14. THE R E B E L A S HEROc

S H E L L E Y A N D B H A R A T I D A S A M

A s a r a t i o n a l i s t of t h e Dravidian Movement l e d by

~ e r i y z r B.V. Ramasamy, Bhara t idasan had no f a i t h i n God,

d i s t r u s t e d r e l i g i o n and a t t a c k e d a l l t h e P u r q a s , l egends ,

myths and r i t u a l s a s s o c i a t e d wi th Hinduism, whi le a s a

Romanticis t he s t r e s s e d t h e p o t e n t i a l power and good in

human n a t u r e . A r e l e n t l e s s a t t a c k on t h e p e r s o n a l God,

i n s t i t u t i o n a l i z e d r e l i g i o n , s u p e r s t i t i o n s and a

g l o r i f i c a t i o n of t h e human be ing a s t h e ve ry c e n t r e of a l l

l i f e and a l l exper ience c h a r a c t e r i z e h i s poems, dramas, and

s h o r t s t o r i e s . The Vedas and t h e Upanishads, t h e Ramayana

and t h e Hahabharata were anathema t o him a s he f i r m l y

be l i eved t h a t they came i n t o be ing t o promote t h e i n t e r e s t s

of t h e Aryans and t o d e n i g r a t e t h e Drav id ians . The

Ramayana, e s p e c i a l l y , came under heavy f i r e s i n c e Kamban's

work was g a i n i n g , d u r i n g h i s t i m e , i n c r e a s i n g a t t e n t i o n a s

a r e p o s i t o r y of t h e Hindu f a i t h . The l e a d e r s of t h e S e l f -

Respect Movement conceded i t s g r e a t n e s s a s a work of a r t

but s e v e r e l y condemned it on t h e ground t h a t it p e r p e t r a t e d

t h e myth of Brahmin s u p e r i o r i t y p r e s e n t i n g t h e Aryan Rana

as a g r e a t he ro and t h e Dravidian Ravana a s a d e s p i c a b l e

v i l l a i n .

B h a r a t i d a s a n neve r missed an o p p o r t u n i t y t o a s s a i l

t h e Ramayana. "caf;jTvi P a r v a t a t t i n C&al" is a f u l l - l e n g t h

s a t i r i c a t t a c k on one of t h e e p i s o d e s i n t h e e p i c which r?

e u l o g i z e s Hanuma#n's p h y s i c a l s t r e n g t h d i s p l a y e d i n h i s u

c a r r y i n g t h e ~ a z j ? v i h i l l ove r a l ong d i s t a n c e t o h e l p Rana

save t h e l i v e s of h i s companions i n c l u d i n g Lakshnana. I t

is an e x q u i s i t e n a r r a t i v e poem r i d i c u l i n g t h e T a m i l s ' b l i n d

f a i t h i n t h e t a l e and i t s impor t and lampooning t h e

~ a t h a k a a k s h 5 p a m exponen t s , who, i n o r d e r t o e a r n t h e i r

l i v e l i h o o d , wnx e l o q u e n t o v e r t h e s t o r y p r o c l a i m i n g its

v e r a c i t y . The s e t t i n g e n a b l e s t h e p o e t t o i n c l u d e a few

b r o a d s i d e s on a l l t h e Puri inas and r e l i g i o u s works:

Mighty tomes of Puriinas t o p e r p e t u a t e s p l i t s ! F i t t i n g I t h i h a s a s t h h t f a v o u r c a s t e - q u a r r e l s !

What can t h e s e f a b l e s f e i g n e d do? Can t h e y s h a k e a s i n g l e sesame s e e d ?

Now o n l y do I know t h e r e is on e a r t h A t a l e e n e r v a t i n g c a l l e d Ranayana; Now o n l y do I r e a l i s e t h e r e e x i s t S e l f i s h h i s t o r i a n s s e l l i n g t o r i e s f a l s e Caus ing t h e c o u n t r y ' s f a l l . I

The p o e t u sed t h e Ramayana e p i s o d e t o d r i v e hone t h e

message t h a t t h e c o u n t r y won ' t p r o s p e r i f i ts t eeming

m i l l i o n s a r e g o i n g t o c h e r i s h s o many of t h e i r

s u p e r s t i t i o n s . Towards t h e end o f t h e poem, Kuppac becomes

t h e p o e t ' s mou thp iece when he a s k s :

