The Governor of the Northern Province, Hon. N. Vethanayahan, remarked that the progressive ideas sown by Mahakavi Bharathiyar over a century ago have yet to fully take root in our society.
The birth anniversary of the great poet Subramania Bharathiyar was celebrated on Thursday evening, 11 December 2025 at the Thiruvalluvar Cultural Hall in Jaffna, in an event organized by the Indian Consulate in Jaffna.
The Governor made these remarks while addressing the event, which was presided over by the Consul General of the Indian Consulate, Shri Saimurali, following the floral tributes paid to Bharathiyar’s portrait.
He further stated:
At a time when our province has been severely affected by the Ditwah disaster, this event is being held in a very simple manner. On this occasion, on behalf of the people of the Northern Province, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Government of India. When our people faced this calamity, India was the first nation to come forward with support—be it rescue operations or relief assistance. We will always remember this help.
Although Bharathiyar was born in India, his immense contributions to the Tamil language have made him not merely a regional poet but a globally celebrated figure. He is so deeply intertwined with our cultural identity that, in our childhood, it was hard to find an elocution competition that did not include a topic on Bharathiyar.
Bharathi was a courageous pioneer who championed progressive ideas for social change more than a century ago. He was not only a great poet but also a committed freedom fighter who worked tirelessly for India’s liberation. Through his fiery songs, he awakened patriotism and a deep yearning for freedom among the people.
“A true polyglot who mastered many languages, he honored Tamil by declaring, ‘Among all the languages we know, we will never find anything like Tamil anywhere else.’ Although his life on this earth was brief, the magnitude of his contributions was extraordinary. That is why, even after a century, he continues to be revered by all of us,” he said.
The event was attended by the President, Secretary, members of the Jaffna Tamil Sangam, Indian Consulate officials and many literary enthusiasts.
