C.N. Annadurai- the stalwart of Tamil Politics. Image source: https://www.indiatvnews.com/

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Some people are born to lead. C.N. Annadurai was a force to be reckoned with, a dynamic political entity who gave southern politics its gift: The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).

Born on 15th September 1909, Conjeevaram (Kancheepuram) Natraj Annadurai was born into a weaver’s family. Like most self-made people, he went through his fair share of struggles. He had to drop out of school and work as a clerk at the Kanchipuram district collectorate for some time. Despite all hardships, he completed his graduation from Pachaiyappa’s College in Chennai.

Annadurai did not jump into politics immediately. He started as an English teacher and after some time, quit his job to become a journalist. Later on, he joined the political scene in 1935 as the *thalapathi* (Lieutenant) of E.V. Ramasamy Periyar, leader of the Justice Party.

> His oratory skills and creative expression were mesmerizing and he was appointed as the assistant editor of Periyar's *Kudiyarasu* magazine. Though he started as an atheist, he changed his stance to theism. He openly questioned superstitions and religious discrimination, but he always respected the spiritual beliefs of a society.

> Although Anna and Periyar went along just fine, the independence of India create a rift between them. Periyar mourned an independent India because he believed that Tamilians would have to live under the thumb of the Brahmins and North Indians. Anna, on the other hand, saw it as a golden moment. When the ideological gap between the two widened, Annadurai founded the DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) with E.V.K.Sampath.

The DMK extended its base to the lower, lower middle class, and working classes in the rural areas as well. Students, Dalits, and lower caste people too supported the DMK, and Annadurai was able to fortify his position as a strong political leader.

> As his influence grew, so did his voice for the creation of a separate state for Tamilians- Dravida Nadu. However, the separatist dialogue he so voraciously championed- was quelled when he witnessed the harrows of the 1962 Indo-China war. Instead, the focus grew towards providing autonomy to the states. However, he did question the political motives of the Congress, when the matter of imposing the Hindi language on non-Hindi speakers was taken up.

The Anti-Hindi campaign stirred the souls of non-Hindi speakers at a time when Congress tried to impose the Hindi language on the southern states. He questioned the house on the idea of achieving "unity through a common language".

Aside from expanding his political career, fighting for social issues, and staying steadfast to his beliefs, he showcased his literary prowess through his writings. He represented an era of eloquence, inspiration, and courage.

C.N Annadurai will always be fondly remembered- by the ones who knew him and the ones who will go on to read about him.

At a time when the largest political party in India remained unchallenged and arbitrarily imposed the language formula, one man challenged the very basis of the argument. C.N Annadurai, the founder of DMK, became a force to be reckoned with, a stalwart of Tamil politics whose policies changed southern politics forever.