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Last updated
28/04/08

A.P.Janarthanam, M.P. on C.N.Annadurai at the 5th International Tamil Conference 1981
C.N.Annathurai - A Biography by M.Karunanithi
Aringnar Anna on Name Change of Madras State to Tamil Nadu, May 1963
Annadurai's Legacy - Sachi Sri Kantha, 19 September 2000
On Epic Poet Kambar and the Kamba Rasam polemic of polymath Anna - Sachi Sri Kantha, 15 September 2007
C.N.Annadurai - Photo Gallery
அண்ணாதுரையின் படைப்புகள் 
இரும்பு முள்வேலி
ரங்கோன் ராதா 
C.N. Annadurai - Selected Literary Works

C.N.Annadurai

Two Dogs and Hindi - A Tale from the Speeches of C. N. Annadurai " A man had two dogs - a big one and a small one. He wanted his dogs to go in and out of the house freely without him having to keep the house door open all the time. So he built two "trap doors" - one big trap door for the big dog and one small for the small dog. Neighbors who saw these two doors laughed at him and called him an idiot. Why put a big door and a small door? All that was needed was the big door. Both the big and the small dog could use it!

Indian government's arguments for making Hindi the official or link language of India are as ridiculous as the need for a big door and a small door for the big dog and the small dog. Indian government agrees that English is needed for communication with the world, and every school in India teaches English after the fifth grade. Then the Indian government says that all of us should know Hindi also in order to communicate amongst ourselves within India. I ask, "Since every school in India teaches English, why can't it be our link language? Why do Tamils have to study English for communication with the world and Hindi for communications within India? Do we need a big door for the big dog and a small door for the small dog? I say, let the small dog use the big door too!" more

C.N.Annadurai - Stamp
Annadurai
Commemoration Stamp

Arignar Anna
C.N. Annadurai's mission incomplete - R. Kannan, 15 September 2005 "..Today is the 96th birth anniversary of Anna. His sense of mission, his simplicity, compassion, and talents may seem outmoded. But so long as human values remain a worthy goal, his legacy will be relevant..." more
C.N.Annadurai at Wikipedia

One Hundred Tamils of the 20th Century

C.N.Annadurai
15 September 1909 - 3 February 1969

 "India is a continent; it should be divided into a number of countries. The continent of Europe has 32 independent countries. No one argues that it should be a single country ruled by a single government. Similarly there is no need for India to be under a single government... Aryan influence increases within a single country called India. Welfare of the other races is crushed under Aryan rule. Uniting different races (nations) under a single country leads to rebellions and troubles. In order to prevent such troubles and bloodshed in India, we should divide India according to racial (national) lines now... Even during the days of the emperors Ashoka, Kanishkar, Samudra Gupta and Akbar, India was not a single country.

If India is divided into many countries, each country could develop its economy according to its circumstances. It would also put an end to one region robbing the resources of another. All races (nations) can achieve equality only if each race (nation) has its own country and government. We fear the thought of one race (nation) living under the rule of another. This fear gives birth to violent rebellion. It is necessary to divide India racially (nationally) to prevent such violent revolutions. The reason one race (nation) has not choked another race (nation) to death in India so far is the British guns. When the British leave, India will become a killing field [unless it is divided into different countries on racial (national) basis]."  Annadurai at the Dravidar Kazagam State Conference in Tiruchi in the 1940s (Translated from Tamil to English by Thanjai Nalankilli)  Tamil Tribune

[see also For Province Read Nation, Pramatha Chaudhuri, 1920 "It is not a bad thing to try and weld many into one but to jumble them all up is dangerous, because the only way we can do that is by force. If you say that this does not apply to India, the reply is that if self determination is not suited to us, then it is not suited at all to Europe. No people in Europe are as different, one from another, as our people. There is not that much difference between England and Holland as there is between Madras and Bengal. Even France and Germany are not that far apart. If some of our politicians shudder at the mention of provincial patriotism, it is because their beliefs smack of narrow national selfishness."]

A.P.Janarthanam, M.P. on C.N.Annadurai at the 5th International Tamil Conference 1981

From 1934 to 1968 Dr. C. N. Annadurai, with his niagaral flow, alliterative style, devastating arguments, ardent championship of Tamil Renaissance, was the darling orator of Tamilnadu. As the lieutenant of Periyar E.V.Ramasamy, he ceaselessly worked for the establishment of a casteless, classless society.

His Tamil Professor in Pachaiappa's College, Mosur Kandasami Mudaliar, by a skilful presentation of choice passages from the Sangam literature, instilled in him an ardent desire to study the masters from Tholkappiyar to Maraimalai Adigal. Anna, with his admirable insight, keen perception and penetrating analysis, grasped the glories of Poompuhar, the early sea-faring saga of the Tamils, the heroic deeds of Cheran Senguttuvan, the magnanimity of Kumanan, the heroines of Agam, the heroes in Puram, the craze in Rome and Egypt for the pearls and ' ahil ' of Tamilagam and the great influence wielded by poets like Kapilar and Avvaiyar.

Anna was very much moved by the pathetic plight to which his great people had been reduced. The heroes of Purananuru considered it rank cowardice to even bat their eyelids on seeing an oncoming spear. The Tamils of Anna's days withdrew at the mere sight of a cat crossing their path ! The sangam poets depicted the valour of Tamil warriors who never bowed down to the foes. The Tamils in Anna's days prostrated before alien godmen who mumbled in an alien tongue.

The conquerors of the Sangam age had been reduced to coolies who were the victims of   leeches in plantations. Young Anna was determined to instil a sense of self respect into his people. He became an ardent exponent of a twentieth century Mohenjadaro.

In 1934, he met Periyar in Tiruppur and was completely won over by the Socrates of the South. From thereon, Anna wielded his powerful tongue and pen to disseminate the ideas of Periyar.

