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by K.T. Kumaran

Arise and awake to serve all people and to bring goodness to all is what all humanity could resonate, at this time of beginning of a new year – 2010.

Sri Ramakrishna said, cultivating higher life is denouncing discrimination and recognition of divinity in everyone and in everything, compassion for the downtrodden and spirituality is final solution to worldly miseries and universal love.

According to The Vedanta Kesari, A monthly issue published by The Ramakrishna Order, several parallels can be drawn between Ramakrishna-Vivekananda ideology and twentieth century Tamil literature.

Swami Ramakrishna’s deep humanism has cast its influence on many literary compositions including in the works of Mahakavi Subramania Bharathi.

Drawing by a child who wants to be Bharathiyar. The drawing is hanging high in an office in Kalmunai, Sri Lanka – pic courtesy: Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai

Just as Bhagwan Sri Ramakasrishna called upon the youth of the country to arise and awake, Bharathiyar also wrote to Ilaya Bharatham (Young India).

Song by Mahakavi Subramania Bharathi, “Oli Padaitha Kanninai” (Thou with sparkling eyes), called upon the youth of the country to arise and awake to rejuvenate the land.

Here is the song ~ rendered by M.S. Subbulakshmi and a translation of the song:

Thou with sparkling eyes come, come, come
Strong hearted thou come, come, come
Thou with sweet words come, come, come
And with firm shoulders come, come, come.

Thou with serene mind come, come, come
Seeing smallness thou rage come, come, come
Thou with compassion for poverty come, come, come
And with mounting pace come, come, come

Young Bharatha come, come, come
Unmatched vigor thou hold come, come, come
Thou waiting to rise in rayless land
And like the rising sun come, come, come

Razed heartland to spruce afore
Restore splendor thou come, come, come
Thou as having seen all illustriousness
And come illustrate with your eyes come, come, come