NEW DELHI: Towering Tamil leader M. Karunanidhi who began his political career as an anti-Hindi agitator at 14 and fought regressive social mores all his life died in Chennai on Tuesday. He was 94.

Among the early leaders of the Dravid Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), which rose in response to the pervasive hold of Brahminism in Tamil Nadu, Karunanidhi was chief minister of Tamil Nadu five times.

As per his political creed, his remains will be buried and not cremated, an assertion of his lifelong contest with upper caste Hinduism.

This has been the tradition also with other Dravidian leaders, inc­luding those from the rival AIDMK.

A sea of emotionally charged mourners swamped Chennai amid apprehensions that the leader would be denied a place at the prestigious Marina beach for his final resting place. A late night court was hearing the appeal against the local government’s decision to deny him space at the politically coveted beach. Anything can lead to a crisis with emotionally wired DMK supporters, and sensing the delicate occasion, Congress president Rahul Gandhi threw his weight behind the DMK’s demand about where their leader should be buried.

For immediate purposes, Karu­nanidhi’s legacy will be measured by the 39 seats in the 545 member Lok Sabha for which elections are due in May next year. It is said that a combination of the DMK and the Congress could sweep the state.

The stalwart of the Dravidian movement is survived by wives Dayalu Ammal and Rajathi Ammal; children M. K. Muthu (born to his first wife Padmavathy); M.K. Alagiri, M.K. Stalin, M.K. Tamilarasu and daughter Selvi (through Ms Dayalu); and M.Kanimozhi, born to Ms. Rajathi.

Karunanidhi was born on June 3, 1924 in Thirukkuvalai as Dakshi­namoorthy.

He changed his name to Karunanidhi inspired by the rationalist movements that were against the use of gods’ names.

Karunanidhi rose to fame with the Dalmiapuram protest in the 1950s. The agitation was against the renaming of Kallakudi railway station to Dalmiapuram, after the Dalmia Cements set up a factory in the town, then part of the Tiruchirapalli district.

He has the distinction of not losing a single Assembly election. He has won 13 times since 1957.

Karunanidhi was closely associated with Tamil theatre. His plays such as “Poompuhar” and “Man­thiri Kumari” were later made into films. It was after watching

“Thooku Medai”, actor-playwright M.R. Radha conferred the title “Kalaignar” on Karunanidhi.

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2018