Subramania Bharathi in British and French India

French Pondicherry became the most productive place for Bharathi's literary and revolutionary creations. It is highly doubtful if Bharathi would have achieved the greatness that he achieved if he had not chosen to come to Pondicherry and reside there for ten years. If Bharathi had not written Kuyil Paatu, Panchali Sabatham and Kannan Paatu in Pondicherryy, he would never have become the Mahakavi that he became. It will not be an exaggeration to conclude that Pondicherry paved the way for Bharathi's most productive literary creations and his emergence as the revolutionary writer and poet of Thamizhnadu. The influence exerted by French values on him in Pondicherry permitted him to rise above narrow nationalism and parochialism and emerge as a genuine Indian Thamizh patriot.

J.B.P.More has published extensively on the history of south India, Thamizhnadu and Kerala, and also on French colonial history in India. Some of his books for which he is known are 'The Political Evolution of the Muslims in Tamilnadu and Madras, 1930-47' and 'Muslim Identity, Print Culture and the Dravidian factor in Tamilnadu'. His other important books are 'Religion and Society in South India' and the 'Rise and Fall of the Dravidian Justice party, 1916-1946' as well as the 'Origin and Foundation of Madras'. His works on the history and freedom movement in the French colonies of Pondicherry, Mahe and Yanam has been acclaimed as quite original and unique. He has authored more than 18 books and 45 articles in English, French and Tamil. Currently he teaches at Institut des Hautes Etudes Economiques et Commerciales (Inseec), Paris.

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