C. N. Annadurai

Indian politician (1909–1969)

In this Tamil name, there is no surname or family name. The name Conjeevaram is a toponym, the name Natarajan is a patronym, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Annadurai.

C. N. Annadurai

1st Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu
In office
14 January 1969 – 3 February 1969
Governor| Ujjal Singh
Preceded by| Position established
Succeeded by| V. R. Nedunchezhiyan (acting)
Constituency| Leader of the State Legislative Council
5th Chief Minister of Madras State
In office
6 March 1967 – 13 January 1969
Governor| Ujjal Singh
Preceded by| M. Bhakthavatsalam
Succeeded by| Position abolished
Constituency| Leader of the State Legislative Council
Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
In office
3 April 1962 – 25 February 1967
Prime Minister| Jawaharlal Nehru
Constituency| Madras State
Member of the Madras State Legislative Assembly
In office
1 April 1957 – 18 March 1962
Chief Minister| K. Kamaraj
Preceded by| Deivasigamani
Succeeded by| S. V. Natesa Mudaliar
Constituency| Kancheepuram
1st General Secretary of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
In office
25 September 1960 – 3 February 1969
Preceded by| V. R. Nedunchezhiyan
Succeeded by| V. R. Nedunchezhiyan
In office
17 September 1949 – 23 April 1955
Preceded by| Position established
Succeeded by| V. R. Nedunchezhiyan
Member of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Council
In office
14 January 1969 – 3 February 1969
Leader of House| Himself
Preceded by| Position established
Succeeded by| Rani Annadurai
Member of the Madras Legislative Council
In office
6 March 1967 – 14 January 1969
Leader of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Council
In office
16 January 1969 – 3 February 1969
Preceded by| Position established
Succeeded by| M. Karunanidhi
Leader of the Madras Legislative Council
In office
17 March 1967 – 14 January 1969
Preceded by| R. Venkatraman
Succeeded by| Position abolished
Personal details
Born|

Conjeevaram Natarajan Annadurai[1]

(1909-09-15)15 September 1909
Conjeevaram, Madras Presidency, British India (present-day Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, India)
Died| 3 February 1969(1969-02-03) (aged 59)
Madras, Tamil Nadu, India (present-day Chennai)
Resting place| Anna Memorial
Political party| DMK (1949-1969)
Other political
affiliations|

* Dravidar Kazhagam (1944–1949)
* Justice Party (until 1944)

Spouse|

Rani Annadurai

(m. 1930)​

Awards| Chubb Fellowship (1968)
Nicknames|

* Peraringar
* Anna

Conjeevaram Natarajan Annadurai (15 September 1909 - 3 February 1969), also known as Perarignar, was an Indian politician who was the founder and first general-secretary of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). He served as the fourth and last chief minister of Madras State from 1967 until 1969, and then as the first chief minister of Tamil Nadu for 20 days before his death in office. He was the first member of a Dravidian party to hold either post.

He was well known for his oratorical skills and was an acclaimed writer in the Tamil language. He scripted and acted in several plays. Some of his plays were later made into movies. He was the first politician from the Dravidian parties to use Tamil cinema extensively for political propaganda. Born in a middle-class family, he first worked as a school teacher, then moved into the political scene of the Madras Presidency as a journalist. He edited several political journals and enrolled as a member of the Dravidar Kazhagam. As an ardent follower of Periyar, he rose in stature as a prominent member of the party.[2][3][4]

Due to differences looming with Periyar, on issues of separate independent state of Dravida Nadu and union with India, he crossed swords with his political mentor. The friction between the two finally erupted when Periyar married Maniammai, who was much younger than him. Angered by this action of Periyar, Annadurai with his supporters parted from Dravidar Kazhagam and launched his own party, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).[citation needed] The DMK initially followed the same ideologies as its parent, Dravidar Kazhagam. But with the evolution of national politics and the constitution of India after the Sino-Indian War in 1962, Annadurai dropped the claim for an independent Dravida Nadu. Various protests against the ruling Congress government took him to prison on several occasions; the last of which was during the Madras anti-Hindi agitation of 1965. The agitation itself helped Annadurai to gain popular support for his party. His party won a landslide victory in the 1967 state elections. His cabinet was the youngest at that time in India. He legalised Self-Respect marriages, enforced a two-language policy (in preference to the three-language formula in other southern states), implemented subsidies for rice, and renamed Madras State to Tamil Nadu.

However, he died of cancer just two years into office. His funeral had the highest attendance of any to that date. Several institutions and organisations are named after him. A splinter party launched by M. G. Ramachandran in 1972 was named after him as All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.

## Early life

[edit]

Annadurai was born in a Tamil Sengunthar family[5] on 15 September 1909 in Conjeevaram, Madras Presidency, in a lower-middle-class family. His father Natarajan Mudaliar[6] was a weaver and his mother was Bangaru Ammal, a temple servant.[7] He was raised by her sister Rajamani Ammal.

Annadurai with his wife

At the age of 21, he married Rani while he was still a student. The couple had no children of their own, so they later adopted and raised Rajamani's grandchildren. He attended Pachaiyappa's High School,[8] but left school to work as a clerk in the town's Municipal office to assist with the family finances.

In 1934, he graduated with a B.A. degree from Pachaiyappa's College in Chennai.[8] He then earned an MA degree in economics and politics from the same college. He worked as an English teacher[9] in Pachaiyappa High School. Later he quit the teaching job and began involving himself in journalism and he served as an editor in few weekly magazine and then he indulged into politics.

