Karunanidhi: Know why DMK chief wore black glasses for 46 years

DMK chief M Karunanidhi, one of the foremost Dravidian politicians in modern times, died on Tuesday after a prolonged illness. He was 94. Karunanidhi was one of the most charismatic figures of Tamil Nadu politics whose public life spanned over seven decades.

Karunanidhi was one of the most charismatic figures of Tamil Nadu politics whose public life spanned over seven decades. Photo: PTI

CHENNAI: DMK chief M Karunanidhi, one of the foremost Dravidian politicians in modern times, died on Tuesday after a prolonged illness. He was 94. Karunanidhi was one of the most charismatic figures of Tamil Nadu politics whose public life spanned over seven decades. The sharp-tongued, quick-witted Karunanidhi was a five-time chief minister. Karunanidhi became the chief minister for the first time in 1969 after the demise of Annadurai. He subsequently helmed the state as chief minister in 1971, 1989, 1996 and 2006. He became DMK president in 1969 and held the position till his death. A yellow shawl around his neck and thick black spectacles were trademarks of the Dravidian leader and grabbed the attention of everyone giving the late politician a different look. Karunanidhi wore those black glasses for 46 years until he bid adieu to his favourite accessory in 2017 following advice from his doctors. He had to replace his darker glasses with lighter ones because the old frame was heavy and causing pressure on Karunanidhi’s temples. But why black glasses? In the late 1960s, Karunanidhi had met an accident in which his left eye was damaged. To protect his eyes from exposure to sunlight, he started using a pair of glasses on doctors' recommendation. He was advised to avoid strain to his severely weakened eye and had used dark glasses to protect it. However, the dark goggles he used became a style statement, which was followed by several other politicians in Tamilnadu. Karunanidhi's friend-turned-foe MG Ramachandran, popularly known as MGR, also had made dark glasses his signature fashion. Karunanidhi's death has left a void in the Dravidian politics and triggering nationwide mourning for an essentially regional leader. The DMK patriarch, who had faded from public life for nearly two years, had been in and out of hospital on account of age-related ailments. His admission to the Kauvery Hospital early on July 28 followed a sudden dip in blood pressure.