Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation

PM’s address at International Bharati Festival 2020

  • I begin by paying tributes to the great Bharathiyar on his Jayanti. On such a special day, I am happy to be taking part in the International Bharati Festival.
  • I am also pleased to present the Bharati Award for this year to the great Scholar Shri Seeni Viswanathan ji , who has dedicated his entire life to research on Bharati’s works.
  • I appreciate him for actively pursuing research even at the age of 86! How to describe Subramanya Bharathi, this is a very difficult question.
  • Bharathiyar cannot be linked to any single profession or dimension. He was a poet, writer, editor, journalist, social reformer, freedom fighter, humanist and much more.
  • One can only marvel at his works, his poems, his philosophy and his life. He also had a close link with Varanasi, which I have the honour of representing in the Parliament.
  • I recently saw that his collected works have been published in 16 volumes. In a short life of 39 years he wrote so much, did so much and excelled in so much. His writings are a guiding light to us towards a glorious future.
  • Friends, Bharathiyar believed in a healthy mix between the ancient and the modern. He saw wisdom in staying connected with our roots as well as looking towards the future.
  • He considered Tamil Language and motherland India as his two eyes. He sang songs of the greatness of ancient India, the greatness of the Vedas and Upanishads , our culture, tradition and our glorious past.
  • But at the same time, he also warned us that simply living in the past glory is not enough. We need to develop a scientific temper, a spirit of enquiry and march towards progress.
  • Friends, Mahakavi Bharathiyar’s definition of progress had a central role for women. One of the most important vision was that of independent and empowered women.
  • Mahakavi Bharatiyaar wrote that women should walk with their head held high, while looking people in the eye.
  • We are inspired by this vision and are working to ensure women led empowerment. It would make you happy that in every sphere of our Government’s working, there has been importance given to dignity of women.

 

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