Bharathidhasan and his life

Bharathidasan was born in Pondicherry. His original name was Subburathinam. He underwent formal education in Tamil literature, Tamil grammar and Saiva Sidhantha Vedanta under reputed scholars. He also studied at the Collège Calvé in Pondicherry. In 1909, he was introduced to Subramanya Bharathi, and his interactions with the Mahakavi had a major impact on him. He initially worked as a Tamil teacher in the French territory of Karaikal.

He actively participated in the Indian Independence Movement and through his writings openly opposed the British and the French Government. He was sentenced and imprisoned by the French Government for voicing views against the French Government that was ruling Pondicherry then. He was a strong supporter of Periyar and an important member of the Suya-Mariyadhai Dravida Movement,founded by Periyar.

During the Atheist's conference in Chennai, he signed a document having the words "I am an undying atheist".

Throughout his writing career he was encouraged by political leaders such as Annadurai and M. G. Ramachandran. In 1954 he was elected to the Pondicherry Legislative Assembly. He remained a prolific writer till he died in 1964 in a hospital in Chennai.