A PEEK INTO A POET'S LEGACY

E who writes poetry is not a poet. He whose poetry has become his life, and who has made his life his poetry – it is he who is a poet.

These words by Mahakavi Subramania Bharatiyar encapsulate the essence of a man whose life and work continue to inspire generations. On Sunday, the Bharatiyar Memorial Home in Triplicane awakened to the sounds of music, dance, and poetic words.

The inaugural day of the festival, organised by Kalaimamani Shobana Ramesh, saw floral tributes to Bharatiyar's idol, with Chevalier VG Santhosham officiating the opening ceremony. Artistes, scholars, and admirers from around the city gathered at this event to honour Bharatiyar's vision of equality, cultural enrichment, and intellectual freedom.

Recollecting memories Amid the festivities, a highlight session was 'Chellamma Pesuren', presented by Sudha Seshayan, vice-president of the Central Institute of Classical Tamil Studies. She narrated a cherished story from the life of Bharatiyar, recounting his wife Chellamma's memory of a moment of love and philosophy.