The poet and his patrons: Tamil Nadu’s Ettayapuram honours Subramania Bharati

The contested legacy of Ettayapuram, one of the palayams in southern Tamil Nadu, evokes mixed reactions. For all its contribution to the patronage of music and Tamil, the palayam, also known as a zamindari, remains tainted by its role during the period when the British East India Company was expanding its presence in the region.

Ettappan, the ruler of Ettayapuram, was accused of colluding with the British against Veerapandiya Kattabomman, the Poligar of Panchalankurichi. His name has since become synonymous with betrayal. The zamindari’s patronage of art, music, and Tamil has done little to erase this notoriety.

Ettayapuram Palace | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Now, Jagaveera Muthu Thanga Kumara Rama Venkateswara Ettappa Naicker, the present zamindar of Ettayapuram, has brought out a book on Subramania Bharati, the national poet who received the patronage of his ancestors. Bharathi Porchitiram: Mahakavi Bharathiyin Sarithira Pugaipad Aavana Thoguppu, written by Kadarkarai, sheds light on various aspects of Bharati’s personality, the places where he lived, the cases he faced, and the journals and newspapers he worked for. It also traces the history of the Ettayapuram zamindari from its inception. Photographs and facsimiles of original documents add to the appeal of this coffee-table book.

The book traces how Ilasai Subramanian came to be known as Ettayapuram Bharati. Ilasai is another name for Ettayapuram, while the title ‘Bharati’ was conferred on Subramanian by the zamindar of Ettayapuram. Bharati’s earliest known piece of writing, dated January 24, 1897, was an appeal addressed to the Ettayapuram Poligar. It begins: “Thennilasai Nannagari Singam Venkatesuretta Kannan Samuagathirku.”

Bharati and Ettayapuram

British records refer to the rulers of Ettayapuram as Poligars. The title ‘Rajah’ was conferred on the 37^th ruler, who became known as Rajah Jagaveera Rama Venkateswara Ettappa Nayakka Iyen and reigned from 1899 to 1915. The book features portraits of the 32^nd Poligar and successive rulers up to the present-day zamindar.

The present-day zamindar | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement