Annadurai birth anniversary: Rare snaps of Tamil Nadu's first CM

Conjeevaram Natarajan Annadurai, lovingly called 'Anna' (elder brother), was born in a small brick house on September 15, 1909 in a Hindu lower-middle-class family at Kancheepuram, the city famed for its of temples near Chennai. There was little in his bi
Conjeevaram Natarajan Annadurai, lovingly called 'Anna' (elder brother), was born in a small brick house on September 15, 1909 in a Hindu lower-middle-class family at Kancheepuram, the city famed for its of temples near Chennai. There was little in his bi
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Anna's father Natarajan, according to his biographer R Kannan, was a village scribe who wrote property documents for a living. His mother was Bangaru Ammal. It was his mother's younger sister Rajamani Ammal, a portly woman with kind eyes and the wife of a village doctor according to Kannan's biography, who brought Anna up and educated him. In Pic: E V Ramasamy Naicker ( Periyar ) with Annadurai
Anna's father Natarajan, according to his biographer R Kannan, was a village scribe who wrote property documents for a living. His mother was Bangaru Ammal. It was his mother's younger sister Rajamani Ammal, a portly woman with kind eyes and the wife of a village doctor according to Kannan's biography, who brought Anna up and educated him. In Pic: E V Ramasamy Naicker ( Periyar ) with Annadurai
After completing his schooling, Anna, thanks to difficult circumstances, was forced to take up his first job - that of a clerk, a job he held for six months. But the lover of books was able to return to his studies and completed his BA and MA in Economics and Politics from Pachaiyappa's. In Pic: Annadurai with the Secretary General of the United Nations U Thant (2nd left) in New York during his visit to the USA
After completing his schooling, Anna, thanks to difficult circumstances, was forced to take up his first job - that of a clerk, a job he held for six months. But the lover of books was able to return to his studies and completed his BA and MA in Economics and Politics from Pachaiyappa's. In Pic: Annadurai with the Secretary General of the United Nations U Thant (2nd left) in New York during his visit to the USA
A few interesting facts about Anna. Mathematics was not his forte and he failed twice in the subject in his final year at school before succeeding the third time. In Pic: Anna can be seen Former TN Chief Minister In pic: Annadurai former Prime Minister Morarji Desai
A few interesting facts about Anna. Mathematics was not his forte and he failed twice in the subject in his final year at school before succeeding the third time. In Pic: Anna can be seen Former TN Chief Minister In pic: Annadurai former Prime Minister Morarji Desai
But when it came to languages, he was good not just in Tamil, where he made a name for himself, but also in English. His English Essay 'The Moscow Mob Parade' won him the first prize in a competition in 1932. Kannan also quotes Anna himself saying that in his student days 'he had a great reputation for oratory in Tamil and English'. In Pic: Former TN Chief Ministers Annadurai C N and M  Bakthavatsalam
But when it came to languages, he was good not just in Tamil, where he made a name for himself, but also in English. His English Essay 'The Moscow Mob Parade' won him the first prize in a competition in 1932. Kannan also quotes Anna himself saying that in his student days 'he had a great reputation for oratory in Tamil and English'. In Pic: Former TN Chief Ministers Annadurai C N and M Bakthavatsalam
Anna, who married Rani Annadurai when he was 21, was childless and adopted his cousin Nagarathinam's grandchildren Parimalam, Ilangovan, Gowthaman and Babu. In Pic: Anna can be seen on the right.
Anna, who married Rani Annadurai when he was 21, was childless and adopted his cousin Nagarathinam's grandchildren Parimalam, Ilangovan, Gowthaman and Babu. In Pic: Anna can be seen on the right.
Annadurai launched his own party with his party fragment, along with EVK Sampath (Periyar's nephew and until then considered his political heir. The new party was named Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. In Pic:  Annadurai during an election campaign. Seen at his right is Ma Po Sivagnanam
Annadurai launched his own party with his party fragment, along with EVK Sampath (Periyar's nephew and until then considered his political heir. The new party was named Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. In Pic: Annadurai during an election campaign. Seen at his right is Ma Po Sivagnanam
The DMK secured 15 Assembly seats and two parliamentary seats in the second general elections in 1957. Anna was elected from his home constituency, Kanchipuram for the first time to the Madras Legislative Assembly. In Pic: Annadurai with M Karunanidhi (extreme right) at a meeting
The DMK secured 15 Assembly seats and two parliamentary seats in the second general elections in 1957. Anna was elected from his home constituency, Kanchipuram for the first time to the Madras Legislative Assembly. In Pic: Annadurai with M Karunanidhi (extreme right) at a meeting
Five years later, Anna's party won 50 out of the 143 seats it contested and he became the leader of the Opposition. In Pic: Annadurai C N former TN Chief Minister with former Mayor Chitti Babu.