Annadurai in younger times

## Religion

[edit]

Though Annadurai was an atheist in his personal life as he took oath as the Chief Minister of the state in the 'name of conscience' rather than in the 'name of god', he proclaimed as "Only one race, Only one God" (Ondre Kulam Oruvanae Devan) from the Tamil work Tirumantiram penned by Thirumoolar in order to unify the people of Tamil Nadu.[10][11] Though secular to the core, he later described himself as a Hindu sans the sacred ash, a Christian minus the holy cross, and a Muslim without the prayer cap.[12]

Annadurai stated he would attack superstitions and religious exploitation but would never fight against the spiritual values of society. He once explained his stance towards God and religion as "I do not break coconuts for Pillaiyar, (a form of worship) neither do I break his idols." (Nan Thengayum udaipathillai; Pillaiyarum Udaipathillai)[13]

## Entry into politics

[edit]

Annadurai and Periyar

See also: Justice party (India) and Dravidar Kazhagam

Annadurai's interest in politics made him join the Justice party in 1935.[14] The Justice party was formed by non-Brahmin elites in 1917.[15] The Justice party originated with the Madras United League which was initially started as a work group that helped non-Brahmin students in Madras with accommodation and later grew into a political party under the efforts of leaders like C. Natesa Mudaliar, P. Theagaraya Chetty and T. M. Nair. The party was named South Indian Liberal Federation (S. I. L. F.) – popularly known as Justice party.[15] The party had been in power in Madras Presidency since self-governance was introduced in 1920, until it was defeated by the Indian National Congress in 1937.[16] By the time Annadurai joined the Justice party, Periyar was the party president. Annadurai served as the sub-editor of the Justice magazine. He later became the editor for Viduthalai (Freedom in English) and was also associated with the Tamil weekly paper, Kudi Arasu. He started his own journal Dravida Nadu (named after the Dravida Nadu – an independent state that the party called for). In 1944, Periyar renamed the Justice party to Dravidar Kazhagam and gave up contesting in the elections.[17]

## Differences with Periyar and birth of DMK

[edit]

See also: Indian independence movement and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam

The Indian National Congress, which had been fighting for the independence of India from colonial British rule, was dominated by Brahmins. Periyar assumed that independent India would bring South Indians, especially Tamils, under the dominance of Brahmins and North Indians.[18] For these reasons Periyar called for 15 August 1947, the day of Indian independence, to be a day of mourning.[19] Annadurai opposed this move and the schism between his supporters and Periyar widened.[18] He saw the gaining of independence as an overall achievement of India rather than solely that of Aryan North.[14] Moreover, Periyar's decision on giving up participating in democratic elections was also opposed by Annadurai, in reaction to which he walked out of a party meeting in 1948.[14] Periyar considered that candidates in elections must compromise their ideologies. Moreover, it was Periyar's idea that social reformation can be better achieved outside politics, through education and canvassing the masses, rather than governments.[20] Eventually, when Periyar married Maniammai, who was 40 years younger than he, the personal differences between Annadurai and Periyar split their supporters.[20][3][4] Annadurai launched his own party with his party fragment, along with E. V. K. Sampath (Periyar's nephew and until then considered his political heir[21]). The new party was named Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.[22] DMK's presence was initially restricted to urban centres and its surrounding areas. But by appealing to the urban lower, lower middle and working classes, students, Dalits and lower castes, Annadurai was able to accelerate its growth and spread. He fought for the social justice of the lower castes and thus rapidly gained popular support.[14]

## Protests in 1953

[edit]

In 1953, Annadurai directed the DMK to undertake three protests:[20]

* Condemning Jawaharlal Nehru, the then Prime Minister of India, for describing the damaging Hindi letters in railway station boards by DK and DMK activists as "childish nonsense"
* Against C. Rajagopalachari (or Rajaji), the then chief minister of Madras State, for introducing a new educational system that indirectly encouraged traditional caste-based occupations called Kula Kalvi Thittam
* Against renaming Kallakkudi, Dalmiyapuram as the name Dalmiyapuram symbolised north Indian domination. He was eventually sentenced to three months imprisonment in this protest.

## Dravida Nadu

[edit]

Dravida Nadu magazine owned and edited by Annadurai

See also: Dravida Nadu

During his days in Dravida Kazhagam, Annadurai had supported Periyar's call for an independent Dravida Nadu. The claim for such an independent state stayed alive in the initial days of DMK. E. V. K. Sampath, who had earlier forfeited his inheritance from Periyar to join DMK, saw the call for Dravida Nadu as an unrealistic goal. Responding to Sampath's concern, Annadurai said

> We must contest more elections, win more seats and that way, win the confidence of the people; and when it is hot, we can strike and strike hard[23]

Sampath's opposition to using film stars made him cross swords with many other members of the party. Eventually, with looming differences with Annadurai and other leaders on Dravida Nadu, Sampath left the DMK and formed his own party, the Tamil Nationalist Party, in 1961.[20] In 1962, Annadurai said in the Rajya Sabha that Dravidians want the right of self-determination ... We want a separate country for southern India.[24]

However, the reorganisation of states in India on linguistic basis removed Kannada, Telugu and Malayalam speaking regions from the Madras Presidency leaving behind a predominantly Tamil Madras State. Giving in to realities, Annadurai and his DMK changed the call of independent Dravida Nadu for Dravidians to independent Tamil Nadu for Tamils. Annadurai felt that remaining in the Indian Union meant accepting linguistic domination and economic backwardness. Nevertheless, the Sino-Indian war brought about changes in the Indian constitution. The Sixteenth Amendment (most popularly known as the Anti-Secessionist Amendment) banned any party with sectarian principles from participating in elections. When this amendment was presented in the Parliament of India, Annadurai was one of its members. He vehemently debated against the amendment, but eventually could not stop it from being passed. Faced with the new constitutional changes, Annadurai and his DMK left the call for an independent Tamil homeland on the back burner.[25] From then on Annadurai and his DMK aimed at achieving better co-operation between the southern states and claimed more autonomy for Tamil Nadu.[26]