Of what a v a i l is t h e l a r g e p o p u l a t i o n o f t h i r t y - t h r e e c r o r e s i n t h i s b i g n a t i o n which can b o a s t o f t h e g r e a t Himalayas , t h e p e r e n n i a l Ganges , t h e g r a n d P o t i y a i i n t h e sweet Tami lnadu , paddy f i e l d s , s u g a r c a n e p l a n t a t i o n s and p l e n t y of f r u i t - b e a r i n g t r e e s ? Of what u s e a r e i ts n a t u r a l r e s o u r c e s ? When w i l l i t s s t u p i d , e n d l e s s s l e e p v a n i s h ? When w i l l it p rospe r? '

The r e a d e r of t h e poem would d o w e l l t o remember

what Aldous Huxley w r o t e i n 1926 on what happened i n

Varanas i on t h e o c c a s i o n of t h e s o l a r e c l i p s e o f which he

way arl e y e - w l t n e u u :

To s a v e t h e sun (which m i g h t , one f e e l s , v e r y s a f e l y b e l e f t t o l o o k a f t e r i t s e l f ) a m i l l i o n of Hindus w i l l a s semble on t h e banks of t h e Ganges . Hon many, I wonder , would a s semble t o s a v e I n d i a ? An immense e n e r g y wh ich , i f it c o u l d b e t u r n e d i n t o p o l i t i c a l c h a n n e l s , might l i b e r a t e and t r a n s f o r m t h e c o u n t r y , is was ted i n t h e name of i m b e c i l e s u p e r s t i t i o n s . R e l i g i o n is a l u x u r y which I n d i a , i n i t s p r e s e n t c o n d i t i o n , c a n n o t p o s s i b l y a f f o r d . I n d i a w i l l n e v e r be f r e e u n t i l t h e Hindus and t h e Moslems a r e a s t e p i d l y e n t h u s i a s t i c a b o u t t h e i r r e l i g i o n a s we a r e a b o u t t h e Church of Eng land . I f I were an I n d i a n m i l l i o n a i r e , I would l e a v e a l l my money f o r t h e endowment of an A t h e i s t K i s s i o n .

I n two of h i s s h o r t poems, B h a r a t i d a s a n p r o j e c t s t h e

image of Ravana a s a g r e a t Tami l h e r o . I n "~?rat tami~an-"

(The H e r o i c T a m i l ) , he d e f e n d s t h e d e e d s of Ravana and

condemns V i b h i s h a n a a s a t r a i t o r :

I s e e t h e s o u t h ; words f a i l me u t t e r l y . Uy h e a r t and s h o u l d e r s s w e l l w i t h s o a r i n g p r i d e ! The w a r r i o r - T a m i l , once l o r d of Lanka! Famed i n a l l t h e t e n d i r e c t i o n s o f h i s f a c e s ! With s h o u l d e r s t h a t l i f t h i l l s and hands t h a t g i v e ,

Host d r e a d e d god of d e a t h t o f o x - l i k e f o e s ! My Tamil a n c e s t o r ! My Tami l l e a d e r ! Ravana t h e g r e a t ! T h i s wor ld knows h i s name!

~ f Ravana was ashamed of a n y t h i n g , it was of b e i n g t h e

e l d e r b r o t h e r of V ibh i shana , who, i n t h e p o e t ' s v iew, was a

d i s g r a c e t o t h e e n t i r e Tamil community. A I a i r f i g h t e r

never r e s o r t i n g t o f o u l s t r a t e g i e s even w h i l e f a c i n g d e a t h ,

Ravana is a g r e a t m u s i c i a n , whose t o n g u e u t t e r s t h e f o u r

Tamil Vedas. A l l g e n u i n e Tami l s have t o p r a i s e him; t h o s e

who f o r g e t t o d o i t a r e r o g u e s . I n t h e f i n a l s t a n z a o f t h e

poem, B h a r a t i d a s a n e x h o r t s t h e T a m i l s n o t o n l y t o awake,

a r i s e and d o h e r o i c d e e d s t o s p r e a d Tamil b u t t o be

venge fu l and f i g h t f i e r c e l y a g a i n s t a l l f o r c e s s y m b o l i s i n g

c o n s p i r a o y , v i l l a i n y and j e a l o u s y . And one of t h e i r pr ime

t a s k s s h o u l d , of c o u r s e , be t o s i n g t h e g l o r y of Ravana 's

name.

