Conjeevaram Natarajan Annadurai, or Anna (elder brother), as he is affectionately called by his followers, became the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu at the age of 58. This was the first electoral success for his party, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and it marked the pinnacle of his political life.
R. Kannan’s biography Anna: The Life and Times of C. N. Annadurai sheds light on how DMK, under Anna’s glorious regime, changed the politics of Tamil Nadu forever.
Here are a few instances from R. Kannan’s book that show us how C. N. Annadurai became ‘Anna’:
The birth of Dravidian politics in Tamil Nadu — a defining moment in Indian political history
The foundation stone for DMK is laid on definitive lines of social justice and reform
Clear guidelines were laid for the principles on which DMK was to work in the days to come
A holistic approach, inclusive of minorities and issues of importance, was adopted by Anna’s party since the beginning
The party was in support of indigenous industries which always faced the peril of extinction
The life and times of the political stalwart have been beautifully captured in the words of writer R. Kannan in his biography, Anna: The Life and Times of C. N. Annadurai. Get your copy today!