On the party's position, Annadurai said

> To make the Dravidian state a separate state was our ideal. A situation has arisen where we can neither talk nor write about this ideal. Of course we can destroy the party by undertaking to violate the prohibition. But once the party itself is destroyed there will not be any scope for the ideal to exist or spread. That is why we had to give up the ideal.[23]

## Anti-Hindi agitations

[edit]

Hindi was first recommended to be an apt language for official purposes in India by a committee headed by Motilal Nehru in 1928. This move was opposed by people and politicians of Tamil Nadu, since they considered that it would make them second class citizens when compared to that of native Hindi speaking North Indians.[27]

### Protests of 1938

[edit]

In 1938, the Congress government in Madras Presidency headed by C. Rajagopalachari (popularly known as Rajaji) proposed the use of Hindi language as a compulsory language in schools. This move was opposed by Tamil leaders. Annadurai, along with other Tamil scholars including the poet Bharathidasan, held demonstrations. Annadurai participated in the first Anti Hindi imposition conference held in Kanchipuram on 27 February 1938. Two members of the protest, Thalamuthu and Natarajan, died as a consequence of police beating the same year. With overwhelming opposition, the government of Madras Presidency finally withdrew the order in 1940. he stated that "you learn English for world communication and learn Hindi for communication in India, it seems like big door for big cat and small door for small cat, why not let the small cat also enter in big door".[28]

### Madras Anti Hindi agitation, 1965

[edit]

Main article: Anti-Hindi agitations of Tamil Nadu

When India became a republic with its own constitution in 1950, the constitution had given special status to the Hindi language, which was to gain official status after 15 years in 1965. This move was regarded with anxiety by students in Tamil Nadu.[27] Speaking of making Hindi as official language of India, Annadurai said It is claimed that Hindi should be the common language because it is spoken by the majority. Why should we then claim the tiger as our national animal instead of the rat which is so much more numerous? Or the peacock as our national bird when the crow is ubiquitous?.[29] In view of continued threat to impose Hindi, the DMK held an open-air conference against Hindi imposition at Kodambakkam, Chennai in August 1960, which Annadurai presided over. He gave black flags to leading functionaries, to be shown to the President of India during his visit to the state. Sensing an uprising, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru assured in the Parliament that English would continue to be the official language of India, as long as non-Hindi speaking people desire. DMK gave up the plan of showing black flags and Annadurai appealed to the Union Government to bring about a constitutional amendment incorporating the assurance.[20]

With no constitutional amendment done, Annadurai declared 26 January 1965, the 15th Republic Day of India and also the day the Constitution, which in essence enshrined Hindi as the official language of India, came into practice, as a day of mourning. This move was opposed by the then Chief Minister of Madras State, Bhakthavatchalam, as blasphemous. Hence Annadurai, who by then had been trying to shake off the secessionist image of his party, declared 24 January as a day of mourning. He also replaced the slogan of the protests to Down with Hindi; Long live the Republic. Nevertheless, violence broke out on 26 January, initially in Madurai which within days spread throughout the state.[27] Robert Hardgrave Jr, professor of humanities, government and Asian studies, suggests that the elements contributing to the riots were not instigated by DMK or Leftists or even the industrialists, as the Congress government of the state suggested, but were genuine frustrations and discontentment which lay beneath the surface of the people of the state.[27]

With violence surging, Annadurai asked the students to forfeit the protests, but some DMK leaders like Karunanidhi kept the agitations going.[27] Nevertheless, Annadurai was arrested for instigating the agitation.[20] Although the violence were not directly instigated by the DMK,[27] the agitation itself aided DMK to win the 1967 elections and Annadurai became the new Chief Minister of Madras State.[30]

## Literary contributions

[edit]

Annadurai, known for his excellent oratorical skills, was fond of books. This image shows his private library.

See also: Cinema in Dravidian politics

Annadurai was known as one of the best Tamil orators during his time.[9] He developed a style in Tamil public speaking using metaphors and pleasing alliterations, both in spoken and written language. Annadurai was also best known for his extempore speaking ability being very well affluent on rhetoric skills.[31]

He has published several novels, short stories[8] and plays[32] which incorporate political themes.[9] He himself acted[32] in some of his plays during his time in the Dravidar Kazhagam.[33] He introduced movie media as a major organ for propaganda of Dravidian politics.[34] In total Annadurai scripted six screen plays.[33]

His first movie Nallathambi (Good Brother, 1948) which starred N. S. Krishnan promoted cooperative farming and abolition of zamindari system.[33] His novels such as Velaikaari (Servant Maid, 1949) and Or Iravu, which were later made into movies, carried the hallmarks of propaganda for Dravidian politics.[35] On Velaikari, Annadurai said that the movie

> made it clear that greed and avarice of the rich did not pay in the long run.[...] Some of the elementary principles of socialism and stressed that we should depend upon our own labour for our progress and well being and not some unknown factor.[33]

Velaikari made direct references against the suppressive landlords who were traditionally allied with Jawaharlal Nehru and Gandhi.[17] His movies had some elements of Dravidian political ideologies like anti-Brahminism and messages differing against Congress with detailed reasons and scenarios behind.[35] Popular stage and cine actors who stood by Annadurai in early years were D. V. Narayanasamy, K. R. Ramasamy, N. S. Krishnan, S. S. Rajendran, Sivaji Ganesan[32] and M. G. Ramachandran.[20]