'Uqza i V i k F t 6 " ( D o n ' t s e l l y o u r s e l f ) , b e s i d e s b e i n g

a t r i b u t e t o Ravana, mounts a s c a t h i n g a t t a c k on t h e

cowards who pay o n l y l i p s e r v i c e t o t h e c o u n t r y b u t a r e

f r i g h t e n e d of f i g h t i n g f o r i ts f r eedom. He a v e r s : "I

s h a l l s i n g t h e g l o r y of Ravana of Lanka of t h e Sou th and of

Dur iya deemed a d e v i l t hough o t h e r s may u t t e r b i t t e r words

a g a i n s t them. Even i f Duryodhanas a r e l e g i o n i n t h i s l a n d

of i n a c t i o n , I s h a l l r i s e t o s l a y t h e Yana i f he t r i e s t o

k i l l t h e n " . And a g a i n he s a y s ,

I t is n o t mean t o t r a n s l a t e o n e ' s t h o u g h t s i n t o d e e d s ; it is t h e g l o r y of t h e r a c e o f h e r o e s ! The w a r r i o r ' s p r ime v i r t u e i s n o t t o s u r r e n d e r a t t h e f e e t of t h e f o e . Dur iya and Ravana were n o t cowards t o s u f f e r o t h e r s r u l i n g o u r l a n d c h e r i s h e d w i t h i n f i n i t e l o v e i n ou r h e a r t s . T h i s is he v i r t u e demanded f rom t h e d e s c e n d a n t s o f B h a r a t h . Ir

I n t h i s poem w r i t t e n b e f o r e B h a r a t i d a s a n l o s t h i s

f a i t h i n t h e o n e n e s s of I n d i a a s a n a t i o n , he p r a i s e s

Ravana and Duryodhana f o r h a v i n g been t r u e t o t h e i r h e a r t s .

The p o e t ' s r o m a n t i c l e a n i n g s a r e e v i d e n t i n h i s

g l o r i f i c a t i o n of t h e i r s t e a d f a s t l o v e f o r l i b e r t y and o f

t h e i r r e j e c t i o n o f t h o u g h t s of s u r r e n d e r a t t h e c o s t o f

t h e i r own l i v e s . Here one would b e reminded of S h e l l e y ' s

view of H i l t o n ' s S a t a n :

No th ing can exceed t h e e n e r g y and m a g n i f i c e n c e of t h e c h a r a c t e r of S a t a n a s e x p r e s s e d i n Paradise L o s t . I t is a m i s t a k e t o s u p p o s e t h a t he c o u l d e v e r have been i n t e n d e d f o r t h e p o p u l a r p e r s o n i f i c a t i o n of e v i l . . . H i l t o n ' s d e v i l a s a mora l b e i n g is a s f a r s u p e r i o r t o h i s God, a s one who p e r s e v e r e s i n s o n e p u r p o s e which he h a s conce ived t o b e e x c e l l e n t i n s p i t e of a d v e r s i t y and t o r t u r e , is t o one who i n t h e c o l d s e c u r i t y of undoubted t r i u m p h i n f l i c t s t h e mos t h o r r i b l e r e v e n g e upon h i s enemy . . . K i l t o n h a s s o f a r v i o l a t e d t h e p o p u l a r c r e e d ( i f t h i s s h a l l b e judged t o b e a v i o l a t i o n ) a s t o have a l l e g e d no s ~ p e r i o r i t y o f mora l v i r t u e t o h i s God o v e r h i s d e v i l .

S h e l l e y and B h a r a t i d a s a n p r a i s e K i l t o n ' s S a t a n and

Kamaban's Ravana r e s p e c t i v e l y f o r t h e i r c o u r a g e , m a j e s t y

and d e t e r m i n e d o p p o s i t i o n t o t h e o m n i p o t e n t f o r c e .

Ignor ing t h e p o p u l a r view a g a i n , t h e y a c c o r d a h i g h e r p l a c e

to two o t h e r r e b e l s . The g r e a t E n g l i s h r o m a n t i c p o e t v i e w s

prometheus a s " t h e t y p e of t h e h i g h e s t p e r f e c t i o n of mora l

and i n t e l l e c t u a l n a t u r e , i m p e l l e d by t h e p u r e s t and t h e

t r u e s t m o t i v e s t o t h e b e s t and n o b l e s t e n d s " . He p r e f e r s

Prometheus t o S a t a n because " t h e fo rmer is s u s c e p t i b l e o f

being d e s c r i b e d a s exempt f rom t h e t a i n t s of a m b i t i o n ,

envy, r e v e n g e , and a d e s i r e f o r p e r s o n a l a g g r a n d i s e m e n t ,

which, i n t h e h e r o o f Parad i se L o s t , i n t e r f e r e w i t h t h e

i n t e r e s t " . The Tamil p o e t , on t h e o t h e r hand, honour s

Hiranya by making him t h e h e r o of a g r e a t p r o s e drama.

