Chennai: The year-long ‘Kalignar M Karunanidhi centenary celebrations’ concluded on Monday, the 101st birth anniversary of the former Chief Minister of the State, even as the present DMK president, M K Stalin, looked forward to celebrate the triumph of their alliance, the INDIA coalition, when the results of the Lok Sabha elections would be declared on Tuesday.
‘With renewed vigour, we look forward to celebrating the triumph of our alliance on June 4th—a victory for the people of INDIA,’ Stalin said in his message on X even while remembering the key role played by Karunanidhi in selecting many Prime Ministers and Presidents of India, significantly shaping the country’s political landscape.
While top leaders of the INDIA coalition gathered at the Anna Kalaignar Arivalayam in New Delhi to pay tributes to Karunanidhi, the entire Tamil Nadu saw celebrations at various levels. Starting from the putting up of wall posters, DMK cadre, functionaries and also supporters marked the day with gaiety. Some garlanded the photograph of the leaders kept in public places while others distributed sweets served free lunch or organised meetings.
Chief Minister Stalin paid floral tributes to the statues of Karunanidhi at the DMK headquarters ‘Anna Arivalayam,’ the Omandurar Government estates, the Murasoli office, besides visiting the houses of the former Chief Minister at Gopalapuram and CIT Colony in Chennai.
During his visit to the resting place of the leader on the Marina, besides paying homage at the decorated memorial, he released a three-part souvenir brought out by the ‘Tamilarasu’ magazine of the Department of Information and Public Relation, went around the photo exhibition set up for the occasion and also watched a short film on the leader. Murasoli, the newspaper started by Karunanidhi as a teenger, also brought out a souvenir to mark the conclusion of the centenary celebrations.
To commemorate the multifaceted personality of the distinguished DMK leader who was Chief Minister of the State five times was elected in all the 13 Legislative Assembly elections that he contested, was nominated once for the Legislative Council and is acknowledged as the architect of Modern Tamil Nadu, the State government had formed 12 committees that celebrated the life and times of Karunanidhi by organizing meetings in colleges and through a wide range of activities.
On Monday, a remembrance meeting with top leaders of the State like Dravidar Kazhagam president K Veeramani and VCK general secretary Thol Thirumavalavan was held at the Guru Nanak College. In the evening was a poet’s meet that saw poets like Vairamuthu and Pa Vijay reciting poetry in praise of Karunanidhi and at night was a musical event.
Most national leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, remembered the leader through messages on social media and Stalin, in a message on X, said ‘As leaders of the #INDIA bloc, including Madam Sonia Gandhi, my dear brother @RahulGandhi, respected Farooq Abdullah, esteemed comrades @SitaramYechury and @ComradeDRaja, gathered in New Delhi to pay heartfelt tributes.
‘We honour his legacy as not just a regional leader, but a national statesman. Thalaivar Kalaignar's staunch advocacy for federalism and democracy played a pivotal role in nation-building. During turbulent times, he provided stability at the Union level, ensuring the government remained steady,’ Stalin said in the message.