Anna's Tamil writings and speeches, and his espousal of the cause of a fallen people, completely captivated the younger generation. His influence will last as long as Tamil lives. As the architect of Dravidian destinies, as the statesman who impressed Pandit Nehru with his maturity and sobriety, as the affectionate elder brother with the big heart, as the ideal chief minister who bled for the lowliest of the low, as the ambassador of Tamil good-will to Yale, and as the finest flower of Tamil culture, loved by the Tamils everywhere, he will take rank in history as the great savant from Kanchee.

As Anna distilled the essence of pure Tamil literature into his heady wine of eloquence, I was his close admirer from 1937. By his lucid presentation, superb marshalling of facts, packing punch in well chosen epithets, coining apt statements which have enriched Tamil, by telling sayings which have gained wide currency, by shafts of humour which sparked off salvoes of applause, by the sweet resonance and timbre in his voice, Anna mesmirised the Tamils. Those who came to scoff remained to listen. Even his opponents tried to imitate his alliterative style which still sets the pattern for all orators in Tamil. Periyar's steel became shimmering Kanchi silk in Anna's speeches.

Anna took Tamil, enslaved in the tomes of jawbreaking, puritan scholars to the Tamil masses, and created a great urge for good, chaste simple Tamil. Anna made Tamil sweet to ears that were attuned to English. Tamil slowly replaced English. The Tamils were made conscious of their great heritage. Tamil oratory, drama, writing and films secured patronage. Anna made the Tamil youth firebrand champions of social reform. Anna attracted, shaped and moulded a gallant band of writers and orators.

Anna addressed the Tamil Writers' Association in the early forties. Eminent writers like Va. Ra. were thrilled by his eloquence. Anna's lectures to college literary societies .... drew praise from the presiding Tamil Professors. Anna's vivid portrayal of the classics, rationalist emphasis and praise of great scholors like Maraimalai Adigal, won him batches of dedicated youngsters.

Anna mastered Kambaramayana. He held that Kamban had extolled Rama to the detriment of the Tamils. On this fiery issue he debated with two great scholars, Sollin Selvar Sethu pillai and Navalar S.S. Bharathiar. As the able lieutenant of Periyar, he countered the arguments of great scholors like Thiru V. Ka.

In the first Anti-Hindi movement in 1938, Anna fought along with great Tamil scholors. In jail, he studied thoroughly "Abhidhana Chinthamani ", the inimitable encyclopaedia.

Anna's contributions to Tamil, as a writer, are voluminous. Two theses, one on his dramas, by Dr. R. Janarthanam, and the other by Dr. Sethu, on his short stories, have come out. Many theses are bound to follow. Foreign scholors like Dr. Asher of Edinburgh have made a deep study of Anna's works. Dr. M. S. Udayamurthy and Dr. Muthu Chidambaram have popularised Anna in America.

Anna's journalistic writings have been spear-heads in the spread of Periyar's ideas, moulders of opinion in support of the Dravidian renaissance, magnetic in attracting the youth to the battle for mother-tongue. As editor of " Viduthalai" and "Kudi Arasu ", Anna wrote reviews, editorials, articles, satires and short tories. As a young lad of thirty, under the direct   guidance of the lion-hearted Periyar, Anna lashed out against the monopolists and reactionaries. He  challenged the old order, lambasted the charlatans and exposed their political myopia. This was in the 30's.

In 1942, Anna launched his weekly, " Dravida Nadu ". As I was Anna's affectionate younger brother, I used to go to Kanchee often. I was just 22, a fiery orator, petted and patted by Anna. I saw Anna writing far into the night, sheet after sheet, in his round hand, without any correction, myself picking them up one by one, eagerly lapping up the contents. By studying his weekly, intoxicated by his radical speeches, I used to purchase 10 or 12 copies of " Dravida Nadu " in my town and distribute them to students urging themto read through the contents, hoping to convert them to the movement.

College students steadily became avid readers of  "Dravida Nadu". Even the opponents stealthily  lapped up his " Roman Queens ". Anna gave a rich fare. Dravidian glories were depicted. The call to reason by quoting Valluvar, Vallalar and Vemana, had very good effect. The very titles were breathtaking. " Beautiful statute-minus the head ", " Rinsing with Tiger's milk ", " Amery's Akbar Puja ", " The Bat's predicament ", so on.

Lampoons, satirical hits, Kambarasam doses, racy editorials, references to Emile Zola, Walt Whitman, Abraham Lincoln, Angelina, Lenin and Stalin, all made the weekly the most sought after, the most quoted and the proudest possession of the Dravidian dynamos.

Later Anna had his weekly "Kanchee". That weekly had, as its main attraction, his letters to his younger brothers (Thambikku). These letters were his clarion-call, observations on current affairs, penpictures of the leading personalities of the day, replies to attacks from Periyar, Kamaraj and other parties.

Anna's special articles during Pongal were poetic in their conceptions, cameos of Tamil valour, gems of the ideal scenes of the days of Kerikala and Raja Raja.

Anna encouraged young writers - Comrades Vanan, Dasarathan, Kalaignar Karunanidhi, Arangannal, Thillai Villalan, Radhamanalan, Ezhathu Adigal and Kanchi Kalyanasundaram - all scintillating stars in the Anna galaxy! Anna had great respect and admiration for Bharathidasan, the ace poet of his movement. He presented him with a purse in 1946 and often quoted him.Anna was very magnanimous even to opponents. He readily recognised the talents of Va. Ra., Khandekar, comrade Jeevanandam and Ma. Po. Si.

So, from 1934 to 1968, Anna was the Voltaire of the Dravidian movement, the Ingersoll of the self-respect movement.