B h a r a t i d a s a n ' s I r a ? i a g A l l a t u I ; a i y c r ~ a v7ran p r e s e n t i n g a

r e b e l of t h e Hindu mythology a s a b e n e f a c t o r o f t h e Tami l s

d e s e r v e s t o be compared w i t h S h e l l e y ' s Prometheus Unbound

p o r t r a y i n g a r e b e l o f t h e Greek mythology a s a b e n e f a c t o r

o f t h e e n t i r e human r a c e .

I n "Ode t o L i b e r t y " , a poem composed i n 1820 and

p u b l i s h e d w i t h Prometheus Unbound, i n t h e same y e a r ,

S h e l l e y w r i t e s ,

Oh, t h a t t h e f r e e would s tamp t h e imp ious name Of k i n g i n t o t h e d u s t ! o r w r i t e it t h e r e , So t h a t t h i s b l o t upon t h e page of fame Were a s a s e r p e n t ' s p a t h , which t h e l i g h t a i r E r a s e s , and t h e f l a t s a n d s c l o s e beh ind !

Oh, t h a t t h e w i s e f rom t h e i r b r i g h t minds would

k i n d l e Such lamps w i t h i n t h e dome o f t h i s dim wor ld , Tha t t h e P a l e name of Priest migh t s h r i n k and d w i n d l e I n t o t h e h e l l from which it f i r s t was h u r l e d A s c o f f o f impious p r i d e from f i e n d s i m ~ u r e . ~

In Prometheus Unbound i t s e l f , he p a i n t s a l u x u r i o u s p i c t u r e

of t h e f e l i c i t i e s which would succeed t h e d e s t r u c t i o n of

t h e c o r r u p t s o c i a l , r e l i g i o u s and p o l i t i c a l o r d e r . Dur ing

t h i s happy p e r i o d

"Thrones were K i n g l e s s , and men walked One w i t h t h e o t h e r , even a s s p i r i t s do

When t h r o n e s , a l t a r s , j u d g e m e n t - s e a t s and p r i s o n s a r e a l l

d e s t r o y e d , men s h a l l

I n t r i umph o ' e r t h e p a l a c e s and tombs Of t h o s e who were t h e i r c o n q u e r o r s , m o u l d e r i n s

a round . R e l i g i o n , which he c a l l s " a d a r k y e t migh ty f a i t h , a

power a s wide a s i s t h e world it wasted . . . "

would t h e n have v a n i s h e d . A t t h i s j o y o u s p e r i o d ,

"The loa thsome mask has f a l l e n ; t h e man r e m a i n s S c e p t r e l e s s , f r e e , u n c i r c u m s c r i b ' d b u t man E q u a l , u n c l a s s ' d , t r i b e l e s s , and n a t i o n l e s s , Exempt f rom awe, worsh ip - t h e King o v e r h i m s e l f "

"And women t o o , f r a n k , b e a u t i f u l , and k i n d , As t h e f r e e heaven , which r a i n s f r e s h l i g h t and dew On t h e wide ea r th ; - -A g e n t l e r a d i a n t fo rm, From c u s t o m ' s e v i l t a i n t , exempt and

A s is wel l -known, monarchy, r e l i g i o n , and s u p e r s t i t i o n a r e

t h e major t a r g e t s of B h a r a t i d a s a n . ~ a t t a c k a l s o and woman's

emanc ipa t ion is a s u b j e c t d e a r t o h i s h e a r t . I n poem a f t e r

poem, t h e s e themes a r e d e a l t w i t h i n a v a s t v a r i e t y o f

s e t t i n g s and p o e t i c fo rms .

S h e l l e y knew t h a t Prometheus Unbound, t h e l o s t drama

by Aeschy lus , d r a m a t i s e d t h e r e c o n c i l i a t i o n o f J u p i t e r w i t h

h i s v i c t i m Prometheus a s t h e p r i c e of t h e r e v e l a t i o n o f t h e

dange r to h i s empi re by t h e consummation of h i s m a r r i a g e

w i t h T h e t i s . But S h e l l e y was n o t i n t e r e s t e d i n f r a m i n g h i s

s t o r y on t h i s model a s he h a t e d t h e f e e b l e c a t a s t r o p h e of

r e c o n c i l i n g t h e champion of mankind w i t h i ts o p p r e s s o r . He

f e l t t h a t " t h e mora l i n t e r e s t of t h e f a b l e , which is s o

p o w e r f u l l y s u s t a i n e d by t h e s u f f e r i n g s and endurance of

Prometheus would be a n n i h i l a t e d i f we c o u l d c o n c e i v e of him

a s u n s a y i n g h i s h i g h l anguage and q u a i l i n g b e f o r e h i s

s u c c e s s f u l and p e r f i d i o u s a d v e r s a r y " . The re i s ,

t h e r e f o r e , a r ework ing of t h e myth by S h e l l e y i n whose

v e r s i o n P rometheus i s p r e s e n t e d a s a r e l e n t l e s s f i g h t e r

b r i n g i n g a b o u t t h e d o w n f a l l of t h e t y r a n t J u p i t e r w i t h t h e

h e l p of Demogorgon.

