Subrahmaniya Bharati, the Awakened fellow தமிழ், poet and patriot from the turn of the 20th century worked hard, honing constantly his natural literary gifts. He set a brave new standard in a language with a 2000 year-old unbroken high tradition of poetry and prose.
Bharati's paramount ideal was women's equality. Through this lens passed a blend of the best of his time - luminous ideas of life and love, and burning ideals patriotism and self-determination.
He used the word Kannamma in several of his poems to address his female ideal, worshipful deity, petulant child, passionate lover.. The choicest feminine traits were captured by his moniker. He left it as a sadhana, or method training for his tribe to fully imbibe Kannamma and install Her in their hearts.
The poem below is interpretative. Depending on how you wish to order the words/lines it is Bharati's, or the poet's or Kannamma's predicament.
பாரதியின் புலமை
அவன் பித்தனின் கடன்
கண்ணம்மாமீது காதல்
பாரதியின் கொந்தளிப்பு
அவன் பக்தியின் பலன்
கண்ணம்மாவிடம் மையல்
பாரதியின் ஏக்கம் தீர்த்த
தவனைப்போல் ஒருசித்தன்
ஆக்கந் தான் கண்ணம்மாவின் நிசம்
Bharati's mastery
His craze owes a debt
Of love for Kannamma
The rush that Bharati feels
the reward of his devotion
Is longing for his Kannamma
Any fellow-siddha of Bharathi's
Satiates his longing and theirs
Creating the unmediated experience of Kannamma
