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{{Short description|Indian freedom fighter and artist (1907-1999)}}
{{Orphan|date=August 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| other_names = Arya
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1907|1|26|df=yes}}
| death_date = {{Death year and age|1999|1907|}}
| relatives = [[N. Gopalaswami Ayyangar]] (uncle)
}}

'''K. Bashyam''' (26 January 1907 – 1999), also known by his pen name '''Arya''' was an Indian freedom fighter and artist who participated in the Indian independence movement and later contributed to the field of art.

== Early life ==
Bashyam was born on 26 January 1907 to Kuppuswami Ayyangar and Shenbaga Lakshmi Amma in [[Serangulam]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Baradwaj |first=Raja |date=2024-01-26 |title=Bhashyam – God's Exposition of What Valour is |url=https://www.pgurus.com/bhashyam-gods-exposition-of-what-valour-is/ |access-date=2025-01-03 |website=PGurus |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3ghuAAAAMAAJ |title=Freedom Fighters Remember |date=1997 |publisher=Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India |isbn=978-81-230-0575-1 |pages=1–4 |language=en}}</ref>

== Contribution in Indian independence movement ==
His early engagement with the Indian independence movement began in 1919 when he attended a meeting opposing the [[Jallianwala Bagh massacre]].<ref name=":0" /> He was influenced by [[Mahatma Gandhi]]’s non-cooperation movement in 1921 and later became involved in the student boycott of the [[Simon Commission]] in 1928, which led to his expulsion from college and a monetary fine.<ref name=":0" />

Following his expulsion, Bashyam became more deeply involved in the independence movement. Initially drawn to revolutionary activities, he was part of a group planning targeted actions against British officials, though these plans were ultimately not executed.<ref name=":0" /> In 1931, he joined the [[Indian National Congress]] and engaged in non-violent protest activities, including picketing foreign cloth shops and [[toddy shop]]s and advocating the use of [[khadi]].<ref name=":0" />

Bashyam’s political activities were not well-received by his aristocratic family. His uncle, [[N. Gopalaswami Ayyangar]], was a prominent figure in the Madras Civil Service, later serving as Dewan of Kashmir and Railway Minister of independent India.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=2015-05-01 |title=The flagstaff and the freedom fighter |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/the-flagstaff-and-the-freedom-fighter/article7161850.ece |access-date=2025-01-03 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

On 26 January 1932, Bashyam gained recognition for hoisting the Congress flag atop the wireless broadcasting pole at [[Fort St. George]] in [[Madras|Madras (now Chennai)]], an act of defiance against British rule during the period of intensified government repression following Gandhi’s declaration of Independence Day.<ref>{{Cite web |last=George |first=Diya Maria |date=2022-08-13 |title=A patriotic rebellious pursuit |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2022/Aug/13/a-patriotic-rebellious-pursuit-2486941.html |access-date=2025-01-03 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> This act led to his arrest and imprisonment, during which he met [[Subhas Chandra Bose]].<ref name=":0" />

== Career ==
After his release, Bashyam transitioned to a career in art, establishing ''The United Arts'' in 1945.<ref name=":0" /> A self-taught artist, he created portraits of significant figures, including Mahatma Gandhi, and British officials such as Lord Harris, the Duke of Wellington, and [[Sir Eyre Coote]].<ref name=":0" /> His work extended to political cartoons and illustrations, which he published under the pen name "Arya".<ref name=":0" />

Bashyam is also credited with creating one of the best-known depictions of the poet Subramania Bharati, featuring the poet with a handlebar moustache and a turban.<ref name=":1" /> This oil-on-canvas portrait, painted in 1950, measures 176 x 124 cm and remains an iconic representation of the poet.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Government Museum Chennai |url=https://www.chennaimuseum.org/draft/gallery/03/03/modp6.htm |access-date=2025-01-03 |website=www.chennaimuseum.org}}</ref> He sculpted busts and statues of prominent figures, including Mahatma Gandhi, one of which is located at Thakkar Bapa Vidyalaya in Chennai.<ref name=":1" /> His statue of [[S. Satyamurti]] stands at [[Ripon Building]] in Chennai.<ref name=":1" />