Anna's contributions to oratory and journalism are outstanding. People used to purchase tickets for his special meetings, travel hundreds of miles, walk 10 to 12 miles, to hear him. Anna usually came very late. Normally he spoke for 40, 45 minutes. But from first to last, he held the people spell bound, moving them to heights of feeling, producing peals of laughter, mesmerising them with his matchless eloquence. It is very moving, even now, to hear Anna's voice, in tapes. Easily he is the best orator Tamilnad has produced. He took Tamil to the masses and enthroned it in Fort St. George. His crowning act was the naming of the then Madras State as " Tamilnadu ".

Bound volumes of his weekly are trend-setters, models, an inspiration for generations to come. They are the thoughts of our Garibaldi, whose golden heart would shine through the ages.

Anna's contributions to Tamil as film, script, story, dialogue writer are substantial. Anna, in order to popularise his ideals, utilised these media very effectively. His first drama " Chandrodayam " was thematic. He formed a troupe in Kanchi in his "Dravidanadu " office and gave roles to his comrades C. V. Rajagopal, K. Subramaniam and Ezhathu Adigal. He took the leading role of Dorairaj himself. His " Nallathambi " and " Velaikkari " were fine film hits. " Velaikkari " and 'One night" with K. R. Ramasami in the lead were staged in Thanjavur for many months. Anna's dialogues were so superb, telling, magnetic and effective that Kalki Krishnamoorthy compared them to Shaw and Ibsen.

Anna's great historical drama, " Shivaji's Hindu Raj " was sensational. It pinpointed the dominance of Kaka bhatta, the Varanasi Priest over Sivaji, the great ruler. Anna as Kakabhatta and Mr. V. C. Ganesan as Shivaji, held the audiences spell-bound. Anna's dialogues in "Sorgavasal" exposed the machinations of the Hindu Rasputins. In 'Needhi Devan Mayakkam' Anna's cross-examination of mythological heroes is breath-taking. Anna's camp was proud of cine actors like M. G. R., Sivaji Ganesan, S. S. Rajendran, K. R. Ramasami and D. V. Narayanasami.

As chief minister, Anna convened the World Tamil Conference in 1968. Anna's address to the delegates was very moving.  Anna's versatile genius enthroned Tamil in the hearts of the Tamil people the world over. Participants of the Fifth World Tamil Conference will remember him with gratitude.

A Biography of C.N.Annadurai by M.Karunanithi
Conjeevaram Natarajan Annadurai, endearingly called ‘Anna’ (elder brother), was born on 15 September 1909 in a Hindu lower middle class family of the weaver community at Kancheepuram, the famous city of temples near Madras. Her father Natarajan was a handloom weaver. His mother’s name was Bangaru Ammal. Her younger sister Rajamani Ammal was the foster-mother of Annadurai. She brought him up and educated him from the elementary school to the College. In 1930, while still a student, he married Rani who came from a suburb of Madras. The couple had no offspring and Annadurai later adopted the four grandsons of his elder sister.

Annadurai had his early education at the Panchiyappa’s High School at Kancheepuram and completed his School Final in 1929. He had to break his studies for a while on account of financial difficulties and worked as a clerk in the Local Municipal Office. He later joined the Panchaiyappa’s College, Madras, and passed the Intermediate Examination in 1931. Continuing his studies in the same College he obtained his B. A. Honours and then M. A. degree in Econimics and Politics (1934).

After his M. A. he worked as a teacher in a Panchaiyappa School for nearly a year, and then turned to journalism and politics which became his principal field interest in later life.

In his early life he was associated with the South Indian Liberal Federation, the organisation of the non-Brahmins, founded in 1917 by Sir P. Theagaraya and Dr. T. M. Nair. It was popularly known as the Justice Party after the name of the Party’s English daily. Annadurai served as sub-editor of the Justice. As an active member of the Justice Party, he was opposed to the Congress Party. During this period he once contested the election to the Madras City Corporation but lost.

Annadurai was deeply interested in the conditions of the poor and the down-trodden and organised small labour unions. In this field he was greatly influenced by two Communist leaders, M. Singaravelu and C. Basudev. He first met the iconoclast and agitator Periyar E. V. Ramaswamy in 1934 at Tiruppur (Coimbatore District) at a Youth Conference and was immediately attracted to him. Even after the parting of ways starting of the DMK in 1949, Annadurai continued to be magnanimous enough to acknowledge openly that the leader whom he met early in his life was his one and only leader.

As a stormy petrel of the Justice Party, Annadurai was arrested during the first Rajaji Ministry for taking part in the anti-Hindi campaigns. After release he became the editor of the Viduthalai under the aegis of Periyar at Erod. He was also associated with the Tamil weekly Kudi Arusu. In 1942 he started his own weekly, the Daviddnadu, and developed a distinct style of his own. In 1949 he assumed the editorship of a Tamil daily, the Malai Mani, started to propagate the cause of the Dravidian Progressive Federation (DMK).

He also edited till 1967 another Tamil weekly, the Kanchi. Annadurai was a good writer in English as well. In 1957 he started an English weekly, the Homeland, which continued for a few years. In 1966 he founded another English weekly, the Home Rule.

Annadurai had great interest in literature also, and early made his mark as a playwright and writer of short stories. Social reform and championing the cause of he exploited class were the principal themes of his stories and plays.

By slow degrees and relentless efforts Periyar and Annadurai provided a mass-base for the Justice Party which had been confined to a small class till then. They infused the party with radical ideas. Their efforts were crowned with success at the Confederation of the Party held at Salem in 1944, when the Party was renamed as Dravida Kazhagam (Dravidian Federation). At the same time the party dropped its pro-British attitude. These changes attracted the student community and soon the party came to have a wider following. Particularly among the young.

Though a follower of Periyar, Annadurai did not hesitate to differ with him sharply when the occasion arose. Periyar essentially a separatist, and when independence came, he wanted 15th August to be declared a day of mourning for the Dravidians. Annadurai, on the other hand, was keep on preserving national unity, although fighting for the due rights of the Dravidians within the national political framework. The split came in September 1949 when the majority of the Dravida Kazhagam under Annadurai’s leadership started the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (Dravidian Progressive Federation).

