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{{Short description|Tamil researcher known for compiling Subramania Bharati's works}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2025}}{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}

{{Infobox person
| name = Seeni Viswanathan
| native_name = சீனி. விசுவநாதன்
| native_name_lang = ta
| image =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1934|11|22|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Paramathi Velur]], [[Namakkal district]], [[Tamil Nadu]], India
| occupation = Researcher, writer, editor
| known_for = Compiling the complete works of [[Subramania Bharati]]
| notable_works = ''Kaala Varisaipadi Bharathi Padaippugal'' (கால வரிசைப்படுத்தப்பட்ட பாரதி படைப்புகள்)
| awards = {{Unbulleted list
|[[Padma Shri]] (2025)
|Bharathi Award (2020)
|Tamil Nadu Government Bharathiyar Award (2004)
}}
}}

'''Seeni Viswanathan''' ({{Langx|ta|சீனி விஸ்வநாதன்}}, born 22 November 1934) is an Indian Tamil researcher, writer, and editor, primarily known for compiling and publishing the complete works of the renowned Tamil poet and freedom fighter, [[Subramania Bharati]].<ref name="vikatan_interview3">{{cite web |date=11 December 2021 |title="பாரதி நூல்களை மட்டும் பதிப்பிப்பதே என் வேலை" - பாரதி ஆய்வாளர் சீனி. விசுவநாதன் பேட்டி! |trans-title=“My only job is to publish Bharati’s books” - Interview with Bharati researcher Seeni Viswanathan! |url=https://www.vikatan.com/literature/arts/exclusive-interview-with-bharathiyar-scholar-seeni-viswanathan |access-date=28 April 2025 |website=Vikatan |language=ta}}</ref><ref name="toi_legacy3">{{cite news |date=24 April 2025 |title=Seeni Viswanathan, the Man Who Archived Bharati's Legacy |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/seeni-viswanathan-the-man-who-archived-bharatis-legacy/articleshow/120561646.cms |access-date=28 April 2025 |work=The Times of India}}</ref> His extensive research spanning over six decades was published as a comprehensive multi-volume chronological compilation of Bharati's writings.<ref name="pib_release_details3">{{cite web |date=11 December 2024 |title=English rendering of PM's address at release of compendium of complete works of Tamil poet Subramania Bharati |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2083247 |access-date=28 April 2025 |website=Press Information Bureau, Government of India}}</ref> For his contributions, he was awarded the [[Padma Shri]], India's fourth-highest civilian honour, in 2025.<ref name="padma_shri_felicitation3">{{cite web |date=18 February 2025 |title=Hon'ble Governor of Tamil Nadu felicitated Thiru. Seeni Viswanathan, on being conferred Padma Shri award for his contribution on compiling Mahakavi Subramania Bharathiar's literary works- 18.02.2025 |url=https://tnrajbhavan.gov.in/gallery/honble-governor-of-tamil-nadu-felicitated-thiru-seeni-viswanathan-on-being-conferred-padma-shri-award-for-his-contribution-on-compiling-mahakavi-subramania-bharathiars-literary-works-18-02-2025/ |access-date=28 April 2025 |website=Raj Bhavan, Tamil Nadu}}</ref>

== Early life ==
Viswanathan was born on 22 November 1934 in Paramathi Velur, Namakkal district, Tamil Nadu, to P.V. Srinivasan and Kamalambal.<ref name="vikatan_interview3" /> His father worked in the revenue department.<ref name="toi_legacy3" /> His interest in Subramania Bharati began during his school days when he came across a book on the poet by [[Kalki Krishnamurthy]], 'Bharati Pirandhar.'<ref name="toi_legacy3" />

== Career and research on Bharati ==
Viswanathan research spans over six decades, starting from the 1960s, to researching Subramania Bharati.<ref name="mylapore_times3" /><ref name="vikatan_interview3" /> His work involved meticulously collecting and archiving Bharati's vast output, which included poems, essays, journalistic writings, stories, and letters, often scattered across various old publications and manuscripts.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Deep |first=Aroon |date=2024-12-10 |title=Compiled over decades, Subramania Bharati's collected works to be released by PM Modi |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/compiled-over-decades-subramania-bharatis-collected-works-to-be-released-by-pm-modi/article68969476.ece |access-date=2025-04-28 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> He sought out early editions of Bharati's works and copies of journals to which Bharati contributed, such as ''[[Swadesamitran]]'', ''Chakravarthini'', and ''India''.<ref name="toi_legacy3" /><ref name="manorama_yearbook3">{{cite web |date=12 December 2020 |title=International Bharathi Festival 2020 |url=https://www.manoramayearbook.in/current-affairs/india/2020/12/12/international-bharathi-festival-2020.html |access-date=28 April 2025 |website=Manorama Yearbook}}</ref>