Bashyam was legally challenged in the case ''Associated Publishers (Madras) Ltd. vs K. Bashyam alias 'Arya'''. The court ruled that a portrait of Mahatma Gandhi created by Bashyam, based on two photographs, was entitled to copyright. The decision affirmed that his portrait was sufficiently distinct from the photographs and met the criteria of originality.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Associated Publishers (Madras), ... vs K. Bashyam Alias 'Arya' And Anr. on 22 April, 1960 |url=https://indiankanoon.org/doc/1837393/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120913034149/http://www.indiankanoon.org/doc/1837393/ |archive-date=2012-09-13 |access-date=2025-01-03 |website=indiankanoon.org |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Sinha |first1=Manoj Kumar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jFFGDgAAQBAJ |title=Copyright Law in the Digital World: Challenges and Opportunities |last2=Mahalwar |first2=Vandana |date=2017-03-06 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-981-10-3984-3 |pages=39 |language=en}}</ref>

== Death and legacy ==
K. Bashyam died in 1999.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |date=2022-01-26 |title=Freedom fighter K. Bashyam Iyengar remembered |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Tiruchirapalli/freedom-fighter-k-bashyam-iyengar-remembered/article38329383.ece |access-date=2025-01-03 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> Bashyam refused to accept the pension doled out to freedom fighters after Independence.<ref name=":2" />

In recognition of his contributions, the Tamil Nadu government, under [[Karunanidhi]], installed and inaugurated a bust of Bashyam on 17 July 1999 at the [[Gandhi Mandapam (Chennai)|Gandhi Mandapam complex]] in Guindy. On the same occasion, Karunanidhi declared 17 July as Martyrs' Day on behalf of the Tamil Nadu government.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Francis |date=2024-07-16 |title=இன்று தியாகிகள் தினம் அமைச்சர்கள், மேயர் மலர்தூவி மரியாதை: தமிழ்நாடு அரசு தகவல் |url=https://www.dinakaran.com/todaymartyrsday-ministers-mayorshowerflowerscourtesy-tamilnadugovt/ |access-date=2025-01-03 |website=Dinakaran |language=ta}}</ref> This day is celebrated annually to honor the sacrifices of freedom fighters like Bashyam.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Tamil |first1=Hindu |date=2023-07-18 |title=தியாகிகள் தினத்தில் அமைச்சர்கள் மரியாதை |url=https://www.hindutamil.in/news/tamilnadu/1056106-ministers-honour-on-martyrs-day.html |access-date=2025-01-03 |website=Hindu Tamil Thisai |language=ta}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=DIN |date=2024-07-17 |title=தியாகிகள் நாள்: தியாகிகளின் சிலைகளுக்கு அமைச்சர்கள் மாலை அணிவித்து மரியாதை |url=https://www.dinamani.com/latest-news/sub-latest-news/2024/Jul/17/thiyagigal-thinam-in-tamil-nadu |access-date=2025-01-03 |website=Dinamani |language=ta}}</ref>

A special cover commemorating Bashyam was released on 13 August 2022 during the Sipa Amritpex 2022 event held in Chennai.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-08-27 |title=Special Cover India 2022 – K Bhashyam Arya |url=https://stampdigest.in/2022/08/27/special-cover-india-2022-k-bhashyam-arya/ |access-date=2025-01-03 |website=Stamp Digest |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bolar |first=Mansoor |date=2022-08-18 |title=K.Bhashyam Arya |url=https://mbstamps.blogspot.com/2022/08/kbhashyam-arya.html |access-date=2025-01-03 |website=MB's Stamps of India}}</ref>

== References ==
<references />

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bashyam, K.}}
[[Category:1907 births]]
[[Category:1999 deaths]]
[[Category:Artists from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Indian independence activists from Tamil Nadu]]

K. Bashyam - Revision history

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