“Only one race, Only one God”. These words echo in the air around the Conjeevaram Natarajan Annadurai Statue. The Conjeevaram Natarajan Annadurai Statue stands as a tribute to a man of profound influence. He shaped Tamil Nadu’s political landscape.
This is the Conjeevaram Natarajan Annadurai Statue. It commemorates C. N. Annadurai. He was also known as Anna or Arignar Anna.
Conjeevaram Natarajan Annadurai was born in 1909 in Kanchipuram. His father was a weaver. His mother served in a temple. Anna’s oratorical skills were remarkable. His writings in Tamil were acclaimed. He understood the power of cinema. Conjeevaram Natarajan Annadurai used it for political messaging.
Anna started his career as a school teacher. He then became a journalist. Politics soon beckoned. He joined the Justice Party in 1935. Periyar E. V. Ramasami led the party then. Anna became sub-editor of the Justice magazine. He edited Viduthalai later. He also launched his own journal Dravida Nadu.
In 1944, the Justice Party became Dravidar Kazhagam. Annadurai played a key role in this transformation. On September 17, 1949, Annadurai founded the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam DMK. He aimed to uplift the lower castes. He sought social justice.
One notable protest happened in 1953. Annadurai condemned Nehru for his remarks on Hindi agitation. He opposed Rajaji’s education policy Kula Kalvi Thittam. He protested renaming Kallakkudi as Dalmiyapuram. This name symbolized North Indian dominance. He faced imprisonment for this cause.
Anna’s vision extended to Dravida Nadu. He advocated for a separate country for southern India. Later, he shifted focus to Tamil Nadu. He aimed for greater cooperation among southern states. He also sought more autonomy for Tamil Nadu.
Language was a key issue. Anna opposed Hindi imposition. He participated in anti-Hindi agitations in 1938 and 1965. He organized conferences and protests. He defended Tamil identity.
His literary contributions are significant. Anna crafted speeches with metaphors and alliteration. He wrote novels, short stories, and plays with political themes. He also acted in plays. His movies included Nallathambi and Velaikaari. These promoted Dravidian ideals. He also wrote “Arya Mayai”. It highlighted the need for social equality.
Anna’s political journey saw many milestones. He became an MLA in 1957. He became a Rajya Sabha member in 1962. In 1967, the DMK won a majority in Madras State. Annadurai became Chief Minister. His cabinet was the youngest in India.
As Chief Minister, Annadurai brought key reforms. He legalized self-respect marriages. He subsidized rice prices. He renamed Madras State to Tamil Nadu. He also organized the World Tamil Conference in 1967. He implemented a two-language policy.
Anna received the Chubb Fellowship from Yale University in 1968. Annamalai University awarded him an honorary doctorate. Anna University is named after him. So is Anna Salai one of Chennai’s major roads.
Conjeevaram Natarajan Annadurai died on February 3, 1969. His funeral drew a record crowd. His legacy endures. He championed self-respect social justice and Tamil identity.
Today as you stand before the Conjeevaram Natarajan Annadurai Statue. Remember his words and actions. He wanted an egalitarian society. One that respects its language and culture. A society where “Only one race, Only one God” rings true.