Some of his books had a social approach and its content were debatable, such as "Arya Mayai" (Aryan Illusion) in which he highlighted the view point of bringing an equal living society regardless of any caste dominance and especially drawing similarities which existed by then of the upper-caste Brahmin (Aryan) people. He was fined INR 700 for sedition[36] and was also sent to prison.[20]

Some of his well-known works are his books Annavin Sattasabai Sorpolivukal (Anna's speeches at the state legislative, 1960), Ilatchiya varalaru (History of Ideals, 1948), Valkkaip puyal (Storm of life, 1948) and Rankon rata (Radha from Rangon).[9] His work Kambarasam criticises Ramayana of Kamban.[37] His works of fiction such as Kapothipura kathal (Love in the city of Blind), Parvathy B.A., Kalinga rani (Queen of Kalinga) and Pavayin payanam (Travels of a young lady) carried elements of political propaganda.[37]

At times when Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam was extensively using movies for its propaganda, censorship crippled the process. To evade censorships, DMK movies used Annadurai's popular nickname Anna, which also means elder brother in Tamil, as a pun. When praises were bestowed on the Anna on screen, the crowd would break into applause.[33] Kannadasan has criticised Anna's works that apart from Sivaji Kanda Hindu Rajyam[32] and Needhi Devan Mayakkam, the rest lacked even a plot.[38]

## Posts held

[edit]

The provincial conference of the DMK was held at Tiruchirappalli in May 1956. Annadurai stepped down from the General Secretaryship of the party, and Nedunchezhian was elected to that position. It was at the Tiruchirappalli conference that the party decided to contest free India's second general elections which were to be held in 1957. The DMK secured 15 Assembly seats and two parliamentary seats.[20] Annadurai was elected from his home constituency, Kanchipuram[20] for the first time to the Madras Legislative Assembly.[9] In that election, the DMK won 15 seats and Annadurai became the leader of the opposition in the state.[8] In 1962, the DMK emerged as the major political party in the state outside the Congress, winning 50 seats in the Assembly.[8] Although Annadurai himself lost the elections, he was nominated as a member of parliament to the upper house (Rajya Sabha).[8][9]

### As chief minister

[edit]

In 1967, the Congress lost nine states to opposition parties, but it was only in Madras state that a single non-Congress party majority was achieved.[39] The electoral victory of 1967 is also reputed to an electoral fusion among the non-Congress parties to avoid a split in the Opposition votes. Rajagopalachari, a former senior leader of the Congress party, had by then left the Congress and launched the right-wing Swatantra Party. He played a vital role in bringing about the electoral fusion among the opposition parties to align against the Congress.[40] At that time, his cabinet was the youngest in the country.[41]

Annadurai legalised self-respect marriages for the first time in the country. Such marriages were void of priests to preside over the ceremony and thus did not need a Brahmin to carry out the wedding.[42] Self-respect marriages were a brainchild of Periyar, who regarded the then conventional marriages as mere financial arrangements which often caused great debt through dowry. Self-Respect marriages, according to him, encouraged inter-caste marriages and caused arranged marriages to be replaced by love marriages.[43] Annadurai was also the first to use subsidising of the price of rice for election victory. He promised one rupee a measure of rice, which he initially implemented once in government, but had to withdraw later. Subsidising rice costs are still used as an election promise in Tamil Nadu.[44]

It was Annadurai's government that renamed the Madras State to its present-day form declaring officially as Tamil Nadu. The name change itself was first presented in the upper house (Rajya Sabha) of the Parliament of India by Bhupesh Gupta, a communist MP from West Bengal, but was then defeated.[18] With Annadurai as chief minister, the state assembly succeeded in passing the bill renaming the states.

Annadurai was instrumental in organising the World Tamil Conference under the aegies of UNESCO in 1967.[45] Another major achievement of Annadurai's government was to introduce a two language policy over the then popular three language formula. The three language formula, which was implemented in the neighbouring states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala, entitled students to study three languages: the regional language, English and Hindi.[27] It was during the period of his Chief Ministership that the Second World Conference was conducted on a grand scale on 3 January 1968.[20] Nevertheless, when a commemorative stamp was released to mark the Tamil conference, Annadurai expressed his dissatisfaction that the stamp contained Hindi when it was for Tamil.[46] Annadurai also issued an order for the removal of the pictures of gods and religious symbols from public offices and buildings.[20] He proceeded on a world tour as an invitee of the Yale University's Chubb Fellowship Programme and was also a guest of the State Department in the US in April–May 1968. He was awarded the Chubb Fellowship at Yale University.[20] The same year he was awarded an honorary doctorate from Annamalai University.[8]

## Death

[edit]

Annadurai memorial

On 10 September 1968 Annadurai travelled to New York for medical treatment and he was operated for cancer in the gullet at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. He returned to Chennai in November and continued to address several official functions against medical advice.[47] His health deteriorated further and he died on 3 February 1969.[20] His cancer was attributed to his habit of chewing tobacco.[41] His funeral holds the record for highest number of attendees, as registered with The Guinness Book of Records.[48] An estimated 15 million people attended it.[49] His remains were buried in the northern end of Marina Beach, which is now called Anna Memorial.[50]

## Legacy

[edit]

The statue of Annadurai at the College of Engineering, Guindy campus of Anna University which is named after him

