth & strength. Life puts anyone in a situation to face one's own worst fear just to make one realize the greater potential which is hidden and to start counting the blessings in life.

"சித்தினை அசித்தடன் இணைத்தாய்-அங்கு
சேரும் ஐம் பூதத்து வியனுல கமைத்தாய்.
அத்தனை யுலகமும் வர்ணக் களஞ்சிய
மாகப் பலபலநல் லழகுகள் சமைத்தாய்.
எத்தனை கோடி இன்பம் வைத்தாய்?" -இறைவா!இறைவா!

 The moment one start to count the blessings is the moment the search of purpose of life begins. The greatest happiness is in doing something for the needy, for the society. Maha Kavi has not missed a hairline opportunity to contribute to the society. Women Empowerment, patriotism, secularism, hard work, commitment are part of his poems. He has gracefully handled emotions from 'Puranaanooru' like bravery, pride, courage, determination, grit.

"நொந்தே போயினும் வெந்தே மாயினும் 

நந்தே சத்தர்உ வந்தே சொல்வது - 

வந்தே-மாதரம்

ஒன்றாய் நின்றினி வென்றா யினுமுயிர் 

சென்றா யினும்வலி குன்றா தோதுவம் - 

வந்தே-மாதரம்" 

- வந்தே-மாதரம்

Facing masses for a social cause has been uncomfortable from time immemorial. When something seems wrong it can either be ignored or can raise voice against the same. Though not all battles are meant to be fought, a shift in body language can be shown. And hence, “ரௌத்திரம் பழகு”. 

- புதிய ஆத்திசூடி

To attain the state of fearlessness, the requirement is to know what fear is and how it operates. He tells the different types of fears one can go through and through it, to the state of fearlessness.

"உச்சிமீது வானிடிந்து வீழுகின்ற போதினும்,

அச்சமில்லை அச்சமில்லை அச்சமென்பதில்லையே."

- அச்சமில்லை

The tough art at the last. Mastering the art of letting go the things that are not meant for one. It is the hard, harder and the hardest battle to accept which  is not destined and to let go the same. The lesson of this too shall pass and embracing uncertainty and entropy with an elegance from him.

"காலமென்றே ஒரு நினைவும்

காட்சியென்றே பல நினைவும்

கோலமும் பொய்களோ

அந்த குணங்களும் பொய்களோ

காண்பதெல்லாம் மறையுமென்றால்

மறைந்ததெல்லாம் காண்பமன்றோ

நானும் ஓர் கனவோ

இந்த ஞாலமும் பொய்தானோ

நிற்பதுவே நடப்பதுவே பறப்பதுவே

நீங்களெல்லாம் சொற்பனந்தானோ

பல தோற்ற மயக்கங்களோ". 

Maha Kavi Subramaniya Bharathi would have helped to score a two or a five mark question in tamil first paper. But he does not stop there. He has been a greater source of inspiration and been through various emotions like every human being and has emerged realizing his power facing fears. He has faced the uncomfortable and vocalized those in an elegant poetic style sending us the message that one is not alone in storms and the cycle of emotion continues. He has been there and through the chaos and tells any one, that the best way out of an emotion is through it with a choice of  being honest with one self. Thus being a teacher, a mentor for the art of emotional intelligence. 

A very happy birthday Mundasu Kavi!