The DMK conducted agitational campaigns against the Congress rule in Madras, Hindi domination and spiralling of prices. The party soon became a formidable political force in Madras, and in 1957 secured a sizable number of seats in the Madras Legislative Assembly. In 1962 Annadurai was elected to the Rajya Sabha where he strongly opposed the imposition of Hindi as the sole official language of the Union. In 1965 he led the Anti-Hindi agitation in Madras. In the 1967 General Election the DMK Party obtained an absolute majority in the Madras Legislature and formed the first DMK Government, with Annadurai as the Chief Minister.

As chief Minister for about two years Annadurai showed great statesmanship and did much not only to introduce needed reforms in Madras but also to make the voice of South India heard and appreciated at seat of the Central Power. He was never against the political unity of India but he insisted that the unity would be best preserved by granting the greatest amount of autonomy to the States.

In 1965 and again in 1968 he travelled widely in Asia, Europe and America. In September 1968 he went to America again for medical treatment. He had cancerous growth in the gullet. He underwent two surgical operations in America and India which could not cure him. He breathed his last in the midnight of February 2-3, 1969. The mortal remains were laid to rest under the Marina sands.

Annadurai had his roots deep in the land of his birth and its culture. He was always dressed in simple South Indian style and presented a picture of tenderness. He was austere and quiet, but strong and dynamic when occasion needed. He had contempt for ceremonials and superstitions but was tolerant to other men’s views. A statesman and a scholar, a litterateur and a social reformer, a mass leader and a friend of poor, Anna will be ever remembered specially as the maker of the new Tamilnadu.
Aringnar Anna on Name Change of Madras State to Tamil Nadu, May 1963

[Debate in Rajya Sabha in May 1963. DMK Founder Aringnar Anna ultimately changed the name of Madras State as Tamil Nadu and fulfilled the centuries old desire of the Tamil Nation on his becoming the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu in 1967. In 1963 he spoke in Parliament on the question of renaming Tamil Nadu. Courtesy: Dravida Peravai]

Annadurai -

Mr. Vice Chairman, I am rarely in full agreement with my friend Mr.Bhupesh Gupta, but today I rise to support him whole-heartedly, fully and sincerely. The only weakness of the Bill is that it is a non-official one. I would have liked an official Bill to be brought forward for this very necessary and very simple thing that would have satisfied millions of Tamilians in Tamil Nadu.

Many arguments that were advanced against the Bill brought forward are perhaps more due to the colour of the mover rather than the arguments advanced for its support. One Honorable Member was saying that he was not moving a Bill, which the Madras State has asked him to move. I regret very much that sometimes it becomes necessary to explain some rudimentary principles.

The Madras Government will never ask a non-official Bill to be brought forward on its behalf. If the state government wants the Bill to be brought forward, there are the state representatives in this Assembly and they would have brought it forward, and therefore, to say that the Bill cannot be supported just because the Madras Government has not asked Mr.Gupta to bring the Bill shows that their only argument to fight against the Bill is that their party or their State Government has not instructed them to act in this way.

I can well understand the political tremor in their hearts, but that is no argument against this Bill. The arguments advanced by the sponsors of the Bill for renaming Madras as Tamil Nadu have not been answered by any one of the speakers who spoke about it.

Sheel Badra Yajee: I have answered it.

Anna: I cannot understand- I very rarely understand- your language and, therefore, I do not know whether there is logic or not but I would say that some of the arguments advanced were not proper. One Honorable Member was saying that there are Telugu knowing people in Tamil Nadu, Malayalam and Kanarese speaking people and, therefore, to name Madras as Tamil Nadu will create a sort of tremor in their hearts.

May I inform this House, through you, Sir, that all these arguments were advanced and shattered in my part of the country. All these arguments did not stand the onslaught of reason and logic. For the sake of informing this House I may inform you Sir, that on 24th February 1961 the Leader of the House in the state assembly stood up to say that he was accepting part of the non official resolution brought forward not by the DMK or any other political party which is considered to be inimical to Congress, but by a PSP [Praja Socialist Party]Member.

That PSP member brought forward a non official resolution for renaming Madras as Tamil Nadu and it was discussed many days and finally the then Finance Minister and the Leader of the House Mr.C.Subramaniam, stood up to say that he was accepting a part or the spirit of the resolution and added that thereafter all publications of the Madras government would appear in the name of Tamil Nadu Government.

It is in such a way that all publications in Tamil in the Tamil Nadu government are being printed and published. As a matter of fact, after making the historic declaration on the floor of the Madras assembly on 24 th February, the very next day the Finance Minister had to present his budget and in presenting the budget, the opening words of the Finance Minister were: " In consonance with the declaration made yesterday, I am now presenting to budget for Tamil Nadu."

Therefore all the arguments that Telugu speaking, the Malayalam speaking, and the Kanarese speaking people will be up against this change in name fall to ground because part of this has been accepted by the Government.

The part relating to the amendment of Constitution, the word Madras to be deleted and the word Tamil Nadu to be inserted was not accepted.

Therefore, even the Government much less by the Madras Congress leaders cannot accommodate the sentimental arguments advanced. Sir, I am really surprised to see how ill informed my Hon. friends are, those who advanced arguments against the Bill. One Hon. Member stated here that Kollegal is in Tamil Nadu. That Hon. Member unfortunately not present in the House at present. I may tell them and his friends may tell him, that Kollegal today is part of Mysore. It has been taken away from the composite State of Madras and after the formation of linguistic states, has gone to Mysore.

If my Hon. friend is so ill informed about Kollegal, I am not surprised at his arguments that nowhere in Tamil literature does the word Tamil Nadu occur. A politician who cannot understand that Kollegal does not form part of Tamil Nadu cannot be expected to be conversant with Tamil literature. For the edification of the House and for his own edification, I will point out the names of certain books wherein the word Tamil Nadu is to be found.

