Tamilnadu- Erode (2016)
Bharathiyar gave his last speech in this library. The place where he gave the speech is converted to a hall containing important pictures relating to Bharatiyar’s life.
This spiritually uplifting place is rightfully a library and remains low key and functional!
Description to be added.

Karungalpalayam is at the heart of Erode

It has a historical significance.- Mahakavi Bharati delivered his last public speech here

There is a library which started as a reading room in 1901

Here's a record of Bharati visit

Later another section to the reading room was added in 1930

This section was inaugurated by Swami Chitbhavananda of Ramakrishna Tapovanam

Swami Chitbhavananda inspired his nephew C Subramaniam who was later decorated as Bharat Ratna for his public service

More additions were made in 2007 to the library

Bharati statue and a museum were added in 2009

Bharati enterd this reading room Sunday, July 31, 1921

He delivered the speech in this room. He claimed he was very confident about the subject matter.

The speech is not displayed in the museum! Current staff have no idea about its existence. Thanks to Ilasai Maniyan of Ettayapuram for getting me this document. Original was published by Bharati Scholar R A Padmanabhan. I plan to send the copy to the library soon.

"I strongly believe man can be immortal. How?

Think God is everywhere and in everythingGet rid off timidity, fear, anger, lie and greed

Follow the leader who preaches freedomLove the loving wife

You can't see God without compassion. You can't see God without pure devotionYou can't have happiness without true love. With all these, life on earth will be heavenly. You will be immortal".Bharati based this talk from his "Bharati 66" collection

A humorous article by Bharati on his visit to library from Erode train station

Bharati provides a summary of his speech along with his bullock cart journey from train station to reading room- half a mile in 2 hours

Ignore the foot note, you have already read the other essay- Bharati's actual speech discovered by Amarar R A Padmanabhan

Now the later day addition- called as museum. These are mainly photos published by R A Padmanabhan in his masterpiece- Chittira Bharati

Family Pictures- Stepmother of Bharati

We have only few photos of Bharati. This one with wife Chellamma. (1917)

Bharati wrote poems on Chellamma, Thangammal and Sakunthala

Bharatidasan a friend, student and a true admirer of Bharati

Bharati took this photo to send it to his friend Bharatidasan who was concerned about his health. The famous Bharati portrait with the turban is a cropped image of this original.

Familiar image of Bharati

Another original

This is a copy of the original

Bharati wrote a poem called Ammakanu Padal

Bharati's close friend Kuvalai Krishnamacharyar was at ease to serve him as servant. Bharati loved him so much he wrote "Engiruntho Vanthaan" poem imagining Kuvalai Kannan as Kannan, my servant. Talking about immortality, this man is now immortal thru the history of this poem! Kuvalai saved Bharati from the elephant at Triplicane Parthasarathy temple

Bharati asserted anyone who knows sciptures can become a brahmin and solemnized this sacred thread to his student Harijan Kanagalingam

1919 Indian Village- Kadaym, Chellammal's home town

Odivilayadu Pappaa was written for his daughter Pappa (Sakunthala).Thangammal comes as Thangam in many places in his poetry. He has grandchildren by the names of Lalitha and Mohan!

Sankaran Chettiar attended Bharat's funeral. Vijayabharati is a Bharati scholar living in Cananda.

Later day family portraitChellammal Bharati wrote a beautiful memoir on her husband

Both daughters wrote books and recalled their association with their father following the lead of their mother

Carnatic Music Sashi Nandakumar who lives in NJ is the (great) grand daughter of Appadurai, Bharati's brother-in-law

A section of the museum

Another section with Bharati's friends

Nellaiappar was with Bharati on the last day. Bharati told him " I have to write an essay on Amanullah Khan of Afghanistan" This is the last sentence Bharati spoke.

Bharati's testimonial to Nellaiappar

Mr. Chettiar attended Bharati's funeral

Neelakantan attended Bharati's funeral but refused to light the funeral pyre when approached. Bharati didn't have a son. Later Hahrihara Sarma did the honors.

Bharati breathed last in this Triplicane house on Sept 12, 1921.We remember him after 100 years. Didn't he say man is immortal?

Bharati's nicknames

A fine poem on Bharati by Kannadasan

A vintage oleograph- is it Ravi Varma's?

Another vintage art- Gandhi and his followers

Advocate Thangaperumal Pillai who had the keen insight to call Bharati to give his speech- not knowing that it is going to be his last and immortal speech!

The reading room is still functioning as reading room

We are saying bye to the historically important place for all Bharati lovers