CHENNAI: The ideological ties between the Dravidian movement and communists go beyond elections and both have stood by each other for decades, said Chief Minister M K Stalin on Sunday, during an event held in the city to felicitate prominent CPI leader and centenarian R Nallakannu.
“Our political ties may have been suspended at times, but our ideological bond will continue under any and all circumstances. The friendship between the Dravidian and communist movements is beyond electoral politics and based on ideology,” Stalin said, adding that the event, organised by Tamil nationalist leader Pazha Nedumaran and others, was a confluence of the Dravidian, communist and Tamil nationalist movements.
On the camaraderie between the two political camps, the CM recalled that it was Periyar who translated the Communist Manifesto into Tamil for the first time. When Periyar launched the self-respect movement, communist leader M Singaravelar provided essential support and the late P Jeevanandham, whose beginnings were with the self-respect wave, went on to become a prominent CPI leader, Stalin noted.
“Former CM M Karunanidhi once said he would have been with the Communist party had the Dravidian movement not taken shape,” he added.
Democratic forces working together against autocracy and majoritarianism could be the only befitting birthday gift to Nallakannu, Stalin said.
Nallakannu strove for country’s freedom: CM Stalin
Praising the leader’s selfless public life, the chief minister said that when the Tamil Nadu government presented him with the Ambedkar award, which comes with a Rs 1 lakh prize, Nallakannu gave away Rs 50,000 to his party and the rest to the farmers’ union.
“Later, when presented with the Thagaisal Thamizhar award, along with Rs 10 lakh, he added Rs 5,000 to that and donated it all back to the government. Once a car was presented to him and he donated that too to the CPI,” Stalin said.
He recalled that Nallakannu entered public life at a young age. He also said that the veteran leader was locked up and tortured in prison. However, he refused to give up and strove for the country’s freedom.
The Communist Party of India was launched on December 20, 1925, and Nallakannu was born six days later on December 26, he noted, pointing out that both the CPI and Nallakannu are celebrating their centenary.
The day-long fete featured speeches from a host of leaders from various political parties and fields.
MDMK general secretary Vaiko, CPI national general secretary D Raja and state secretary R Mutharasan, National Alliance of People’s Movements’ founder Medha Patkar, former chief secretary to Tamil Nadu V Irai Anbu, former ISRO director Mayilsami Annadurai and retired Madras High Court judge K Chandru felicitated the leader. The VIT University founder-chancellor G Viswanathan, also felicitated the veteran leader.