After his electoral success with his DMK in 1967, the Congress has not yet returned to power in Tamil Nadu. His government was the first in the country to be from a non-Congress party with full majority.[39] When the DMK later split, with M. G. Ramachandran forming his own Dravidian party, the rebel fragment was named after Annadurai as Anna DMK. Anna Nagar, a residential neighbourhood in Chennai is named after him.[citation needed] Sri Lankan Tamil nationalist leaders and writers are considered to be influenced by Annadurai's chaste Tamil movement.[51] Anna University, a premier institution in science and technology was named after him. DMK's current head office built in 1987 is named after him as Anna Arivalayam.[52] One of the major roads in Chennai was named in his honour, Anna Salai—it was previously called Mount Road, and a statue of Annadurai now stands there.[53] The central government issued a commemorative coin of ₹ 5 denomination to mark the centenary celebrations of him on 15 September 2009 in Chennai.[54] Jawaharlal Nehru hailed him as one of the great parliamentarians for speeches in Rajya Sabha.[55] Selig Harrison, a US-based[56] analyst of South Asian and East Asian politics and journalism[57] commented,

> There is no doubt that this powerful orator is the single-most popular mass figure in the region[41]

The magazine India Today has listed Annadurai in its "Top 100 people who shaped India by thought, action, art, culture and spirit".[58] In 2010, Anna Centenary Library was established in Chennai in remembrance of Annadurai.[59]

A life-size statue of Annadurai was unveiled on 1 October 2002 in the Parliament House by then President of India, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam in his honour and the function was attended by notable politicians.[60][61]

On 31 July 2020, Alandur metro station in Chennai has been renamed as Arignar Anna Alandur Metro by Government of Tamil Nadu to honour him.[62]

## Filmography

[edit]

Year  | Film  | Credits[63]

|
|

1949  | Velaikaari | Story, Screenplay and Dialogues
1949  | Nallathambi | Story, Screenplay and Dialogues
1951  | Or Iravu | Story and Dialogues
1954  | Sorgavasal | Story and Dialogues
1956  | Rangoon Radha | Story
1959  | Thaai Magalukku Kattiya Thaali | Story
1961  | Nallavan Vazhvaan | Story
1962  | Edhayum Thangum Idhayam | Story
1970  | Kadhal Jothi | Story
1978  | Vandikaaran Magan | Story

Annadurai's first movie script, of his play Velaikkari, fetched him a fee of ₹ 12,000, a considerable sum at that time[64] (worth ₹ 1 crore in 2015 prices)

Apart from his stories, the names of some of Annadurai's works were used as film titles for Panathottam (1963), Valiba virundhu (1967), Kumarikottam (1971), Rajapart Rangadurai (1973), Needhi devan mayakkam (1982).[63]

## Bibliography

[edit]

### Fiction

[edit]

Year  | Type  | Work  | First appeared in[63]

|
|
|

1939  | Novella  | Komalathin Kobam | Kudi arasu
1939  | Novella  | Kabothipura Kadhal | Kudi arasu
1942  | Novella  | Kumasthavin penn or  | Dravida Nadu
1942  | Novella  | Kalingarani | Dravida Nadu
1943  | Novella  | Parvathi B.A | Dravida Nadu
1943  | Play  | Chandrodhayam |
1945  | Novella  | Dasavatharam | Dravida Nadu
1945  | Play  | Sivaji kanda Hindu samrajyam[32] |
1946  | Play  | Velaikaari |
1946  | Novella  | Kumari kottam | Dravida Nadu
1946  | Novella  | Rangoon Radha | Dravida Nadu
1947  | Play  | Needhidevan mayakkam |
1947  | Parable  | Kadhiravan Kaneen | Dravida Nadu
1948  | Play  | Nallathambi |
1948  | Play  | Or iravu |
1948  | Novella  | En vazhvu | Dravida Nadu
1953  | Play  | Sorgavasal |
1953  | Play  | Kadhal jothi |
1955  | Parable  | Kumari Surya | Dravida Nadu
1955  | Parable  | Nangai Nagaithaal | Dravida Nadu
1955  | Parable  | Oru muttalin kadhai | Dravida Nadu
1955  | Play  | Pavayin payanam |
1956  | Novella  | Pudhiya polivu | Dravida Nadu
1957  | Novella  | Kadaisi kanavu | Dravida Nadu
1965  | Novella  | Thazhumbukal | Kanchi
1965  | Novella  | Vandikaaran magan | Kanchi
1968  | Novella  | appodhae sonnen | Kanchi
1970  | Play  | Inba oli | Kanchi and Dravida nadu
| Novella  | Romapuri Raanigal | Kanchi and Dravida nadu

### Nonfiction

[edit]

Year  | Title[8]

|

1947  | Kambarasam
1948  | Ariyamayai

## In popular culture

[edit]

A scene from the film Thangarathinam (1960) shows real footage of Annadurai and other DMK leaders speaking at the Tirāviṭa camutāya cīrtirutta mānāṭu (Dravidian Community Reform Conference) held in Palani on 17 September 1960. A group of protagonists in the film are seen attending the conference. The group is shown as belonging to a reformist organisation named Thirukkural Munnanik Kazhagam (Tamil: திருக்குறள் முன்னணிக் கழகம்). Its acronym in Tamil is an allusion to the DMK (திமுக).[65]

In a scene from the film Iru Kodugal (1969), District Collector Janaki (Sowcar Janaki), meets the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. The Chief Minister is not seen directly. Instead, C.N.Annadurai's voice (as imitated by Sivagangai Sethurajan) is heard.[66] Also, a pair of glasses on the table and a pen in the foreground are seen.[67]

The song sequence "Nee mannavana chinnavana" from the film Rudra Thandavam (1978) shows real footage of Annadurai's funeral.[68]

In the film Walter Vetrivel (1993), Vijayakumar played Viswanathan (Tamil Nadu Minister for Home Affairs as per the plot). The actor's countenance in the film strongly resembles Annadurai.

In the film Iruvar (1997), Nassar played Ayya Veluthambi, a character whose role is reminiscent of Annadurai.

Annadurai is portrayed in the film Kamaraj (2004).

