Amsi Narayana Pillai (1896 – 1981) was a well-known poet, journalist and freedom fighter in Kerala. Amsi Narayana Pillai's "varika varika sahajare" (Come on, come on time for hard times), captured the heart of the people of Kerala, during the Indian freedom struggle. He wrote this song for the salt satyagraha from Kozhikode Vadakara to Payyanur.[1][2]
Amsi Narayana Pillai | |
|---|---|
| Born | Narayana Pillai May , 1896 Amsi, Travancore (Today as part of Kanyakumari District) |
| Died | December 9, 1981 Amsi |
| Nationality |  India |
| Occupation | Founder of Mahathma News paper |
| Known for | Author of varika varika sahajare, Freedom fighter |
| Political party | Indian National Congress |
| Spouse | Thankamma |
| Parents |
|
| Relatives | children : Vasantha lakshmi Amsi, Chandrika Devi Amsi, Renuka Devi Amsi, Amsi Mukundan Nair, Murali Amsi, Amsi Madhu, Sudha Kumari Amsi |
Biography
editEarly life and background
editNarayana Pillai was born in 1896 in the small village of Amsi, Thengapattanam, Kanyakumari District to Thanu Pillai and Lakshmi Pillai. Amsi Narayana Pillai grew up hearing the tales of freedom fighters like Veluthampi Dalava, Ayyappan Marthandan Pillai which influenced on him and inspired him in later years to renounce a Government job and dedicate his life towards the cause of Indian Independence [citation needed]. Narayana Pillai left the clerk in the Travancore Police Department and joined the Indian independence movement.
Journalism
editHe worked as sub-editor of Swaraj, a weekly published by A.K Pillai for some time. In 1924, he launched the Mahatma weekly at Trivandrum, with the blessings of Gandhi.[3] The Mahatma aimed at spreading Gandhian values among the general public. His early poems were published in Mahatma. The early Socialist Organization, Youth League under the leadership of Kelappan, started with the song written by the Amsi. Amsi participated in Vaikom Sathyagraha, Guruvayoor Sathyagraha and actively encouraged the people to join via his weekly .
Salt March
editIn 1930, a group of 25 people under leadership of Ponnara Sridhar, N.C Shekhar and Amsi Narayana Pillai stated a march from Trivandrum to join the Salt Satyagraha in Kozhikode. The group sang the "varika varika sahajare" song along the way. All three governments (Travancore, Cochin and Malabar) banned the song.[4][5] On the basis of a ban, Amshi was sentenced to six months in prison in Viyyur. The Thrissur Magistrate Court has summoned Amshi for participation in the Salt Satyagraha and the writing of the revolutionary song. The song was also published in his Padayalikalude pattukal (Songs of Soldiers) book.
In 1941 Amsi started a high school Amsi High School in his native village to enable education to hundreds of illiterates in that area at that time.
Literary works
editAmsi was a prolific writer/poet who wrote books on various subjects (songs of the soldiers, Gandhi Ramayana, poems from the prison etc.) novel, Dramas, Sanskrit plays and essays on Gandhism among others.
He composed the "Gandhi Ramayana" a modern version of the great Indian epic depicting Gandhiji as Rama, the nation as Sita and the British Government as Ravana.[6] The poem that became highly popular among the Nationalists at that time.
During Indian independence movement, the Government of Madras State has banned many of his works.
His patriotic song "Varika varika sahajare" used in 2019 Prithviraj directed Mohanlal film Lucifer,[2] writer Murali Gopy sung the song.[7]
References
edit- ^ Kumar.C.L, Vimal (September 2018). "Salt Satyagraha in Malabar - A Historical Analysis" (PDF). Research Guru. 12 (2).
- ^ a b "'Lucifer': Makers revive 'Amsi Narayana Pillai's 'Varika Varika Sahajare' song for the Mohanlal starrer - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 2019-05-16.
- ^ Sarkar, Jagannath; Bardhan, Ardhendu Bhushan; Bālar̲ām, En I. (1986). India's Freedom Struggle, Several Streams. People's Publishing House. ISBN 9788170070283.
- ^ Nair, K. Ramachandran; Employment, Kerala Institute of Labour and (2006-01-01). The history of trade union movement in Kerala. Kerala Institute of Labour and Employment in association with Manak Publications. ISBN 9788178271385.
- ^ P, Sudheerkumar (2005). "Chapter-VII - The Role of Letters in the Development of Political Consciousness in Malabar" (PDF). Education and political consciousness in Kerala with special reference to Malabar (1900 To 1950 AD). Department of History, University of Calicut. p. 241.
- ^ Datta, Vishwa Nath; Settar, S. (2000). Jallianwala Bagh Massacre. Pragati Publications. ISBN 9788173070693.
- ^ "Team Lucifer reverberates with old patriotic song 'Varika Varika Sahajare'". Mathrubhumi. 23 March 2019. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2019.