Conjeevaram Natarajan Annadurai,( popularly known as - Perarignar Anna)
Architect of modern Tamil Nadu who led the revival - Renaissance -of Tamil Heritage and culture.
(15.09.09 – 03.02.1969)
Annadurai was born on 15th September 1909 in Conjeevaram (present day Kanchipuram) in the then Madras Presidency/ State (present day Tamil Nadu). At the age of 25, he graduated with a B.A. (Hons.) degree and later secured an M.A. degree in Economics, from Pachaiyappa’s College, Chennai. He was popularly known as “Anna” (elder brother) or “Arignar Anna” (Anna the scholar) or “Perarignar Anna (Anna the Genius).
After his Post Graduation, he worked as a teacher in the same college, but he left the assignment to take up a career in journalism in the Madras Presidency and also, entered politics, with the firm conviction to serve the masses.
Journalistic achievements and early political career :
He became a staunch follower of Thanthai Periyar E.V.Ramaswamy, a social reformer and joined the “Justice Party” (later renamed as “Dravidar Kazhagam”) of which Periyar E.V. Ramaswamy was the President. He was also a sub-Editor on the Justice magazine. He was attracted to the “Self-respect movement” started by Ramaswamy, and used the media – Press, Theatre and the screen to propagate his vision for a revival and self respect of Tamil Literature and culture and taking pride in their past glories. He edited several political journals, including “Viduthalai “(Freedom) “Dravida Nadu” (a magazine owned and edited by him and named after the independent state that his party was fighting for.
Later, on differences of opinion, he parted from Periyar E.V. Ramaswamy, and formed his own political party “Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam “(DMK). At the time of reorganization of states in India on linguistic basis , Kannada, Telugu and Malayalam speaking regions were removed from the Madras Presidency, leaving a predominantly Tamil Madras State. He, therefore, changed his call to form a “Dravida Nadu for Dravidians” to “independent Tamil Nadu for Tamils”. The popularity of the DMK spread among the masses, as well as the lower middle and working classes, students, Dalits and lower castes. He fought for the social justice to the lower castes and rapidly gained popular support.
Various protests/agitations:
The Motilal Nehru Committee had recommended Hindi as the official language in 1928, which was opposed tooth and nail by the people of the Madras Presidency. Nevertheless, Hindi was introduced as a compulsory language in schools. Annadurai, too, participated in an anti-Hindi imposition conference in Kanchipuram in 1938. Subsequently, compulsory teaching of Hindi was withdrawn from schools in Madras Presidency.
In 1953, the DMK took up the anti-Hindi imposition protests vehemently and tarred names and signboards at Railway stations .
In addition, he led protests against C.Rajgopalachari, the Chief Minister of Madras State for introducing a new educational system that encouraged traditional caste based occupations called “Kula Kalvi Thittam”.
For protesting against the changing of the name of “Kallakudi” to “Dalmiyapuram” (a North Indian Hindi name), he was sent to prison.
Other Beliefs and Political contribution for Tamil Nadu:
He became a member of the Rajya Sabha in 1962.
His anti-Hindi agitations continued and in 1965, culminated in the DMK winning a landslide victory in the 1967 elections. He was the first member of a Dravidian party to hold the post of Chief Minister and the first non-Congress leader to form a majority government in India after Independence and his cabinet was the youngest in the country.
He was instrumental in getting the name of Madras State changed to Tamil Nadu, by putting up the proposal in the Madras State Assembly which was passed unanimously.
He stood against Caste divides and believing in the Universal Brotherhood of man, laid stress on the age-old beliefs of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity. Towards this end, he encouraged inter-caste marriages and gave State sponsored Awards to young couples for such marriages. He legalized “self-respect marriages” (a concept popularized by Periyar), which encouraged inter-caste marriages instead of arranged marriages, where large sums of dowry were paid, leading to hardships and financial ruin for several families giving dowry. In self-respect marriages, the choice of choosing a life partner for marriage fell on both the boy and the girl, instead of families deciding their marriage partners for them.
He enforced a two language policy, as against a three language formula in other southern states viz., Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala.
He implemented subsidies for rice for the first time in his state, which was also a popular factor in his landslide victory in 1967 in the State Assembly elections.
