CHENNAI: DMK patriarch and former Tamil Nadu chief Minister M Karunanidhi passed away around 6 10 pm on Tuesday. He was 94 and has served Tamil Nadu as Chief Minister for five times.
The DMK chief was admitted to Kauvery Hospital in Chennai for the first time on July 18 for change of tracheostomy tube. On July 26, the hospital said Karunanidhi was suffering from urinary tract infection and he was being treated with intravenous antibotics and fluids.
Born in Thirukkuvalai on June 3, 1924, a small village in Thanjavur District (now Nagapattinam), he was drawn to the Dravidian movement led by reformist leader Periyar.
Karunanidhi, or “Kalaignar”- artiste – was famous for his script-writing.Karunanidhi first wrote for a film – Rajakumari – in 1947, while his last script titled ‘Illaingan’ came in 2010.
His screenplay in the 1952 film “Parasakthi,” a hit Tamil movie was an example of how the DMK used the silver screen to reach out to the masses.
President Ram Nath Kovind said he was extremely sad to learn of Karunanidhi’s passing. “Our country is poorer today,” he tweeted.
PM Modi said Karunanidhi “stood for regional aspirations as well as national progress. He was steadfastly committed to the welfare of Tamils and ensured that Tamil Nadus voice was effectively heard.”
Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday expressed grief over the death of DMK veteran leader M. Karunanidhi, saying India has lost a great son.
Winning his first election from the Kulithalai assembly of Thiruchirapalli district in 1957, Karunanidhi worked his way up the ranks to become the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu 12 years later. He was then 45 years old.
Karunanidhi was survived by two wives. The 94-year-old leader had been married three times and had six children. His three wives were late Padmavathy, Dayalu and Rajathi.
Karunanidhi was one of the main political rivals of Jayalalithaa who passed away in December last year. With the death of the DMK supremo, the Tamil Nadu politics will lack two massively popular figures.
He had four sons, namely M K Muthu, M K Alagiri, M K Stalin, and M K Tamilarasu and two daughters, Selvi and Kanimozhi.
At the age of 14, Karunanidhi entered politics. He was inspired by a speech by Alagiriswamii of the Justice Party. He participated in Anti-Hindi agitations and founded an organisation for the local youth of his locality.
He also created a record by winning all the 13 Assembly elections he had contested since 1957. In 1984 he chose to enter the Legislative Council (since abolished).