I n Kamban's Ranrayana, t h e s t o r y of Irayian- is a

n a r v e l l o u s e p i s o d e a s it e p i t o m i z e s t h e s t o r y of Ravana

h i m s e l f . I t is t o l d by Vibh i shana who is p i c t u r e d by

Kamban a s t h e most e n l i g h t e n e d of t h e t h r e e b r o t h e r s and a s

an uncompromising champion of t r u t h . He wan t s h i s migh ty

b r o t h e r t o l e a r n a v a l u a b l e l e s s o n f rom t h e l i f e of

I r a v i a n , who f e l l because of h i s a r r o g a n t r e f u s a l t o a c c e p t

t he supremacy of Lord Vishnu. T h a t Kamban can b e a s r a p i d

as he can be s low is e v i d e n t i n t h e one hundred and

s e v e n t y - f i v e s t a n z a s n a r r a t i n g b r e a t h t a k i n g l y t h e a b s o r b i n g

t a l e of t h e c o n f l i c t between t h e p i o u s PirahalEtan- and h i s

a t h e i s t f a t h e r . A l l t h e g r e a t boons c o n f e r r e d on t h e

mighty g i a n t do n o t come t o h i s r e s c u e when he l o s e s h i s

f i g h t a g a i n s t h i s own c h i l d a t whose p r a y e r Lord Vishnu

makes h i s a p p e a r a n c e a s Narasimha and t e a r s t h e haugh ty

king t o p i e c e s . B h a r a t i d a s a n s e e s i n t h e e p i s o d e an i d e a l

c o n f l i c t between r e l i g i o n and a t h e i s m , between s u p e r s t i t i o n

and r a t i o n a l i s m , between t h e cunn ing Aryas and t h e b r a v e

b u t i n n o c e n t T a m i l s . I n t h i s s t o r y he f i n d s t h e ep i tome of

t h e e p i c b a t t l e between t h e Aryas and t h e more c i v i l i z e d

D r a v i d i a n s who f i n a l l y had t o succumb t o t h e coward ly b u t

u n s c r u p u l o u s a l i e n s .

I r a v i a ~ , a s p o r t r a y e d by B h a r a t i d a s a n , v e r y much

l i k e P rometheus , is t h e v e r y p e r s o n i f i c a t i o n of

magnanimity . He is a b s o l u t e l y f e a r l e s s t hough s u r r o u n d e d

by a l a r g e g r o u p o f w i l y Aryans who a r e s u c c e s s f u l l y

' p o i s o n i n g t h e minds of h i s Tami l s u b j e c t s . A k i n d

husband, a l o v i n g f a t h e r and a g e n e r o u s l e a d e r , he l i s t e n s

t o t h e p l e a d i n g s of h i s w i f e , w a i t s f o r t h e r e f o r m a t i o n of

h i s s o n , f o r g i v e s t h e Aryan l a d y who is c a u g h t red-handed

w h i l e a t t e m p t i n g t o k i l l him and a l l o w s h i s commander-in-

c h i e f t o go s c o t - f r e e even though t h e l a t t e r t e l l s him a

l i e c r e d i t i n g t h e Aryans w i t h s u p e r n a t u r a l powers .

IraFian- i s a l l t h e t i m e w o r r i e d a b o u t t h e s e a o f b l i n d

f a i t h which i s t h r e a t e n i n g t o e n g u l f t h e Tami l c o u n t r y and

abou t t h e p o s s i b l e w i p i n g o u t of Tami l c u l t u r e , Tami l

t r a d i t i o n and Tamil l i t e r a t u r e by t h e Aryan m a c h i n a t i o n s .

His cup of so r row i s f u l l when h i s own son f a l l s a p r e y t o

them and t u r n s a g a i n s t him. He makes a few moving speeohes

e x h o r t i n g t h e Tami l s n o t t o be f o o l i s h l y m i s l e d by t h e

Aryans:

I r a n i a n : (To h i s c o u r t i e r s ) Respec t ed e l d e r s ! I hcpk t h a t no Tamil w i t h t h e Tamil b lood r u n n i n g i n h i s v e i n s w i l l be e n s n a r e d by t h e wicked Aryans . We know how t h e Aryans c r e a t i n g c o n f l i c t s and c o n f u s i o n have b r o u g h t many kingdoms i n t h i s c o u n t r y unde r t h e i r c o n t r o l . Wherever t h e y a r e i n f l u e n t i a l , t h e y have been a t t e m p t i n g t o d e s t r o y and tamper w i t h t h e a n c i e n t Tami l w r i t i n g s and t o b l a c k o u t t h e Tami l c i v i l i z a t i o n .