S. S. Stanley played Annadurai in the film Periyar (2007). Directed by Gnana Rajasekaran, the film had Sathyaraj in the lead role of Periyar, Annadurai's mentor. After Annadurai's death (not shown in the film), his real life photo is seen in the table of M. Karunanidhi, who succeeded him as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.

The song sequence "Nee kondru kuvithatu" from the film Indiralohathil Na Azhagappan (2008) shows real footage of Annadurai.[69]

Bharathi Kannan played Annadurai in the film Thalaivii (2021).[70]

## See also

[edit]

* List of places named after C. N. Annadurai
* Annadurai ministry

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Election Commission, India (1962). "Report on the General Elections in India".
2. ^ "Dmk official website".
3. ^ a b "Renaming of Madras State".
4. ^ a b "Annadurai's death".
5. ^ Irschick, Eugene F. (1994). Dialogue and History: Constructing South India, 1795-1895. University of California Press. p. 203\. ISBN 978-0-52091-432-2.
6. ^ தமிழில் இலக்கிய வரலாறு. 1988.
7. ^ "Conjeevaram Natarajan Annadurai". www.tnpscthervupettagam.com. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
8. ^ a b c d e f g h "Life History and Literary Works of C.N. Annadurai". Tamil Electronic Library. Archived from the original on 6 December 2008. Retrieved 20 December 2008.
9. ^ a b c d e f Satyendra, Kuśa (2000). Dictionary of Hindu Literature. Sarup & Sons. pp. 9–10\. ISBN 978-81-7625-159-4.
10. ^ Daughter of the South By Pi. Ci Kaṇēcan̲, p. 66
11. ^ Ethnic movement in India By Ganapathy Palanithurai, R. Thandavan, p. 41
12. ^ Kannan, R (15 September 2005). "C.N. Annadurai's mission incomplete". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Archived from the original on 7 September 2009. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
13. ^ C.N. Annadurai By Pi. Ci Kaṇēcan̲. p. 25
14. ^ a b c d Rajwat, Mamta (2004). Encyclopaedia of Dalits in India. Anmol Publications. pp. 246–247\. ISBN 978-81-261-2084-0.[permanent dead link]
15. ^ a b Ralhan, O.P. (2002). Encyclopaedia of Political Parties. Anmol Publications. pp. 125–128\. ISBN 978-81-7488-865-5.
16. ^ Wilkinson, Steven I (2006). "Caste mobilization in Pre-independence Madras". Votes and Violence: Electoral Competition and Ethnic Riots in India. Cambridge University Press. pp. 189–192\. ISBN 0-521-53605-7. Retrieved 16 December 2008.
17. ^ a b Sarah, Dickey (1993). "The Politics of Adulation: Cinema and the Production of Politicians in South India". The Journal of Asian Studies. 52 (2): 340–372\. doi:10.2307/2059651. JSTOR 2059651. S2CID 153511979.
18. ^ a b c Rajagopalan, Swarna (2001). State and Nation in South Asia. Lynne Rienner Publishers. pp. 152–154\. ISBN 978-1-55587-967-9.
19. ^ Ramaswamy, Cho. "E.V. Ramaswami Naicker and C.N. Annadurai". India Today. Archived from the original on 24 October 2008. Retrieved 19 December 2008.
20. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Asaan, GVK (2008). "Anna the genius". The birth centenary of Arignar Anna (C.N. Annadurai – 15 September 1909 – 3 February 1969) is being celebrated between September 2008 and September 2009. The first part of his life sketch appeared in the September issue. In this issue we give the second and the concluding part. Modern Rationalist. Archived from the original on 26 January 2011. Retrieved 20 December 2008.
21. ^ "Priest-less weddings in TN VIP families – Sify News". Sify. Archived from the original on 28 May 2009. Retrieved 20 December 2008.
22. ^ Subramanian, RS (9 October 1998). "Celebrating a half century". Frontline, The Hindu Publishing. Archived from the original on 8 January 2008. Retrieved 19 February 2008.
23. ^ a b Phadnis, Urmila; Rajat Ganguly (2001). Ethnicity and Nation-building in South Asia. Sage. p. 227\. ISBN 978-0-7619-9439-8.
24. ^ Ganguli, Amulya (26 May 2007). "The DMK's negative politics". The Tribune, India. Archived from the original on 26 July 2008. Retrieved 20 December 2008.
25. ^ Bukowski, Jeanie J; Swarna Rajagopalan (2000). Re-distribution of Authority. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 19–21\. ISBN 978-0-275-96377-4.
26. ^ Jain, Sumitra Kumar (1994). Party Politics and Centre-state Relations in India. Abhinav Publications. p. 142\. ISBN 978-81-7017-309-0.
27. ^ a b c d e f g Hardgrave, Robert (1965). "The Riots in Tamilnad: Problems and Prospects of India's Language Crisis". Asian Survey. 5 (8): 399–407\. doi:10.2307/2642412. JSTOR 2642412.
28. ^ Thirumavalavan; Meena Kandasamy (2004). Uprrot Hindutva. Popular Prakashan. pp. 125–126\. ISBN 978-81-85604-79-4.
29. ^ Nandivarman, Ns (27 January 2008). "Remembering the 1965 Anti Hindi Struggle". Tamil Nation. Retrieved 20 December 2008. [dead link]
30. ^ Viswanathan, S (23 April 2004). "A history of agitational politics". Frontline, The Hindu publishing. Archived from the original on 2 March 2008. Retrieved 19 December 2008.
31. ^ Amaresh Datta., 2005., Extempore Literature (Tamil): The Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature (Volume Two) (Devraj To Jyoti) Volume 2, pp. 1249–1250.
32. ^ a b c d e "Self respect movement (Dravida Iyakkam) plays by Bharathidasan, C.N. Annadurai, M. Karunanidhi and others". Tamil Virtual University. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
33. ^ a b c d e Hardgrave, Jr, Robert L (March 1973). "Politics and the Film in Tamil Nadu: The Stars and the DMK" (PDF). Asian Survey. 13 (3): 288–305\. doi:10.2307/2643038. hdl:2152/34387. JSTOR 2643038.
