Chennai: There is a famous quote that reads “You can love, you can hate, but… you cannot ignore me”. Such was the personality of former Chief Minister Of Tamil Nadu, M.Karunanidhi.
M Karunanidhi With Congress Leader Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed.
We remember his life and his political journey on his 97th birth anniversary. Here are a few excerpts:
Born in Thirukkuvalai village in Tamil Nadu’s Nagapattinam district on 3rd June 1924, he smoothed a political path for many generations to come. His work and leadership were appreciated as well as criticised by many, despite he left a legacy on the political map for next generation to follow.
Love For Politics
Love for politics was started brewing in the young heart of 14 years – old Karunanidhi in 1938, he joined politics and participated in several agitations which were regular in those times as it was the early years of India's independence. Inspired by Dravidian ideology he became a student activist in EV Ramasamy aka ‘Periyar’s’ Self-Respect Movement and made his first mark on the political landscape with the Kallakudi agitation in 1953.
Young Revolutionary
After dropping school, in the 1940s, Karunanidhi got into writing plays for theatre groups. He also became editor of ‘Kudi Arasu’ a Tamil weekly magazine published by Periyar. In 1942, he circulated a handwritten newspaper, Manavar Nesan, which later becomes Murasoli, the official DMK newspaper. He also founded a student organisation, Tamil Manavar Mandram, that later turned into the DMK student wing.
Raise Into Power
Following India’s independence when Periyar’s socio-political movement turned into a political party, Karunanidhi joined the DMK founded by CN Annadurai, in 1949 and Karunanidhi became chief minister of Tamil Nadu after the death of in-office CM Arignar Annadurai in 1969.
Pioneer
In the early years of independence, only Governors took charge of unfurling the national flag on Republic Day. It was M. Karunanidhi who wrote a letter to Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1974 to change tradition and MK set off the trend of CMs unfurling tricolour on I-Day.
Former DMK Leader Karunanidhi With Erstwhile Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
He launched a number of schemes that took Tamil Nadu out of the grip of poverty and become one of the best performing states in the indicators. From nationalizing transport, building key infrastructure, expanding crucial healthcare schemes to providing jobs to youth and loans to farmers, Karunanidhi knew what Tamil Nadu exactly need to be in the race of progressive states.
Every Hero Has A Rival
Though MK and contemporary politician MG Ramchandran were friends and worthy rivals, however, there were a good number of other rivals who secretly hated him including former TN chief minister J.Jayalalitha. The rivalry was evident when Karunanidhi was detained during Jayalalitha’s tenure in a connection with ₹ 12 crores flyover scam.
M Karunanidhi With Ajoy Mukherjee And CPIM leader Jyoti Basu.
On the occasion of the 97th birth anniversary of former chief minister M Karunanidhi, the current DMK government in Tamil Nadu has decided to distribute a kit with 14 grocery and essential items through ration shops on June 3.