A significant aspect of his research methodology was ensuring textual and factual accuracy, often providing footnotes on textual variations found in different editions.<ref name="toi_legacy3" /> He collaborated with Bharati's stepbrother, C. Viswanathan (1896–1984), who provided valuable information and materials for a biography, a task eventually entrusted to Seeni Viswanathan.<ref name="toi_legacy3" />

His magnum opus is the compilation ''Kaala Varisaipadi Bharathi Padaippugal'' ({{lang|ta|கால வரிசைப்படுத்தப்பட்ட பாரதி படைப்புகள்}}; Bharati's Works in Chronological Order). This 23-volume set, published by Alliance Publishers, arranges Bharati's known works chronologically, spanning approximately 15,000 pages.<ref name="mylapore_times3">{{cite web |date=16 February 2025 |title=TN governor and scholars to felicitate Seeni Vishwanathan, the man who has collated all the works of Subramania Bharathi |url=https://www.mylaporetimes.com/2025/02/tn-governor-and-scholars-to-felicitate-seeni-vishwanathan-the-man-who-has-collated-all-the-works-of-subramania-bharathi/ |access-date=28 April 2025 |website=Mylapore Times}}</ref> The volumes include commentaries, annotations, background information, documents, and philosophical analysis to provide context for Bharati's writings.<ref name="pmindia_compendium_release3">{{cite web |date=10 December 2024 |title=PM to release the compendium of complete works of great Tamil poet and freedom fighter Subramania Bharati on 11 December 2024 |url=https://www.pmindia.gov.in/en/news_updates/pm-to-release-the-compendium-of-complete-works-of-great-tamil-poet-and-freedom-fighter-subramania-bharati-on-11-december-2024/ |access-date=28 April 2025 |website=Prime Minister of India}}</ref><ref name="pib_release_details3" /> The compendium was formally released by the Prime Minister of India, [[Narendra Modi]], on 11 December 2024.<ref name="pmindia_compendium_release3" /> It is estimated to contain around 95% of Bharati's known works.<ref name="mylapore_times3" />

Throughout his career, Viswanathan authored or edited numerous other books related to Bharati, establishing himself as a leading authority on the poet. The poet and lyricist [[Kannadasan]] reportedly referred to him as a "veritable Bharati library".<ref name="toi_legacy3" />

== Selected works ==

* ''Thamizhagam Thandha Mahakavi'' ({{lang|ta|தமிழகம் தந்த மகாகவி}}; The Great Poet Given by Tamil Nadu): An anthology of reminiscences about Bharati by contemporaries.<ref name="toi_legacy3" />
* ''Bharathi Noolppeyark Kovai'' ({{lang|ta|பாரதி நூற்பெயர்க் கோவை}}; Bibliography of Bharati's Books): A detailed bibliography of books by and about Bharati.<ref name="vikatan_interview3" />
* ''Bharathi Thedalgal: Sila Ninaivalaigal'' ({{lang|ta|பாரதி தேடல்கள்: சில நினைவலைகள்}}; Bharati Searches: Some Memoirs).
* ''Kaala Varisaipadi Bharathi Padaippugal'' ({{lang|ta|கால வரிசைப்படுத்தப்பட்ட பாரதி படைப்புகள்}}; Bharati's Works in Chronological Order) (23 Volumes, 2024).<ref name="pmindia_compendium_release3" />

Vishwanathan has authored more than 50 books on Bharati.<ref name="toi_legacy3" />

== Awards and recognition ==

* [[Padma Shri]] (2025)<ref name="padma_shri_felicitation3" />
* Bharathi Award (2020)<ref name="manorama_yearbook3" />
* Bharathi Memorial Centenary Award (2021)<ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2021-12-10 |title=Bharathi award presented to scholars |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/bharathi-award-presented-to-scholars/article37929219.ece |access-date=2025-04-28 |work=[[The Hindu]] |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
* Best Book (Life History/Autobiography category) (2004) for ''Bharathi Thedalgal: Sila Ninaivalaigal —'' Tamil Nadu Government Award
* Bharathiyar Award (2004) — Tamil Nadu Government

== References ==
{{Reflist}}{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Literature & Education}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1934 births]]
[[Category:Indian writers]]
[[Category:People from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Tamil writers]]

Seeni Viswanathan - Revision history

Twyla48W587323: started new post first draft