He also wanted the Tamils to look beyond superstitious beliefs, having the firm conviction that superstition cannot co-exist with scientific advancement for the benefit of humankind. He even had all the pictures of Gods and religious symbols removed from public and Government offices. He believed in the equality of all human beings “Onre Kulam, Oruvanae Thevan “(One Race, One God).
He stood for channelizing the energy of the youth towards constructive purposes
Oratory and mastery over Language and commitment to Tamil culture:
He was gifted with a silver tongue, and awakened the Tamil masses to realize their past history and glory. Equally proficient in English and Tamil, he had the capability of inspiring any audience with his mesmerizing speeches/oratory.
He was instrumental in making the Tamils realize that they had a rich heritage of Literature (like the Thirukkural – penned by the great Saint Thiruvalluvar (Mr. or Shri Valluvar – Please refer my post on the great saint elsewhere on this blog along with details of Tamil culture renaissance and convening of six World Tamil conferences), culture and civilization and was responsible for a renaissance in Tamil Literature and cultural beliefs.
He presented a very lucid and vivid picture of Tamil Heritage in his lecture during the Second World Tamil Conference in Madras in 1968 which was organized by him. He made the Tamils – one and all – realize their history/heritage and take pride in it.
Publications and literary works:
He was also the first politician from a Dravidian party to use the Tamil cinema extensively for political propaganda. He wrote several plays, some of which were later made into highly popular movies. He had an amicable disposition, keen statesmanship and was compared to George Bernard Shaw, Ipsen and Galsworthy in his writings. Alliterations, rhymes, apt similes, and Revolutionary thoughts were the hallmarks of his writings and speeches.
He published several novels, short stories and plays which predominantly portray his views on society as he perceived it and political themes. He himself acted in some of his plays. In all he had two non-fiction works, 12 Novels, 10 plays, 4 parables and 10 films were made based on his stories /dialogues/screenplays. In addition, his works and vision inspired the titles and screenplay of five more films.
Recognition, Death and legacy :
He passed away on 03.02.1969. His funeral was attended by more than 1.5 crore mourners, which proved to be a Guinness Book record, surpassing even that of Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson, in Britain, who was killed in action in October 1805, during the defeat of the Spanish Armada by the British Navy.
His memorial has been made at Marina Beach, Chennai which is called “Anna Square”.
Anna University in Chennai which has as its motto “Progress through Knowledge” has several colleges imparting education in Engineering, Planning and Architecture and Technology as a part of its mission to carry his Vision forward. Originally named Perarignar Anna University of Technology (PAUT) it is simply called “Anna University” today.
A residential area in Chennai is named “Anna Nagar” (Anna Town) in Chennai, “Anna University” is named after him and one of the major roads in Chennai “Anna Salai” is named after him, on which a statue of Anna stands. In 2010, Anna Centenary Library was established in Chennai in his honour.
He was awarded the Chubb Fellowship at Yale University and was invited as a State Guest in the U.S.A. in 1968. He was also awarded an honorary doctorate by the Annamalai University.
Commemoration:
The Reserve Bank of India issued a commemorative coin of Rs. 5/- denomination made of Nickel Brass to mark his centenary celebrations on 15.09.2009, in Chennai.
The Obverse shows the Lion Capital, with the legend “Satyameva Jayate” (Truth always Prevails) inscribed below the Lion Capital. On the left side are the words “Bharat” and “Rupiye” in Hindi and on the right side are the words “India” and “Rupees” in English. Below the inscription is the numeral “5” indicating the denomination of the coin.
The reverse design shows a portrait of “Perarignar Anna” with his name and “Shatabdi” in Hindi and “Centenary” in English mentioned on either flank of the coin. In deference to his wishes and vision to realize and reconstruct the great heritage and glory of the Tamils and his love for the Tamil language, his signature in Tamil appears below his portrait, (i.e. in a language other than the usual Hindi and English inscriptions) an honour which has usually not been assigned to any other commemorative coins issued by Reserve Bank of India. This coin has been issued by Hyderabad mint (Notice the “Five pointed Star” mint mark above Anna’s life years).
(It has been gifted for my coin collection by my friend Ajit, who brought it all the way from Chennai when he visited me in Pune last month).
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