I d o n o t mind a l l of them coming t o g e t h e r a l o n g w i t h NKrXyanan and t h e o t h e r Devas t h e y s p e a k o f . B u t a s t h i y A happen t o be cunn ing f o x e s and t i m i d h e r m a p h r o d i t e s , t h e y may c a p t u r e t h i s wor ld by hook o r by c r o o k ; t h e y may r u l e t h e wor ld c a s t i n g a s p e l l o v e r t h e e n t i r e human r a c e . However, t h e f a c t t h a t t h e y h i t a t t h e b a c k s of t h e T a m i l s w i l l b e remembered t i l l t h e world l a s t s .

(The c o u r t i e r s c l a p t h e i r h a n d s )

Not o n l y t h i s . These Aryans may k i l l me by f o u l means . But I w i l l s a y t h a t t h e wor ld won ' t f o r g e t t h e he ro i sm of t h e Tami l h e r o o a l l e d I r a n i a n _ L a t e r , t h e Aryans may t a r n i s h my image and t h a t of t h e Tami l h e r o e s by t h e i r f a b l e s g i v i n g f a l s e a c c o u n t s . But I hope t h e f u t u r e g e n e r a t i o n s of r a t i o n a l i s t T a m i l s will f i n d o u t t h e t r u t h . None can p u t an end t o t h e d a i l y i n c e a s e i n t h e number of r a t i o n l i s t s among t h e T a m i l s . 6

T h i s is t h e message of Ira?ian-as w e l l a s o f t h e

a u t h o r of t h e d rama . But B h a r a t i d a s a n ' s p r o p a g a n d i s t z e a l

does n o t i n any way mar t h e p r o s e drama a s a work of a r t .

C o n s i s t i n g of f i f t e e n b r i e f s c e n e s , i t n e v e r l o s e s i ts g r i p

over t h e a t t e n t i o n o f t h e r e a d e r . B e s i d e s Iratian-, who

wins o u r sympathy and l o v e v e r y e a r l y i n t h e p l a y , t h e r e

a r e a few s u c c e s s f u l p o r t r a i t s . The army c h i e f who i s

f i r s t b l i n d e d by h i s d e s i r e t o win t h e hand of an Aryan

l a d y and h i s ambi t ion t o become t h e r u l e r of t h e Tami l

c o u n t r y redeems h imse l f f i n a l l y by k i l l i n g h e r and

s a c r i f i c i n g h i s own t a i n t e d l i f e . C i t r a b z n u , a pawn i n t h e

hands of h e r Aryan k i t h and k i n , is a b l e t o d e c e i v e t h e

g u l l i b l e P i r a h a l g t a n e f f o r t l e s s l y b u t what makes h e r

memorable i s h e r r e a d i n e s s t o do a n y t h i n g f o r h e r community

l e a d i n g t o h e r own d e a t h . These c h a r a c t e r s l e a v e l a s t i n g

i m p r e s s i o n s upon t h e r e a d e r ' s mind and i t s h o u l d b e s a i d t o

t h e c r e d i t of B h a r a t i d a s a n ' s s k i l l i n c h a r a c t e r i z a t i o n t h a t

t h e y became t h e a r c h e t y p e s on whom t h e c h a r a c t e r s i n nany

l a t e r n o v e l s and dramaa of t h e w r i t e r s b e l o n g i n g t o t h e

Drav id i an Movement were m o d e l l e d .

If we a r e t o l o o k f o r an e d i f y i n g and i l l u m i n a t i n g

p a r a l l e l t o B h a r t i d a s a n ' s p o r t r a y a l of I r a t i a n i n t h e - w r i t i n g s of Western r o m a n t i c i s t s , we may ' f i n d i t i n

S h e l l e y ' s p r e s e n t a t i o n of P rome theus , t hough t h e two d ramas

a r e more u n l i k e t h a n l i k e e a c h o t h e r . B h a r a t i d a s a n ' s

I r a l i a n , f r e e "f rom t h e t a i n t s of a m b i t i o n , envy, r e v e n g e - and a d e s i r e f o r p e r s o n a l agg rand i semen t " is c l o s e r t o

