140th Birth Anniversary of Mahakhavi Bharathiyar was celebrated at Chellamma Bharathi Learning Centre in Kadayam, Tenkasi district on 14th December 2022. Isaikkavi Ramanan , Tamil Poet , writer and Orator was the Chief Guest. The Chief Guest garlanded the statue of Chellamma- Bharathi and all the visitors paid floral tributes.
The Chief Guest Isaikkavi Ramanan in his address spoke about Bharathi’s connections with Kadayam. The wedding of Bharathi and Chellamma took place at Kadayam village on 27th June 1897 and Bharathiyar’s association with Kadayam started from then. Isaikkavi also mentioned that the first poem composed by Bharathi at Kadayam, was during his wedding with Chellamma. He also narrated many instances from the life of Bharathiyar in Kadayam. He said that the most conservative society at Kadayam did not accept Bharathi who was far ahead of his time. The present generations seem to be more receptive to the Bharathiyar principles than those of his own generation.
Isaikkavi Ramanan said that he has roots in Kadayam , as his maternal uncles were all from this village. Therefore as a person from Kadayam he called upon the people of the village to make amends for the way Bharathiyar was treated 100 years ago. Emphasising the need to take Bharathi to the younger generation, he appreciated Sevalaya’s efforts to spread Bharathi’s message among students.
Earlier, on 13th December 2022 various competitions for students of schools in and around Kadayam were held. 700 students from more than 20 schools participated. Competitions like Essay, Poem recitation, Oratorical and Quiz on Bharathi’s life were conducted. Prizes were distributed to the winners of the competition by the Chief Guest.
A Sethuramalingam , President, Thiruvalluvar Kazhagam, Kadayam K S Kalyani Sivagaminathan, Secretary, Thiruvalluvar Kazhagam, Kadayam, Dr M Arivazhagan ,Founder and President, Sri Ramakrishna Seva Nilayam, Tenkasi, M Meenakshi Sundaram , Branch Librarian, Kadayam , and R Neelakantan, Social worker , Ravanasamudram also participated in the function. They felicitated Sevalaya for setting up the Chellamma Bharathi learning centre at Kadayam.
Earlier V Muralidharan Founder and Management Trustee welcomed the gathering. He spoke about the efforts of Sevalaya for more than four and half years to create Chellamma Bharathi learning centre to perpetuate the memory of Bharathiyar at Kadayam.
S Kanchana, Head of Value Education, Sevalaya proposed the vote of thanks.
