FIRELETS

Subramania Bharati needs no introduction to any Indian, least of all anyone even remotely familiar with Tamil. A contemporary translation of his works is the need of the hour, not simply because his thoughts and ideas are relevant even today, but also because the newer generation looks for newer ways of relating to the eternal values espoused by the poet.
Bhooma's translation addresses this need. It is aimed at the younger generation, especially those who are barely or not at all familiar with Tamil. The language is simple, the flow is easy, and the form is well aligned with the original. This way, the reader gets to understand not only the meaning of the poem, but also the 'feel' of it. Each poem has a short introduction, giving a historical anecdotal or socio-political context to the poem. The illustrations add a visual appeal.
The choice of poems taken up for translation cover a wide range - from deeply introspective writings to social, political, reformative perspectives to spiritual seeking, including excerpts from his books. This gives the readers a tantalising glimpse of the vast repertoire of the works of Bharati.