S.S. Viswanatha Das (Aged 54) the eldest son of Subramaniam and Gnanambal, was born on June 16, 1886, in Sivakasi, Virudhunagar, Tamil Nadu, India. He was a prominent Indian freedom fighter and dramatist known for his strong voice and artistic passion for stage drama. In his early days, he sang only devotional songs in mythological plays, but his meeting with Annal Gandhi in Thoothukudi led him to join the Congress party.
He sang songs of devotion to God and patriotism, including “Kadarkapal Thonuthe” and “Police tiger gathering in the sugarcane field, we are looking at you.” The lyrics of his song “Vellaikkoku flytadi papa… call it without anger papa” are also reminiscent of martyr Vishwanathadas.
His songs played a significant role in the freedom struggle of the Congress party, and his song “Punjab Massacre Baril Kodiatu” gained prominence after the Jallianwala Bagh incident. He specialized in introducing liberation politics through mythological dramas.
He was imprisoned for defying the government’s ban on his plays and participated in the non-cooperation movement. As a member of Tirumangalam District Congress Committee and Madurai District Board on behalf of Congress, he made clothes for dressing up and wore them from Khadar cloth.
On December 31, 1940, Vishwanatha Das died on stage while playing the role of Murugan. His funeral procession was held in Muruga’s remaining peacock guise.
Viswanatha Das
(1886 – 1940) – (Tamilnadu)
S.S. Viswanatha Das (Aged 54) the eldest son of Subramaniam and Gnanambal, was born on June 16, 1886, in Sivakasi, Virudhunagar, Tamil Nadu, India. He was a prominent Indian freedom fighter and dramatist known for his strong voice and artistic passion for stage drama. In his early days, he sang only devotional songs in mythological plays, but his meeting with Annal Gandhi in Thoothukudi led him to join the Congress party.
He sang songs of devotion to God and patriotism, including “Kadarkapal Thonuthe” and “Police tiger gathering in the sugarcane field, we are looking at you.” The lyrics of his song “Vellaikkoku flytadi papa… call it without anger papa” are also reminiscent of martyr Vishwanathadas.
His songs played a significant role in the freedom struggle of the Congress party, and his song “Punjab Massacre Baril Kodiatu” gained prominence after the Jallianwala Bagh incident. He specialized in introducing liberation politics through mythological dramas.
He was imprisoned for defying the government’s ban on his plays and participated in the non-cooperation movement. As a member of Tirumangalam District Congress Committee and Madurai District Board on behalf of Congress, he made clothes for dressing up and wore them from Khadar cloth.
On December 31, 1940, Vishwanatha Das died on stage while playing the role of Murugan. His funeral procession was held in Muruga’s remaining peacock guise.
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