S h e l l e y ' s Prometheus t h a n t o M i l t o n ' s S a t a n o r t o B y r o n ' s

C a i n . The p l a y by S h e l l e y , c o n s i d e r e d " a v a s t w i l d e r n e s s

of b e a u t y " , w i t n e s s e s t o S h e l l e y ' s l y r i c a l r a t h e r t h a n t o

h i s d r a m a t i c g e n i u s . S h e l l e y h i m s e l f c a l l s it a l y r i c a l

drama. I t s dramatis personae i n c l u d e t h e phantasm of

J u p i t e r , t h e s p i r i t of t h e e a r t h , t h e s p i r i t of t h e moon,

s p i r i t s , e c h o e s , f a u n s and f u r i e s . P rome theus is p e r h a p s

t h e o n l y ' c h a r a c t e r ' i n t h e f u l l s e n s e o f t h e t e r m ; o t h e r s

a r e a b s t r a c t i o n s . The f o u r t h Ac t is b u t a s u s t a i n e d l y r i c

p r a i s i n g t h e b r a v e new w o r l d . S h e l l e y ' s r e v o l u t i o n a r y

i d e a l i s m f i n d s i ts most e l o q u e n t e x p r e s s i o n h e r e . His

c h i e f aim is t o f o r e c a s t t h a t man a l o n e can improve h i s

s t a t u s , becoming h a p p i e r and w i s e r i f h e d e v e l o p s t h e

v i r t u e s of l o v e and f o r g i v e n e s s :

To s u f f e r woes which Hope t h i n k s i n f i n i t e ; To f o r g i v e wrongs d a r k e r t h a n d e a t h o r n i g h t ; To d e f y power , which seems o m n i p o t e n t ; To l o v e and b e a r , t o hope t i l l Hope c r e a t e s From its own wreck t h e t h i n g it c o n t e m p l a t e s ; N e i t h e r t o change , n o r f a l t e r , n o r r e p e n t ; T h i s , l i k e t h y g l o r y , T i t a n , is t o be Good, g r e a t and j o y o u s , b e a u t i f u l and f r e e ; T h i s is a l o n e L i f e , J o y , Empire and victor^.^

Though Prometheus Unbound is f e e b l e a s a drama, S h e l l e y ' s

a ch i evemen t a s a s p o n t a n e o u s myth-maker i s e v i d e n t i n h i s

u se of t h e P rome theus myth p r e s e n t i n g t h e g r e a t T i t a n a s a

g r e a t r e p r e s e n t a t i v e of mankind. He wages a s e l f l e s s war

a g a i n s t J u p i t e r , t h e g u i d i n g power beh ind e v i l

i n s t i t u t i o n s , t h e e s s e n c e of o r t h o d o x y and r e a c t i o n , t h e

c h i e f enemy of man ' s a s p i r a t i o n s . H i s w i l l i n g n e s s t o

f o r g i v e even J u p i t e r whom he once c u r s e d , " a n e c e s s a r y

p r e l u d e t o l i b e r a t i o n " , r e v e a l s h i s g r e a t n e s s ;

D i s d a i n ! Ah no! I p i t y t h e e . What r u i n Will h u n t t h e e unde fended t h r o u g h wide Heaven! How w i l l t h y s o u l , c l o v e n t o i ts d e p t h w i t h t e r r o r , Gape l i k e a h e l l w i t h i n ! I s p e a k i n g r i e f , Not o x u l t a t i o r ~ , f o r I ha1.e no more . As t h e n e r e m i s e r y made me w i s e . The u r s e Once b r e a t h e d on t h e e 1 would r e c a l l . ' '

His u n i o n w i t h A s i a i n d i c a t e s t h a t , man w i l l have t o combine

wisdom, t o l e r a n c e and endurance w i t h l o v e and c r e a t i v e

power and l i v e i n harmony w i t h N a t u r e

I t i s c l a i m e d by t h e a d m i r e r s of S h e l l e y t h a t i n

Prometheus llnbound he e u o c a e d s i n work ing h i s m o r a l ,

and p h i l o s o p h i c a l i d e a l s i n t o a w e l l - k n i t p o e t i c

theme. He a l s o s u c c e s s f u l l y f u s e s t h e two s i d e s of h i s

n a t u r e , t h e r a t i o n a l and t h e e m o t i o n a l , which had i n s p i r e d

