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The renowned Tamil poet and freedom fighter who championed the cause of women's liberation, and whose patriotic poems inspired the national movement, was:
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Answer: Option B — Subramania Bharathi
Detailed Solution
Subramania Bharathi (C. Subramania Bharati), the renowned Tamil poet and freedom fighter, championed the cause of women's liberation and wrote patriotic poems that inspired the national movement.
About Subramania Bharathi:
- He was born on 11 December 1882 at Ettayapuram, in the Thoothukudi (Tuticorin) district of Tamil Nadu.
- He was given the title "Bharathi" (blessed by Saraswati) at the age of 11, for his poetic talent.
- He was popularly called "Mahakavi Bharathiyar" (great poet).
- He studied in Varanasi, where he learnt Sanskrit, Hindi and English.
His role in the national movement:
- He worked as a journalist for the Tamil newspaper "Swadesamitran", and later edited the Tamil weekly "India" and the English weekly "Bala Bharatam".
- He was associated with the Extremists, and supported Tilak and Aurobindo.
To avoid arrest, he lived in Pondicherry (then French territory) from 1908 to 1918, where he met Aurobindo and V. V. S. Aiyar.
His poems:
- He wrote many patriotic songs, such as "Achamillai Achamillai" ("Fear we have not"), which inspired the people.
- His famous works include "Kannan Pattu", "Kuyil Pattu" and "Panchali Sabatham".
- He wrote about the unity of India, the glory of the Tamil language, and freedom.
His views on women:
- He strongly supported the liberation of women, their education, and their equality with men.
- He wrote about the "Pudhumai Penn" (the new woman), who was brave, educated and free.
- He opposed child marriage and the caste system.
His death:
He died on 11 September 1921 in Madras, after being injured by a temple elephant.
His legacy:
- He is regarded as one of the greatest Tamil poets of modern times.
- His birthday, 11 December, is celebrated as "Bharathi's Day"; the Government of India has declared it "Bhartiya Bhasha Diwas" (2022).
Why not the other options?
- ✗Thiruvalluvar and Kambar were classical Tamil poets; Bharathidasan was a disciple of Bharathi.
Quick tip
Remember: Subramania Bharathi ("Mahakavi Bharathiyar"; Ettayapuram; "Panchali Sabatham", "Kuyil Pattu"; "Pudhumai Penn"; lived in Pondicherry 1908-18).
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This topic covers famous personalities from India and the world: leaders, reformers, scientists, entrepreneurs and their nicknames, along with the founders of organisations, companies, institutions, religions and movements. Questions often use popular titles such as 'Iron Man of India' (Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel) or 'Nightingale of India' (Sarojini Naidu), or ask who founded an organisation, such as the Ramakrishna Mission (Swami Vivekananda). Grouping people by field and by title makes revision faster and helps you spot wrong options. Practise the famous personalities questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.