Blessed by great saints and seers like Ramana, Aurobindo – Mother, Sivananda,Seshadri Swamigal, Meher Baba, Kanchi Mahaswami, Sringeri Jagadguru Narasimha Bharathi, no wonder he was a Kavi and he was a Yogi. He is known by the honorific “Kavi Yogi”.
Priveleged to have the guidance of and inspired by Mahakavi Bharathi, VVS Iyer and Mahatma Gandhi which led him to quit the job ( school teacher ) to plunge in the national liberation struggle. “Freedom calls; no more walls”, he wrote in his resignation letter. Learnt and practised yogic way of life (including 20 + years of vow of Mauna Vratam till Bharat gained independence), staying in Aurobindo Ashram, Pondicherry. Later propagated higher spiritual values through Yoga Samajam, Adyar, Chennai. Had a long travel of 37 years in the literary world, starting with Sri Aravinda Yoga Deepika (in1938) to சோதனையும் சாதனையும் (Trials and Achievements)
(in1975) writing 39 books. Just consider a sample of the repertoire of the varied subjects dealt by him:
** Translator of Thirukkural couplets into English in the same metre, in the same style and rhythm.
** Wrote An Ode to Mother Tamizh “Kadolirum Kundalamum…thirukkuralaith thaangu thamizh needu vaazhka .. நீதியொளிர் செங்கோலாய்த் திருக்குறளைத் தாங்கு தமிழ் நீடு வாழ்க”.
** Kindled the fire of National-Divine spirit in the minds of the readers through his magnum opus – Bharata Maha Shakti Kavya (50,000 + lines of poetry).
** Composer of many Tamizh keerthanas such as “ Eppadi Paadinaro?” (in Deva Gandhari raga on Lord Siva) which are popular to this date, sung by great Karnatic Vidhwans and appreciated by rasikas.
** Translated the French novel Les Miserable authored by into Tamil which was filmed as – Ezhai Padum Paadu (1950). Thus equally adept in all genres- poetry, prose and drama.
Sangh and the Kaviyogi
A great soul who enjoyed mutual respect of and with the second Sarchangachalak of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Guruji Golwalkar. ( a senior Swayamsevak recalls that he used to make it a point to meet Guruji on his tours to Chennai).
In early 70’s when the editor of RSS weekly THYAGABHOOMI requested him to write a kavita based on a cartoon (showing a fruit – bearing tree being axed), he penned one instantly condemning efforts of anti nationals (the axe) to destroy the nation (the fruit – bearing tree).
All these are a short list of many of the glories of Kaviyogi Sudhaanada Bharathi , born on May 11, 1897 ( year Vikrama, Chittirai month as per Sauramana calendar) and led a great life for 93 years.