These are books written 1800 or 2000 years ago. I am reading the name in Tamil but the Hon. Member who made this allegation is a Tamilian Congressman and he can understand and the Hon. Deputy Minister who will be making the reply. She being also a Tamilian may tell him. The names of Paripaadal, Pathitrupathu and more popular names of Silapathigaram and Manimegalai.

These are all Tamil classics written more than 1000 years ago and in Paripaadal it is stated " Thandamizh veli Thamizh Naatu agamellam" which means Tamil Nadu that is surrounded by sweet Tamil on all three sides. In Pathitrupathu, a classic written about 1800 years it is stated "Imizh kadal veli Thamizhagam" meaning Tamil Nadu which has got sea as boundary.

In Silapathigaram it is stated "Then Thamizh nannadu" meaning good Tamil Nadu and in Manimegalai it is stated"Sambutheevinul Tamizhaga marungil " Tamil Nadu which is called Sambutheevu.

If my Hon. Members would like to have more popular illustrations I would like to refer them to the poems of Poet Kamban and Sekkilar both of whom have definitely used the word Tamil Nadu. It was only afterwards that there were three kingdoms, the Cheranadu, The Cholanadu and the Pandyanadu. Tamil Nadu is to be found in the classics of Tamil. It is not that there is poverty of ideas in the classics.

It only shows that my Hon. friend does not spend much thought or time over the Tamil classics. I may point out for the edification of this House that when the Congress government in Tamil Nadu purchased the Jaipur Palace at Ooty known as Aranmore Palace they immediately renamed the Palace as Thamizhagam.

I am pointing this out to say that the Congress there is trying to assuage our feelings, is trying to carry Tamil Nadu people along with them by saying they have renamed the Aranmore Palace as Thamizhagam, that they are publishing all the Tamil manifestos as Tamil Nadu Government publications, that only for international correspondence they want the name "Madras".

 They are not prepared to amend the Constitution. If the arguments advanced by some of the Tamil Nadu Congress people were to be read by the Chief Minister of Madras, he would turn around and say "You too Brutus". All the arguments advanced for not renaming it falls flat on the ground because even the Congress Government there does not approve of these arguments.

Another particular issue was raised here that the Bill is being brought forward only as a publicity stunt of the Communist party. Why don't we appreciate the Communist Party for its sense of political expediency? Are not all political parties interested in getting political publicity? Is publicity a heinous crime? Why do you publish reports and books on Five-year plans? Is that not publicity done at public cost? Yet you accuse other political parties saying that this is publicity.

But let me tell this House through you, that even though you defeat the Bill, he has gained that publicity. You are not going to rob him anymore of that publicity. When he comes to Tamil Nadu he can conveniently face Tamilians and say, "I pleaded for you but it is the ruling party that let you down." Therefore you have unawares walked into Mr.Gupta's snare. I would have appreciated if the ruling party had approached Mr.Bhupesh Gupta and stated, "Do not bring in this non-official Bill, we ourselves are interested in it, we will bring it forward."

Then Mr.Santhanam pointed out that we have an uphill task in retaining Madras, we had to fight with so many people and we retained Madras. I can claim some amount of credit in that fight and when I was in the thick of that fight, I did not find Mr.Santhanam by my side.

Akbar Ali Khan: At the cost of Andhra

Anna: With the consent of the Andhras, I can say that. That is because the present government there is providing even today, in the border areas, measures for safeguarding Telugu culture and for imparting Telugu language. Therefore though Madras has been taken by Tamilians, we have no enmity with the Andhras.

But my friend Santhanam was saying that it was such an uphill task, retaining Madras that we would like to keep Madras. This is not a question of keeping Madras or giving it up. This is the question of keeping Madras in Tamilnadu and renaming the state as Tamil Nadu. Madras, after all is the capital city of Tamil Nadu, as Ahamadabad happens to be the capital city of Gujarat, as Chandigrah happens to be the capital city of Punjab.

If this logic of naming the state after the name of capital city is to be followed, Kerala should be renamed Trivandrum, Andhra is to renamed Hyderabad, Punjab is to be renamed Chandigarh and Gujarat to be renamed Ahamadabad.

Bhubesh Gupta: And Bengal should be renamed Calcutta.

Anna: My government, my Congress government in Madras is interested in bilingualism. That is because its head Government is interested to have two names for everything, India that is Bharat, Jana Gana Mana and Vandhe Madaram. They always want to keep two blocks.

Take something from here, take something from there. So the Madras government is having Tamil Nadu for the consumption of Tamilians and Madras for all India consumption.

It is a very awkward word "duplicity". And that is why my friend Mr.Bhupesh Gupta was saying that some of the congress people talk in one way there and talk in another way here. No Congress can face a Tamilian audience and say that the name Madras should be retained. I challenge it.

T.S.Pattabhiraman {Madras}: We have faced it during the agitation of Tamil Arasu Kazhagam and my friend knows it. What he is saying is complete travesty of facts.

Anna: I know how Pattabhiraman faces agitation. I wont say it. Let us not face each other as Congress and DMK. Let us face the Tamilian public on this single sanctified issue of renaming the state and if you carry along with you 51 percent of the people I am prepared to bow my head before you. This is not a party issue at all. The renaming of Madras as Tamil Nadu has been accepted by the Communist Party, by the DMK, by the PSP and you will be surprised, by the Madras branch of Swatantra Party too. Therefore all parties are one in this issue of renaming Madras as Tamil Nadu.

T.S.Pattabhiraman: None of them put it in their election manifesto.

Anna: I would present a copy of the DMK election manifesto to him tomorrow. I am sure Pattabhiraman knows Tamil. This issue has been an issue for more than 10 to 15 years. He was saying that only Tamil Arasu Kazhagam was fighting for it. It is true partially because it was only the Tamil Arasu Kazhagam that started an agitation for it, but all other political parties were immensely intimately interested in this issue.