Five years later, Anna's party won 50 out of the 143 seats it contested and he became the leader of the Opposition. In Pic: Annadurai C N former TN Chief Minister with former Mayor Chitti Babu.
Five more years later came the landslide win - a thumping 137 seats out of 174 contested - that saw him form the first majority non-Congress government in the whole of India. He would go on to be the last Chief Minister of the Madras State and first Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu (as it was renamed on January 14, 1969, just 20 days before his death). In Pic:  Annadurai alongwith M Karunanidhi  (extreme left) at the party office
Five more years later came the landslide win - a thumping 137 seats out of 174 contested - that saw him form the first majority non-Congress government in the whole of India. He would go on to be the last Chief Minister of the Madras State and first Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu (as it was renamed on January 14, 1969, just 20 days before his death). In Pic: Annadurai alongwith M Karunanidhi (extreme left) at the party office
During his days in DMK, Annadurai had supported Periyar's call for an independent Dravida Nadu. The claim for such an independent state stayed alive in the initial days of DMK. Sampath, who had earlier forfeited his inheritance from Periyar to join DMK, saw the call for Dravida Nadu as an unrealistic goal.
During his days in DMK, Annadurai had supported Periyar's call for an independent Dravida Nadu. The claim for such an independent state stayed alive in the initial days of DMK. Sampath, who had earlier forfeited his inheritance from Periyar to join DMK, saw the call for Dravida Nadu as an unrealistic goal.
When the reorganisation of states in India on linguistic basis removed Kannada, Telugu and Malayalam speaking regions from the Madras Presidency, Annadurai changed the call of independent Dravida Nadu for Dravidians to independent Tamil Nadu for Tamils.
When the reorganisation of states in India on linguistic basis removed Kannada, Telugu and Malayalam speaking regions from the Madras Presidency, Annadurai changed the call of independent Dravida Nadu for Dravidians to independent Tamil Nadu for Tamils.
Following the Sixteenth Amendment (popularly known as the Anti-Secessionist Amendment), Annadurai left the call for an independent Tamil homeland on the back burner. In Pic: DMK leaders (from left) V R Nedunchezhian, C N Annadurai, M Karunanidhi and M G Ramachandran at a party meeting
Following the Sixteenth Amendment (popularly known as the Anti-Secessionist Amendment), Annadurai left the call for an independent Tamil homeland on the back burner. In Pic: DMK leaders (from left) V R Nedunchezhian, C N Annadurai, M Karunanidhi and M G Ramachandran at a party meeting
In 1938, the Congress government in Madras Presidency headed by C Rajagopalachari proposed the use of Hindi language as a compulsory language in schools. Annadurai along with other Tamil leaders  opposed the move. In Pic: Annadurai with Sathyavani Muthu
In 1938, the Congress government in Madras Presidency headed by C Rajagopalachari proposed the use of Hindi language as a compulsory language in schools. Annadurai along with other Tamil leaders opposed the move. In Pic: Annadurai with Sathyavani Muthu
Annadurai was known as one of the best Tamil orators during his time. He developed a style in Tamil public speaking using metaphors and pleasing alliterations. Anna was also best known for his extempore speaking ability being very well affluent on rhetoric skills. In Pic: Annadurai with veteran film actor Sivaji Ganesan
Annadurai was known as one of the best Tamil orators during his time. He developed a style in Tamil public speaking using metaphors and pleasing alliterations. Anna was also best known for his extempore speaking ability being very well affluent on rhetoric skills. In Pic: Annadurai with veteran film actor Sivaji Ganesan
Anna died of cancer on February 3, 1969 at 12:22 AM, according to Tamil Nadu government records. Anna's funeral was attended by a record, 15 million people. Police officials taking the body of Annadurai C N, former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu to crematorium
Anna died of cancer on February 3, 1969 at 12:22 AM, according to Tamil Nadu government records. Anna's funeral was attended by a record, 15 million people. Police officials taking the body of Annadurai C N, former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu to crematorium

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