Name :
Anna Durai
Born :
15th sep 1909
Birth
Place : Kanchipuram, Tamilnadu
Parents: Natarajan, Bangaru
Ammal
Sibling:
-
Wife : Rani Annadurai
Children:
None, but adopted his sister's grandchildren
Education:
M. A
Constituency
: Kancheepuram
Occupation
: Politician, erudite
scholar, an astute politician, a wise statesman, powerful Orator, revolutionary
writer, fine novelist, noted playwright, great social reformer, an ardent
rationalist, a staunch socialist, a great diplomat, a true democrat, an eminent
leader and, above all
Died : 3
February 1969 (aged 59) Madras, Tamil Nadu
GUINNESS
BOOK OF RECORDS, 1984. LARGEST FUNERALS
The funeral of C.N.Annadurai, (Died 3rd Feb. 1969) Madras Chief Minister was,
according to some press reporters attended by 15 million. The longest funeral
in Britain was probably that of vice admiral Viscount Nelson on Jan. 1806.
Ticket holders were seated in St. Paul’s Cathedral by 8.30 p.m. many were
unable to leave until 9 p.m.
Anna’s Profile
Anna who
named the Madras State Tamil Nadu and helped Tamil Nadu to be known to the
world by her own historical name high-lighting the glory and grandeur of Tamil
and Tamil Land.
The term ‘Anna’ in Tamil means elder brother. The very name ‘Anna inspired
millions of people. He was also known by another term ‘Perarignar’ meaning
great genius.
After taking his M.A.Degree, instead of seeking the usual refuge in the
white-collar profession, Anna entered the political scene devoting himself to
mouldingthe destiny of the masses. He became a staunch follower of Thanthai
Periyar E.V.Ramaswamy, the most revolutionary social reformer India has ever
seen. Anna boldly took to the hard path of social reform. The Self-Respect
Movement started by Periyar attracted him. He make use of all the media of
Propaganda namely the press, the stage and the screen to propagate his ideals.
Anna gave a vivid picture of the glorious past and the degraded later state of
Tamil Nadu. In his words:
“Our literature, art and architecture are fine specimens of human intelligence,
but they bear the ravages of time and also the effect of currents and
crores-currents so that today, we have to listen to the foreign historian or
scholar in order to realize that glory and grandeur of Tamil nadu. Our culture
and civilization are hoary but we have allowed scars and wrinkles to disfigure
them. It is our duty, therefore, to rediscover and reconstruct what is ourt.
Truly great have been our achievements in the field of literature. To be able
to announce to the world that we, Tamilians, do possess great literature and to
represent to the world and the entire humanity, great Thirukkural is something
about which we can have pardonable pride.”
Portraying the picture of Tamil Nadu in his unique style, Perarignar Anna make
a clarion call to the young graduates in the following words:
“Graduates, please carry on the crusade against caste which cannot co-exist
with democracy; against superstition which cannot co-exist with science and
against tyranny of various dimensions which cannot co-exist with liberty,
equality and fraternity.
Anna’s call attracted a continuous stream of zealous young men with a spirit of
service. Anna was the only leader which knew best about the youth and channeled
their energy of constructive purposes.
Anna was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth; instead, he was born with a
silver tongue’. He was equally proficient in Tamil and English. With the gift
of the gab, Anna attracted-rather hypnotized, any kind of audience, young and
old literature and illiterate. His speeches were interesting, instructive and
inspiring.
Anna has been compared with Bernard Shaw, Ibsen and Galsworthy. The pen is
mightier than the sword. Anna’s tongue was mightier than the pen. As an orator,
Anna was verily a combination of Demosthenes, Ingersoll, Winston Churchill,
Edmund Burke and Macaulay. All his speeches are there in volumes. Euphonic
alliterations and rhymes, apt and arresting similes and revolutionary thought
are the special features of his speeches and writings.
Anna moved his tongue and the whole Tamil Nadu moved behind him. It obeyed his
orders.
Anna is the fore-runner of Renaissance in Tamil Literature and art. He
developed a style of his own. His way of writing and speeches are emulated by a
host of writers and speakers. His oratory is inimitable.