They have printed it in their manifestos, in their political speeches and no District Conference of DMK took place without passing this resolution of renaming Madras as Tamil Nadu. Therefore it is not simply on the spur of the moment that I am pleading for it. My sorrow is that my friend Mr.Bhupesh Gupta had stolen the thunder from me by sponsoring this Bill. But for that, I would like to present before this House that this has been an issue all along in Tamil Nadu.

And they have not answered Mr.Bhupesh Gupta; What do you loose by renaming Madras as Tamil Nadu? Nobody has answered that.

N.M.Lingam [Madras] Anyway what do you gain by renaming it as Tamil Nadu?

Anna: What do I gain? What have you gained by renaming Parliament as Lok Sabha? What have you gained by renaming Council of States as Rajya Sabha? What have you gained by renaming President as Rastrapathi? Therefore I say what do you loose? This is important because if you were to loose something precious, we would not press for it. If you do not loose something fundamental, we will press for it.

The other point was raised, what do you gain? We gain satisfaction sentimentally; we gain satisfaction that an ancient name is inculcated in the hearts of millions and scores of millions of people. Is that not enough compensation for the small trouble of changing the name? Therefore all the arguments that have been advanced have been shattered.

They have advanced an apologetic argument saying that if the State government had come forward with this, we would have accepted this. And they are perfectly aware of the composition of the State legislature where the Congress party is in a majority. Would you ask the Congress member in Madras State legislature to vote for such a bill if it were to come there, without party whip? No

T.S.Pattabhiraman: Your party members could have brought forward a resolution in the House and changed the name. Why have you not done it for past seven or eight years?

Anna: I am coming to that. When we present such a bill to the Madras legislature, they say that if you want to rename, an amendment to the constitution is necessary and an amendment of the Constitution is possible only when you go to Parliament.

T.S.Pattabhiraman: I am saying a resolution, not a Bill. A resolution can be made.

Anna: I may say for the information of the Hon. Member that we pressed this point during the discussion on the non-official Bill of PSP. In fact we even staged a walk out. The DMK and Communist party joined together in the walk out. That is our numerical position there. When the non-official resolution was discussed in the Madras assembly we pressed for the constitutional amendment and the only explanation offered to us was that it was only possible at the level of Parliament. And when we come to Parliament we are asked to go back to the state legislature. We are asked to go to Parliament because you are entrenched in both places not because your logic is sound but simply because you are entrenched in both places.

G.Rajagopalan [Madras] We are entrenched because the people vote for us. It has been discussed even during elections. There had been fasts by certain members and one person even lost his life after fasting. Even after that we won elections. That shows the people still want as it is- not for the satisfaction of some politicians who want a slogan.

Anna: Madam Deputy Chairman, I am very glad that the discussion is becoming very interesting. But I may say for the information of the House that DMK has nothing to do with fasting. The fasting was undertaken by a non-party man, in fact a relative of the Chief minister of Madras Mr.Sankaralinga [Nadar}. And to say that in spite of fasting you have not changed shows how human you are. Therefore the question was discussed there. We were asked to go to Parliament. When we come to Parliament we are again sent back to legislature. In both places the answer is as my Hon. friend had stated, " The people had voted for us". Well that is a fact, a tragic fact, and a black fact that ought to be seen.

G.Rajagopalan: In spite of you tragedy is still there

T.S.Pattabhiraman: He says tragedy will be permanent. The tragedy of Congress getting a majority at every election will be a permanent feature and we are prepared to accommodate you.

Anna: Madam Deputy Chairman my friend was saying that this tragedy is going to be permanent. Woe to the country and to the people. That is all what I can say. But I would like to press this point that a Constitution amendment can be thought of and made only through Parliament. That is why we have approached The Parliament. If any amendment is brought forward on this or any suggestion is given that it should be circulated to gather public opinion, we take up that challenge. I do not ask you to take this as an election issue. Do not be afraid of that.

[Interruptions]

We are not making it an election issue. This is an issue to be taken to the people for getting their consent or otherwise. That is not going to affect your offices. Nobody thinks about that. You may remain there. This is not a question of analysis of our different parties. This is a question wherein a particular issue has to be referred to the public. Are you prepared for that? That is what we ask. You are not prepared for that and that is why I say

N.M.Anwar [Madras] Madam on a point of information I have got the highest respect and regard for my good friend Mr.annadurai. But will he kindly explain what there is in retaining the name Madras that has got such worldwide publicity? How is he going to meet that point of view? Where is the difficulty in retaining this worldwide name of Madras?

[Interruptions]

Anna: The only point in answer to the Hon. member Mr.Anwar is this. What we gain is our sentimental satisfaction and status of our ancient land. If in Madras we change the name of China Bazaar into Nethaji Subhas Chandra Road nothing is changed in the street but something is changed in our thinking, in our soul, in our fibre. That is why we are pressing for it. Not because we think that keeping Madras will be wrong.

N.M.Anwar: My question is not that. We agree that there is something good in calling it Tamil Nadu. But what is your allergy to Madras, which has got a worldwide publicity.

Anna: My allergy is if Madras is used as name of the state, you confuse the capital with the state. Madras is the name of the capital city. Tamil Nadu is the name that ought to be given to the state. There ought to be a distinction between the name of the state and its capital, and therefore, I whole-heartedly support the Bill brought forward and I would commend it to the House.

