AIADMK’s Palaniswami Honors C.N. Annadurai on 56th Death Anniversary

Chennai, Feb 3 (NationPress) AIADMK General Secretary and Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, Edappadi K. Palaniswami, on Monday honored the memory of former Chief Minister and legendary Dravidian figure C.N. Annadurai on the occasion of his 56th death anniversary.

Palaniswami, a former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu himself, called on party members and supporters to commit to upholding Annadurai's noble principles and the path of righteousness he championed.

While paying his respects at the Anna Memorial in Chennai, Palaniswami praised Annadurai as “the flame of self-respect” originating from Kancheepuram, who brought forth the tenets of “duty, dignity, and discipline” (Kadamai, Ganniyam, and Kattuppaadu) into the political arena.

He highlighted that Annadurai's legacy as a Chief Minister significantly advanced Tamil Nadu's development across multiple sectors.

On his social media X account, Palaniswami shared, “The ideological flame of our movement, who ascended to the peak of intelligence, even surprising his political adversaries. On this memorial day, we ought to commit ourselves to his noble principles and the righteous path he laid out.”

His post concluded with the rallying cry: “Long Live Anna!”

C.N. Annadurai, who passed away on February 3, 1969, was a celebrated Dravidian leader and the inaugural General Secretary of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).

He was the first individual from a Dravidian party to take office as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.

Famed for his oratory talents, Annadurai was also a distinguished Tamil writer.

He wrote and performed in numerous plays, several of which were adapted into films.

Moreover, he was the first politician from Dravidian parties to leverage Tamil cinema for political messaging.

Hailing from a middle-class background, Annadurai began his career as a school teacher before moving into journalism and subsequently joining the Dravidar Kazhagam (DK), established by Periyar E.V. Ramasamy.

A dedicated disciple of Periyar, he gained prominence in the organization.

However, differences over the quest for an independent Dravida Nadu and its integration with India led to his departure from Periyar.

He then founded the DMK with his followers.

Initially, the DMK aligned with the ideologies of its parent organization, the Dravidar Kazhagam.

However, as national politics and the Indian Constitution evolved, Annadurai moved away from advocating for an independent Dravida Nadu.

His leadership witnessed numerous protests against the ruling Congress government, resulting in several imprisonments.

The most prominent of these was during the Anti-Hindi Agitation of 1965, which greatly enhanced his popularity.

In the 1967 Tamil Nadu state elections, Annadurai led the DMK to a remarkable victory, becoming Chief Minister.

His Cabinet was recognized as the youngest in India at that time.

Sadly, his administration was abruptly halted when he succumbed to cancer just two years later.

Annadurai's funeral attracted an extraordinary crowd, marking it as one of the most attended funerals in Tamil Nadu.

The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) was established on October 17, 1972, by former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and film icon M.G. Ramachandran (MGR) after he was expelled from the DMK by Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi.

The AIADMK is committed to the principles of socialism and secularism, rooted in Annadurai's ideologies, collectively referred to as “Annaism” by MGR.

The name “Anna” in AIADMK is derived from Annadurai's name, symbolizing his lasting impact on the party's policies and direction.

The AIADMK has achieved a seven-time majority in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, making it the most successful political party in the state's history.