C. N. Annadurai

C. N. Annadurai
Name	C. N. Annadurai
Caption	Annadurai in 1967
Office	Chief Minister of Madras State
Term start	6 March 1967
Term end	3 February 1969
Governor	Sardar Ujjal Singh
Predecessor	M. Bhaktavatsalam
Successor	V. R. Nedunchezhiyan (acting)
Office2	Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
Term start2	3 April 1962
Term end2	25 February 1967
Constituency2	Madras State
Party	Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (1949–1969)
Otherparty	Dravidar Kazhagam (1944–1949)
Birth date	15 September 1909
Birth place	Kancheepuram, Madras Presidency, British India
Death date	3 February 1969 (aged 59)
Death place	Madras, Tamil Nadu, India
Spouse	Rani Annadurai
Alma mater	Pachaiyappa's College
Profession	Writer, Politician
Nickname	Anna

C. N. Annadurai was a seminal Indian politician, writer, and orator who served as the first Chief Minister of Madras State from 1967 until his death in 1969. A foundational figure in the Dravidian movement, he founded the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party, which championed Tamil nationalism and social justice. Renowned for his powerful oratory and literary contributions, he led the DMK to its first electoral victory, ending the long dominance of the Indian National Congress in the state and ushering in a new political era in South India.

Early life and education

Conjeevaram Natarajan Annadurai was born on 15 September 1909 in Kancheepuram within the Madras Presidency of British India. His father, Natarajan, was a weaver, and the family belonged to a modest socio-economic background. He completed his secondary education in Kancheepuram before moving to Madras for higher studies, where he graduated with a degree in economics from Pachaiyappa's College. During his college years, he was deeply influenced by the Self-respect movement led by Periyar E. V. Ramasamy and the burgeoning anti-Hindi agitation, which shaped his early political consciousness and formidable skills in Tamil literature and public debate.

Political career

Annadurai began his political career as a member of the Justice Party and later became a prominent disciple of Periyar E. V. Ramasamy in the Dravidar Kazhagam. He played a crucial role in the 1965 anti-Hindi agitation, mobilizing massive public sentiment against the imposition of Hindi by the Government of India. In 1949, following ideological differences with Periyar, he founded the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), advocating for greater state autonomy and the rights of Tamil people. His political ascent was marked by electoral successes in the Madras Legislative Assembly and his tenure as a Rajya Sabha member, where he articulated Dravidian issues on the national stage.

Chief Minister of Madras State

Leading the DMK to a historic victory in the 1967 state elections, Annadurai became the Chief Minister of Madras State, ending two decades of Indian National Congress rule. His administration, under Governor Sardar Ujjal Singh, implemented significant populist measures, including the two-meal scheme and the renaming of the state to Tamil Nadu in 1969. He skillfully navigated relations with the central government led by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi while firmly upholding regional interests, setting a precedent for state-level governance that balanced regional identity with federal cooperation.

Literary and cinematic work

A prolific writer, Annadurai authored numerous essays, novels, and plays that propagated Dravidian ideology and social reform. His works, such as *Nalla Thambi* and *Oor Iravu*, critiqued Brahminism and caste hierarchies. He also made significant contributions to Tamil cinema, writing dialogues and screenplays for films that carried strong social messages, collaborating with prominent figures like filmmaker K. Balachander and actor Sivaji Ganesan. His journal *Dravida Nadu* served as a powerful mouthpiece for the movement, blending political discourse with literary excellence to reach a mass audience.

Ideology and political philosophy

Annadurai's ideology, often termed "Annaism," was a pragmatic evolution of the foundational principles of the Dravidian movement. He combined Periyar's rationalist and social justice tenets with a commitment to constitutional politics and electoral democracy. A staunch proponent of Tamil nationalism and state autonomy, he nevertheless moved the DMK away from secessionist demands following the enactment of the Sixteenth Amendment of the Constitution of India. His philosophy emphasized social justice, linguistic pride, and welfare-oriented governance, which became the cornerstone of Tamil Nadu's political culture.

Death and legacy

Annadurai died of cancer on 3 February 1969 in Madras, with his last rites performed at the Marina Beach where a grand memorial, the Anna Samadhi, was erected. His death triggered an unprecedented outpouring of grief across Tamil Nadu. His legacy is profound; he institutionalized the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam as a dominant political force, and his successor, M. Karunanidhi, continued his policies. The renaming of Madras University to Anna University and numerous public institutions bearing the prefix "Anna" commemorate his enduring status as "Anna" (elder brother), a revered icon of Tamil identity and regional politics.

Category:1909 births Category:1969 deaths Category:Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu Category:Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam politicians