CN Annadurai: News

Born on September 15, 1909, Conjeevaram Natarajan Annadurai was an Indian politician and the founder of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). Popularly known as Anna, Arignar Anna, and Perarignar Anna, Annadurai served as the last Chief Minister of the Madras State from 1967 and 1969. He was also the first chief minister of Tamil Nadu and held the position for only 20 days. An ardent disciple of Periyar E V Ramasamy, who started the Dravidian movement in India, Annadurai was the first to use Tamil Nadu cinema for political propaganda. Prior to his entry into politics, Annadurai worked as a high school teacher. Annadurai was born in a lower-middle-class family. Though throughout his life Annadurai claimed to be an atheist, his stance toward theism was that of ‘Only one race, only one God.’ In 1935, Annadurai entered politics by joining the Justice Party which was formed by non-Brahmin elites in 1917. In 1937, the party defeated the Indian National Congress in Madras, under the leadership of Ramasamy. Annadurai served as the sub-editor of the Justice magazine, editor of Viduthalai, and was also associated with ‘Kudi Arasu’ which was a Tamil weekly paper. Later he started his own paper ‘Dravida Nadu.’ Following differences with Ramasamy, Annadurai left the Justice party and launched DMK. During his active political years, Annadurai was also vocal to demand an independent Dravida Nadu. The stalwart politician of Tamil Nadu politics, Annadurai passed away on February 3, 1969. An estimated 15 million people attended his funeral.