List of Literary Works of C.N. Annadurai at tamilelibrary

C.N.AnnaduraiAnnavin kalvic cintanaikal
Tokuppaciriyar R. Thyagarajan
Chennai, Annai Nilaiyam [1969]

Annavin kavitaikal
Chennai : Pumpukar Piracuram Piras, 1981

Annavin arukataikal. [1969]

Annavin cirukataikal. [1969]
Chennai : Manivacakar Patippakam, 1996

Annavin navamanikal. [1968]

Annavin collaram. [1968]

Annavin muttukkuviyal. [1969]

Annavin natakankal. [1971]

Anpu valkkai
Cennai: Ke. Ar. Narayanan, 1958, 1967

Aranilaiyankal
Cennai: Marumalarcci Nul Nilaiyam, 1949.

Arappor
Tirucci : Tiravitap Pannai, 1951. Series title: SAMP early 20th-century Indian books project ; item 41192.

Arinar Anna Conna kutti kataikal 100
Cennai: Potu Metaip Patippakam, 1970., 3rd Ed.

Ariyamayai
Tirucci: Tiravitap Pannai, 1948., 3rd Ed.

Anna speaks at the Rajya Sabha, 1962-66
edited by S. Ramachandran
Bombay : Orient Longmans, 1975

Annavin pattamalippu vila uraikal
patippaciriyar A.Ki. Murthi.
Tancavur : Anna Veliyittillam, 1981

Annavin pattamalippu vi_la uraikal
patippaciriyar A. Ki. Murthi
Tancavur : Anna Veliyittillam, 1981; Series title: Anna veliyitu ; 8.

Annavin camutayap puratci
Chennai : Apirami Publications, 1985

Antik kalampakam
Chennai : Parati Patippakam, 1986

Aringar Annavin uvamaikal konta colloviyam tokuttavar Pon. Ku. Kotantapani
Ce_n_nai : Apirami Paplikesans, 1986-1987.
Arinar Anna conna nuru nakaiccuvaik kataikal. [1970]

Arinar Annavin cinnac cinna malarkal
Chennai : Parati Patippakam, 1986.

Ariyamalai. [1969]

Ariyamayai
Tiruccirappalli, Tiravitappannai [1969]

Aruvatai
Chennai: Pumpukar Patippakam, 1989.

Assembly speeches of Anna
editor-in-chief, A. K. Moorthy ; associate editor, G. Sankaran ;
with a foreword by S. G. Manavala Ramanujam
Thanjavur : Anna Pub. House, 1975.

Atiyapatam
Chennai : Pumpukar Patippakam, 1988.

Camatarmam. [1962]

Camukacevaki Carupala
Chennai : Parati Patippakam, 1988

Cantiramokan : Civaji kanta Intu rajyam
Chennai: Pumpukar Piracuram Piras, 1980.

Cantirotayam : A_rinar Anna Turairajaka-Mayentira_naka natikkum natakam
Kancipuram : Cukumara_n Patippakam, 1978.

Cintanaic cirpi cinkara velar
Cennai: Min Pitippor Cankam, 1949., 1st Ed.

Ciru kataikal
Tirucci: Tiravitap Pannai, 1947.
Tirucci, Tiravitappannai [1969].

C. N. Annaturai M. A. arriya corpolivu
Trichy: Chandravilas Pinjrapole Press, 1945.

Corkkavacal
Maturai: Vi. Cuppurayalu Nayutu Piras, 19xx, 1st ed

Cenkarumpu
Chennai: Pumpukar Patippakam, 1988.

Cevva_lai
Chennai: Pumpukar Piracuram Piras, 1980.

Convocation addresses of Anna
editor-in-chief, A. K. Moorthy ; associate editor, G. Sankaran ;
with a foreword by S. G. Manavala Ramanujam. Rev. ed.
Thanjavur : Anna Pub. House, 1975. Series title: Anna's literature. Series title: Oratorical series ; 2.

Cumar Cuppaiya
Chennai: Parati Patippakam, 1986

E, talnta Tamilakame
Chennai, Muttami_l Nilaiyam]; vi_rpa_nai urimai: Pari Nilaiyam [1968].

Ellorum innattu ma_n_nar. [1971]

En valvu
Chennai : Pumpukar Patippakam, 1988

Ettu natkal
Chennai : Parati Patippakam, 1986.

Ennaig kavarnta puttakankal
Cennai: Marumalarcci Nul Nilaiyam, 1949.
Cennai: Muttamil Nilaiyam, 1949., 1st Ed.

Felicitation addresses of Anna
editor-in-chief, A. K. Moorthy ; associate editor, G. Sankaran ;
with a foreword by S. G. Manavala Ramanujam
Thanjavur : Anna Pub. House, 1975. Series title: Anna's literature. Series title: Oratorical series ; 3.

Inaugural and presidential addresses of Anna
editor-in-chief, A. K. Moorthy, associate editor, G. Sankaran ;
with a foreword by S. G. Manavala Ramanujam.
Thanjavur : Anna Pub. House, 1975.
Series title: Anna's literature : Oratorical series ; 4. Series title: Oratorical series ; 4.

Inpa oli
Chennai: Pumpukar Piracuram Piras, 1980.

Inpat tiravitam
Chennai: Pumpukar Patippakam, 1989

Irajya Capaiyil arignar Anna. [1969]

Iru paramparaikal
Chennai: Pumpukar Piracuram Piras, 1980.

Irumparam
Chennai : Pumpukar, 1981

Irumpu mulveli
Chennai : Pumpukar Piracuram Piras, 1980.

Ito tiravitar tantai
Bangalore: Puratcik Kavi Panimanai, 19xx

Jamin inam olippu
Tirucci: Tiravitap Pannai, 1948.

Jepamalai
Kancipuram: Parimalap Patippakam, 19xx

Kamparacam

Karpanaiccittiram
Tirucci: Tiravitap Pannai, 1947., 1st Ed.
Tirucci: Tiravitap Pannai, 1968., 5th Ed.