34. ^ Bhanskaran, Gautaman. "Pioneers who pushed cinema into politics". Japan Times. Archived from the original on 9 January 2009. Retrieved 13 December 2008.
35. ^ a b Guneratne, Anthony R.; Wimal Dissanayake, Sumita S. Chakravarty (2003). Rethinking Third Cinema. Routledge. p. 216\. ISBN 978-0-415-21354-7.
36. ^ Ramanujam, KS (1967). The big change. Higginbothams. p. 226.
37. ^ a b Various authors (1987). Encyclopaedia of Indian literature vol. 1. Sahitya Akademi. p. 181\. ISBN 978-81-260-1803-1.
38. ^ Kannan, R. (2010). Anna: The Life and Times of C.N. Annadurai. Penguin Books India. p. 79\. ISBN 978-0-670-08328-2.
39. ^ a b Chakrabarty, Bidyut (2008). Indian Politics and Society Since Independence. Routledge. pp. 110–111\. ISBN 978-0-415-40868-4.
40. ^ Viswanathan, S (23 April 2004). "Dravidian power". Frontline. Archived from the original on 3 March 2008. Retrieved 19 February 2008.
41. ^ a b c Venkatachalapathy, AR (10 April 2008). "C.N. Annadurai – Politician, 1909–1969". Archived from the original on 12 January 2009. Retrieved 20 December 2008.
42. ^ Venkatesh, MR (7 June 2004). "Solidarity show at wedding – ADMK's brickbats on cauvery mixes with Pranab's bonhomie". Calcutta, India: The Telegraph, Calcutta. Archived from the original on 16 August 2009. Retrieved 20 December 2008.
43. ^ Hodges, Sara (2005). "Revolutionary family life and the Self Respect movement in Tamil south India". Contributions to Indian Sociology. 39 (2): 251–277\. doi:10.1177/006996670503900203. S2CID 144419547.
44. ^ "Rice promises stir Tamil Nadu". Rediff.com. 19 April 2006. Archived from the original on 7 September 2008. Retrieved 20 December 2008.
45. ^ Gopal, Madan (1990). K.S. Gautam (ed.). India through the ages. Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. p. 192.
46. ^ Jayakanthan, Dandapani (2006). A Literary Man's Political Experiences. Read books. p. 212\. ISBN 978-1-4067-3569-7.
47. ^ C. N. Annadurai: a timeline Archived 24 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine, The Hindu 15 September 2009.
48. ^ Kannan, R (15 September 2004). "Remembering Anna". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 10 January 2009. Retrieved 20 December 2008.
49. ^ McFarlan, Donald; Norris McWhirter (1990). Guinness Book of World Records. Bantam Books. p. 400\. ISBN 978-0-553-28452-2.
50. ^ Kishore, BR (2008). India – A Travel Guide. Diamond Pocket Books (P) Ltd. p. 702\. ISBN 978-81-284-0067-4.
51. ^ Wilson, Jeyarathnam (2000). Sri Lankan Tamil Nationalism. C. Hurst & Co. Publishers. p. 37\. ISBN 978-1-85065-519-0.
52. ^ "The Rising Sun". Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. Archived from the original on 10 April 2009. Retrieved 20 December 2008.
53. ^ Muthiah, S (2 July 2003). "Round Tana and around". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 10 January 2009. Retrieved 20 December 2008.
54. ^ "Release of Coin on Sh C N Annadurai". Indian Stamp Ghar. 16 September 2009. Archived from the original on 13 July 2011. Retrieved 15 September 2010.
55. ^ "Tamil Nadu celebrates Annadurai's birth centenary". IBN live. 15 September 2008. Archived from the original on 29 April 2014. Retrieved 20 December 2008.
56. ^ C.N. Annadurai – Politician, 1909–1969 Archived 14 February 2011 at the Wayback Machine, indiatoday.in A.R. Venkatachalapathy, 10 April 2008.
57. ^ "Selig Harrison". CIP. Archived from the original on 22 March 2009. Retrieved 19 December 2008.
58. ^ E.V. Ramaswami Naicker and C.N. Annadurai Archived 24 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine, By Cho S. Ramaswamy, india-today.com
59. ^ "Chennai now boasts South Asia's largest library". Deccan Herald. 15 September 2010. Archived from the original on 28 October 2014. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
60. ^ "President unveils statues of eminent leaders". The Hindu. 1 October 2002. Archived from the original on 13 January 2016. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
61. ^ "Parliament House Estate". Archived from the original on 30 October 2015. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
62. ^ "Tamil Nadu government to rename three metro rail stations in Chennai after late Chief Ministers". The New Indian Express. 31 July 2020. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
63. ^ a b c "C.N. Annadurai – List of creative works" (in Tamil). Government of Tamil Nadu. Archived from the original on 31 August 2010. Retrieved 18 January 2009.
64. ^ Kannan, R. (2010). Anna: The Life and Times of C.N. Annadurai. Penguin Books India. p. 82\. ISBN 978-0-670-08328-2.
65. ^ தங்கரத்தினம் திரைப்படம் | Thangarathinam Full Movie HD | Tamil Old Movies | GoldenCinemas, retrieved 5 April 2022
66. ^ "இரு கோடுகள்: புன்னகை மன்னன் பூவிழிக் கண்ணன் ருக்மணிக்காக..." Hindu Tamil Thisai (in Tamil). 2 October 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
67. ^ Srinivasan, Meera (15 September 2009). "Significant contribution to Tamil theatre, cinema". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 14 December 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
68. ^ Nee Mannavana Ruthrathandavam, retrieved 10 July 2022
69. ^ Indiralohathil Na Azhagappan Songs | Nee Kondru Kuvithatu Video Song | Vadivelu | Sabesh Murali, retrieved 10 July 2022
70. ^ "பேரறிஞர் அண்ணாவாக டைரக்டர் பாரதி கண்ணன்!". Daily Thanthi (in Tamil). 17 March 2020. Retrieved 9 April 2022.