Anna translated his ideals into action. He ushered in a new era. Apart from the
social changes, Anna brought about a glorious, revolution in Tamil Nadu, the
least violent and the most beneficent change.
After ascending the seat of power, Anna encouraged Inter-caste Marriages
through state awards. No other State in India has done it and it was greatly
appreciated by Thanthai Periyar. Anna gave legal recognition to self-Respect
Marriages to the satisfaction of Periyar.
His amiable disposition, his tact, sobriety, statesmanship, brotherly feelings
for all and magnanimity towards his political opponents endeared him to all. He
was an embodiment of all the faculties.
Anna rebuilt Tamil Nadu, and he presented a vivid picture of the grandeur of
Tamil Nadu before the foreign delegates on the occasion of the Second
International Conference Seminar of Tamil Studies held in Madras in 1968.
It is a matter of pride and pleasure of record that the Yale University in the
U.S.A. HONOURED Anna by conferring on him the Chubb Fellowship. Anna was given
that unique honor. Anna was the first non-American to have received that honor.
This shows his greatness in the inter-national plane.
At the time when Anna was born, the Tamils had not realised the greatness and
depth of their history.
When he left, the Tamils had come to realize their history and feel proud of
it. Anna made them feel proud of it.
Anna proposed in the Legislative Assembly the naming of the Tamil land, which
was previously known as Madras State with her own historical name “Tamil Nadu”,
and the whole Assembly unanimously seconded and echoed his voice. The Credit of
Christening Tamil Nadu goes to Anna and it was his life’s ambition to name
Tamil Nadu. He roused the people of Tamil Nadu to identify Tamil Nadu and to
demand for her naming, and he himself accomplished it.
Anna discovered Tamil Nadu and named her. He identified his ‘mother’ and
‘christened’ her. He was the only son who in history, ever named his mother.
And the story of Anna’s life is itself the History of Tamil Nadu.
Souvenir, Conference of Word Federation of Tamils, at Kualalumpur, Malaysia,
December 1990.
Film
Year Film Work
1949 Nallathambi Story, Screenplay and Dialogues
1949 Velaikaari Story, Screenplay and Dialogues
1951 Or Iravu Story and Dialogues
1954 Sorgavasal Story
and Dialogues
1956 Rangoon
Radha Story
1959 Thaai
Magalukku Kattiya Thaali Story
Edhayum Thangum Idhayam Story
1961 Nallavan
Vazhvaan Story
1970 Kadhal
Jothi Story
1978 Vandikaaran
magan Story
Bibliography
Year Type Work First
Appeared in
1939 Novella Komalathin Kobam Kudi arasu
1939 Novella Kabothipura Kadhal Kudi arasu
1942 Novella Kumasthavi penn or ' Dravida
Nadu
1942 Novella Kalingarani Dravida Nadu
1943 Novella Parvathi B.A Dravida
Nadu
1943 Play Chandrodhayam
1945 Novella Dasavatharam Dravida
Nadu
1945 Play Sivaji
kanda indhu samrajyam
1946 Play Velaikaari
1946 Novella Kumari kottam Dravida Nadu
1946 Novella Rangoon Radha Dravida Nadu
1947 Play Needhidevan
mayakkam
1947 Parable Kadhiravan Kaneen Dravida Nadu
1948 Play Nallathambi
1948 Play Or
iravu
1948 Novella En vazhvu Dravida Nadu
1953 Play Sorgavasal
1953 Play Kadhal
jothi
1955 Parable Kumari Surya Dravida
Nadu
1955 Parable Nangai Nagaithaal Dravida
Nadu
1955 Parable Oru muttalin kadhai Dravida
Nadu
1955 Play Pavayin
payanam
1956 Novella Pudhiya polivu Dravida
Nadu
1957 Novella Kadaisi kanavu Dravida
Nadu
1965 Novella Thazhumbukal Kanchi
1965 Novella Vandikaaran magan Kanchi
1968 Novella appodhae sonnen Kanchi
1970 Play Inba
oli Kanchi
and Dravida nadu