Kolkaiyil kulappamen?
Cennai: Tamilnatu Puttaka Nilaiyam, 1961., 1st Ed

Kumarikkottam
Tirucci: Tiravitap Pannai, 1951., 4th Ed

Kaiti en 6342 : Araciyal Catta Molip pirivin 17 avatu Pirivaip potu itattil koluttum arapporil arumatat tantaai perruc Cennaiyir ciraiyirunta Annavin anupavankalum cintanaikalum
Chennai: Pari Nilaiyam, 1980.
Kalinkarani. [1969]

Kancipurattu tertal rakaciyam
Chennai, Tayarippu: A_npu Nilaiyam [1962]

Kannayirattin ulakam
Chennai: Pumpukar Piracuram Piras, 1980

Kanni vitavaiyana katai
Chennai : Pmpukar, 1982.
Kapotipurakkatal. [1969]

Karpanaiccittiram. [1969]

Katal joti
Chennai: Pari Nilaiyam, 1978

Katampam. [1967]

Katavul tantippar!
Chennai: Parati Patippakam, 1986.
Katavul tantippar mutaliya kataivativa karuttoviyankal. [1968]

Komalattin kopam
Chennai: Pumpukar, 1982.
Kumarikkottam. [1969]

Kumastavin pen
Chennai, Anpu Nilaiyam [1967].
Manamakkalukku
Cennai: Arivulakap Pannai, 1955., 1st ed.

Maji katavulkal
Chennai: Pari Nilaiyam, 1953.
Series title: SAMP early 20th-century Indian books project ; item 40226.

Makkal tirppu
Chennai: Pumpukar Patippakam, 1987.

Malai
Chennai: Pumpukar Patippakam, 1989.

Mukkani. [1962].

Mutalamaiccar arinar Annavin Annamalaip perurai. [1968]

Nam
Series title: SAMP early 20th-century Indian books project ; item 41196.
Tirucci: Tiravitap Pannai, 1951., 1st Ed.


Namatu mulakkam
Cennai: Tajmahal Patippakam, 1953, 1st Ed.

Natum etum
Cennai: Manavar Patippakam, 1947.

Nanparkalukku Anna
Chennai : Parati Patippakam, 1987

Nilaiyum ninaippum
Tiruccirappalli, Tiravitappannai [1969]

Nitipati vakkilanar
Chennai : Pumpukar Patippakam, 1989

Nititevan mayakkam
Chennai : Pumpukar Piracuram Piras, 1980

Or iravu
Cennai: Pari Nilaiyam, 1954., 1st Ed.

Occasional speeches of Anna
editor-in-chief, A. K. Moorthy, associate editor, G. Sankaran ;
with a foreword by S. G. Manavala Ramanujam
Thanjavur : Anna Pub. House, 1975. Series title: Anna's literature. Series title: Oratorical series ; 5.

Paratam
Chennai: Pumpukar Patippakam, 1989.

Parvati. [1967]

Pavaiyin payanam
Chennai : Pumpukar Patippakam, 1989

Piti campal
Chennai: Pumpukar Piracuram, 1980

Pittalai alla, ponnetan!
Chennai: Pumpukar Piracuram Piras, 1980

"Pon vilanku"
Kancipuram : Ma_ru Malarccip Patippakam, 1953. Series title: SAMP early 20th-century Indian books project ; item 41198

Ponmolikal. [1972].
Post-office socialism,
Bombay, Bombay D.M.K. [1964]

Punnakai. [1967].
Panattottam
Tirucci: Tiravitap Pannai, 1949.

Purana matankal
Cennai: Valluvar Pannai, 1952., 1st Ed.

Radio talks of Anna
editor-in-chief, A. K. Moorthy ; associate editor,
G. Sankaran ; with a foreword by S. G. Manavalaramanujam. 1st ed.
Thanjavur : Anna Pub. House, 1975.
Series title: Anna's literature. Series title: Oratorical series ; 6

Romapuri ranikal. [1969]

Tamilakam
Cennai: Arivu Manram, 1952. 1st Ed.

Tiravitar nilai
Cennai: Manavar patippakam, 19xx,

1858 - 1948
Pondicherry: Nayiru Nurpatippakam, 1948.

Tamilarin marumalarcci
Chennai, Muttami_l Nilaiyam]; Virpanai Urimai: Pari Nilaiyam [1968]

Tampikku Annavi_n katitankal
Chennai : Pari Nilaiyam, 1979-

Tevalilaikal
Chennai : Pumpukar Patippakam, 1989

Tirumpippar : natakat tokuppu
Chennai: Pumpukar Patippakam, 1989

Tolamaiya? virotama? : Annavin corpolivukal
tokuttavar Anpuppalamni

Ce_n_nai : Apirami Paplikesa_ns, 1985


Ulakap periyar Kanti
Tirucci : Tiravitap Pannai, 1948
Series title: SAMP early 20th-century Indian books project ; item 43991

Ulakapperiyar Kanti. [1969]

Vantikkaran makan. [1969]

Varnasramam
Tirucci : Tiravitap Pannai, 1949
Series: SAMP early 20th-century Indian books project ; item 41199

Velaikkari
Chennai: Pumpukar Piracuram Piras, 1980

Yar ketka mutiyum?
Chennai: Pumpukar Patippakam, 1989

Carittiram pataitta oru "camaniyar" : Pera_ringar Anna pavalavila malar
Madras : Anaittintiya Anna Ti. Mu. Kalaka Perarinar Anna Arakkattalai, 1985]

Kavingar Kanta Anna. [1969]

Photo Gallery

Annadurai with Rajagopalachariya
C.N.Annadurai with C.Rajagopalachariya

C.N.Annadurai with M.Karunanidhi and M.G.Ramachandram
C.N.Annadurai with M.Karunanidhi and M.G.Ramachandran

C.N.Annadurai Memorial - ThirunelveliC.N.Annadurai Memorial - Marina Beach, ChennaiC.N.Annadurai
Annadurai Memorial at Thirunelveli & at Marina Beach, Chennai

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