Party political offices

New creation |  General Secretary of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
1949–1969  | Succeeded by

V. R. Nedunchezhiyan

Assembly seats
Preceded by

Deivasigamani

|  Member of Madras State Legislative Assembly
1957–1962  | Succeeded by

S. V. Natesa Mudaliar

Preceded by

Himself as Chief Minister of Madras State

|  Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu
1969–1969  | Succeeded by

V. R. Nedunchezhiyan (acting)

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to C. N. Annadurai.

* C.N.Annadurai: One Hundred Tamils of 20th Century[permanent dead link]
* C.N.Annadurai centenary: The website for C.N.Annadurai 100th birthday
* To know all about Arignar Anna visit: www.arignaranna.net
* To read all works of Arignar Anna visit: www.annavinpadaippugal.info

* v
* t
* e

Dravidian politics

Political parties|

* Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
* All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
* Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
* Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam

Union cabinet ministers|

* Sathiavani Muthu
* Aravinda Bala Pajanor
* Murasoli Maran
* T. G. Venkatraman
* Sedapatti R. Muthiah
* M. Thambidurai
* T. R. Baalu
* A. Raja
* Dayanidhi Maran
* M. K. Alagiri

Chief ministers|

* C. N. Annadurai
* V. R. Nedunchezhiyan
* M. Karunanidhi
* M. O. H. Farook
* S. Ramassamy
* M. G. Ramachandran
* M. D. R. Ramachandran
* V. N. Janaki Ramachandran
* J. Jayalalithaa
* R. V. Janakiraman
* O. Panneerselvam
* Edappadi K. Palaniswami
* M. K. Stalin

Deputy chief ministers|

* M. K. Stalin
* O. Panneerselvam
* Udhayanidhi Stalin

Deputy speakers of the Lok Sabha|

* G. Lakshmanan
* M. Thambidurai

Union ministers of state|

* N. V. N. Somu
* T. R. Baalu
* R. K. Kumar
* Kadambur M. R. Janarthanan
* M. Kannappan
* Gingee N. Ramachandran
* A. Raja
* K. Venkatapathy
* Subbulakshmi Jagadeesan
* S. Regupathy
* S. S. Palanimanickam
* V. Radhika Selvi
* S. Jagathrakshakan
* S. Gandhiselvan
* D. Nepoleon

Speakers of the legislative assembly|

* Si. Pa. Adithanar
* Pulavar K. Govindan
* S. Perumal
* K. A. Mathiazhagan
* S. Pakkiam
* Munu Adhi
* K. Rajaram
* P. H. Pandian
* M. Tamilkudimagan
* G. Palaniraja
* Sedapatti R. Muthiah
* P. T. R. Palanivel Rajan
* V. M. C. Sivakumar
* K. Kalimuthu
* R. Avudaiyappan
* D. Jayakumar
* P. Dhanapal
* M. Appavu

Deputy speakers of the legislative assembly|

* Pulavar K. Govindan
* G. R. Edmund
* P. Seenivasan
* N. Ganapathy
* Su. Thirunavukkarasar
* P. H. Pandian
* V. P. Balasubramanian
* V. P. Duraisamy
* K. Ponnusamy
* S. Gandhirajan
* Parithi Ilamvazhuthi
* A. Arunachalam
* P. Dhanapal
* Pollachi V. Jayaraman
* K. Pitchandi

Leaders of the house|

* V. R. Nedunchezhiyan
* M. Karunanidhi
* M. O. H. Farook
* S. Ramassamy
* Nanjil K. Manoharan
* M. D. R. Ramachandran
* R. M. Veerappan
* K. Anbazhagan
* R. V. Janakiraman
* C. Ponnaiyan
* O. Panneerselvam
* Natham R. Viswanathan
* K. A. Sengottaiyan
* Duraimurugan

Leaders of the opposition|

* V. R. Nedunchezhiyan
* M. Karunanidhi
* P. K. Loganathan
* J. Jayalalithaa
* S. R. Eradha
* V. M. C. V. Ganapathy
* R. V. Janakiraman
* K. Anbazhagan
* O. Panneerselvam
* A. M. H. Nazeem
* Vijayakant
* M. K. Stalin
* R. Siva
* Edappadi K. Palaniswami

Deputy leaders of the opposition|

* M. Karunanidhi
* K. Anbazhagan
* Su. Thirunavukkarasar
* K. A. Sengottaiyan
* Duraimurugan
* O. Panneerselvam
* Panruti S. Ramachandran
* Alagaapuram R. Mohanraj
* R. B. Udhayakumar

Others|

* Anti-Hindi agitations of Tamil Nadu
* Cinema in Dravidian politics
* Dravidar Kazhagam
* Dravidian movement
* Dravidianism
* Rise of Dravidian parties
* Self-Respect Movement

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF
* FAST
* WorldCat

National|

* Germany
* United States
* France
* BnF data
* Netherlands
* Israel

Academics|

* CiNii

Other|

* IdRef
* SNAC

*[m.]: married
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template