Inbakavi

Inbakavi (baptised Xavier Henric Leam) was a Tamil poet and dramatist

Personal life

Inbakavi was born Xavier Henric Leam at Manapparai in Tirunelveli district.[1] His parents belonged to the Parava caste.[1] At a young age, Inbakavi obtained the patronage of Don Gabriel Vaz Gomez, the Parava chieftain of Tuticorin and approached the king of Ettaiyapuram.[1] Initially, he found himself unwelcome, but he soon impressed the king by penning a poem in praise of the Raja. The king bestowed many gifts upon him.[1]

After staying for a short period at the court of the Raja, Inbakavi set out for the court of Serfoji II of Thanjavur.[2] At Thanjavur, he impressed the minister Tatooji who developed a special liking for him.[2] However, poor health forced Inbakavi to leave for Tuticorin after a short stay.[2]

In his later life, Inbakavi also toured Jaffna and Colombo.[2] However, respect for the poet had greatly diminished due to his habit of drinking, which also destroyed his health.[2] Before he quit Jaffna, however, Inbakavi penned a drama Kuruvanji in praise of his benefactor Philip Rodrigo Muttukrishna.[3]

Inbakavi died in 1835.

Works

Inbakavi penned a number of dramas and Tamil poems. He wrote Christian as well as Saivite and Vaishnavite hymns.

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 The Tamil Plutarch, Pg 26
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 The Tamil Plutarch, Pg 27
  3. ↑ The Tamil Plutarch, Pg 28

References

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