Queen n a b and A l a s t e r . B h a r a t i d a s a n a l s o s u c c e e d s t o a

l a r g e e x t e n t i n g i v i n g an a r t i s t i c e x p r e s s i o n t o h i s

p r i n c i p l e s and c o n t e n t i o n s i n Irafian- A l l a t u I ? a i y a _ r ~ a - Viran . Maurice Bowra o b s e r v e s t h a t i n Prome theus Unbound,

t h e o l d q u a r r e l of p o e t r y and p h i l o s o p h y is h e a l e d and t h e

p a l l i d a b s t r a c t i o n s of a n a l y t i c a l t h o u g h t t a k e on t h e g low

and t h e g l o r y of v i s i b l e t h i n g s . But S h e l l e y ' s s u c c e s s i n

t h i s d i r e c t i o n i s n o t t o t a l . The re a r e p a s s a g e s i n which

p h i l o s o p h y r ema ins a s p h i l o s o p h y and d o e s n o t become

p o e t r y . And t h e c h a r g e of o b s c u r i t y h a s a l s o been j u s t l y

l e v e l l e d a g a i n s t a few p a s s a g e s .

B h a r a t i d a s a n ' s poems - and p r o s e w r i t i n g s a r e

c h a r a c t e r i z e d by a s i m p l e and c l e a r l anguage and h i s

f a v o u r i t e themes do n o t w a r r a n t any complex m e t a p h y s i c a l

d i s c u s s i o n s . Nor is he i n t e r e s t e d i n any a b s t r a c t a n a l y s i s

f o r i ts own s a k e . Even when he r e j e c t s t h e b e l i e f i n God

and e x p r e s s e s h i s con t empt f o r Hinduism, he d o e s n o t c a r e

t o b u i l d up h i s a rgumen t s i n a s u b t l e manner . He p r e f e r s

hammer b lows and s l a p s i n t h e f a c e t o a m b i v a l e n t s t a t e m e n t s

and u n d e r c u t t i n g i r o n i e s . Yea t s f e l t t h a t S h e l l e y ' s drama

has a c e r t a i n p l a c e among t h e s a c r e d books of t h e w o r l d ,

and t o H e r b e r t Read i t is t h e g r e a t e s t e x p r e s s i o n e v e r

g iven t o h u m a n i t y ' s d e s i r e f o r i n t e l l e c t u a l l i g h t and

s p i r i t u a l l i b e r t y . Though B h a r a t i d a s a n ' s drama may n o t win

such r e c o g n i t i o n , it is a s s u c c e s s f u l a s S h e l l e y ' s

prometheus Unbound i n i t s u s e of an a n c i e n t myth i n v e s t i n g

i t w i t h con tempora ry s i g n i f i c a n c e i n a s much a s it became

t h e p r o g e n i t o r o f a h o s t of n o v e l s , poems and d ramas i n

Tamil d r a m a t i z i n g t h e c o n f r o n t a t i o n between t h e Aryans and

t h e D r a v i d i a n s t h r o u g h s i m i l a r c h a r a c t e r s and s i t u a t i o n s .

NOTES A N D REFERENCES

B h a r a t i d a s a n , " c a z c r v i P a r v a t a t t i n ~ a r a l ' ' , B h a r a t i d a s a n X a v i t a i k a i (Madras : Manivacakar PTt ippakam, 1 9 9 4 ) . p . 1 5 .

A l l q u o t a t i o n s f rom B h a r a t i d a s a n ' s p o e t r y a r e f rom t h i s t e x t and t h e t r a n s l a t i o n is mine .

B h a r a t i d a s a n , " ~ a Z c T v i P a r v a t a t t i c C g r a l " , p . 1 5 . The t r a r ~ u l n t l o n i n t o E n g l i s h p r o s e is mine.

B h a r a t i d a s a n K a v i t a i k a t , p . 141

I b i d . , p . 1 4 9 .

S h e l l e y , "A Defence of P o e t r y w i n Hazard Adams, e d . , C r i t i c a l Theory S i n c e P l a t o (New York: H a r c o u r t Brace J o v a n o v i c h , 1 9 7 1 ) , p . 5 0 8 .

S h e l l e y , P o e t i c Works (Oxfo rd , Oxfo rd U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , 1970) , pp.608-09.

7 I b i d . , p.252

I ran ian , A l l a t u I n a i y a : ~ an was f i r s t s t a g e d by ~ h i r a t r d a s a n on 9-9-1935 and g o y i n t o p r i n t i n 1939. T h e t e x t u s e d f o r t h i s e s s a y was p u b l i s h e d by PiimpukFr P u b l i s h e r s , Madras i n 1978. The E n g l i s h r e n d e r i n g of t h e p a s s a g e q u o t e d i s m i n e .

9 S h e l l e y , Poetic Works.

lo I b i d . , p p . 208-09.