K. Anbazhagan
Kalyanasundaram Anbazhagan (19 December 1922 – 7 March 2020) was an Indian Tamil politician. He was a long-standing leader of the Dravidian movement[2] and was the General Secretary of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party (DMK) for nine terms. He has held several cabinet ministerial portfolios in the Tamil Nadu government under M. Karunanidhi including Finance, Education and Health and Social Welfare. He was elected as a member of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on nine occasions. He was earlier elected to the Lok Sabha the lower house of India's Parliament from Tiruchengode and was also a member of the Madras Legislative Council. He served as the opposition leader of Tamil Nadu assembly from 2001 to 2006.[3] He was popularly referred to as Perasiriyar (Professor), though he was a lecturer in Tamil in Pachaiyappa's College before resigning to contest elections in 1957.[4]
K. Anbazhagan | |
|---|---|
| 3rd General Secretary of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | |
| In office 17 May 1977 – 7 March 2020 | |
| Inaugural Holder | C. N. Annadurai |
| Preceded by | V. R. Nedunchezhiyan |
| Succeeded by | Durai Murugan |
| Leader of the Opposition in Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly | |
| In office May 16 2001 – 17 May 2006 | |
| Deputy | Arcot N. Veeraswami (2001-2005) |
| Preceded by | S. Balakrishnan |
| Succeeded by | O. Panneerselvam |
| Minister of Finance in The Government of Tamil Nadu | |
| In office 17 May 2006 – 15 May 2011 | |
| Preceded by | C. Ponnaiyan |
| Succeeded by | O. Panneerselvam |
| Minister of Education | |
| In office 16 May 1996 – 15 May 2001 | |
| In office 27 January 1989 – 30 January 1991 | |
| Member of Tamil Nadu legislative assembly | |
| In office 14 May 2001 – 12 May 2006 | |
| Constituency | Harbour |
| In office 16 November 1984 – 26 January 1989 | |
| Constituency | Park Town |
| In office 30 June 1977 – 15 November 1984 | |
| Constituency | Purasawalkam |
| Minister for Health and Social Welfare | |
| In office 15 March 1971 – 31 January 1976 | |
| Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha | |
| In office 4 March 1967 – 15 March 1971 | |
| Constituency | Tiruchengode |
| Member of Legislative Council | |
| In office 1 April 1957 – 25 February 1967 | |
| Leader of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly House | |
| In office 17 May 2006 – 14 June 2011 | |
| CM | M. Karunanidhi |
| Preceded by | C. Ponnaiyan |
| Succeeded by | O. Panneerselvam |
| In office 27 January 1989 – 30 January 1991 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Ramaiah 19 December 1922[1] Tanjore, Madras Presidency, British India (now in Tamil Nadu, India) |
| Died | 7 March 2020 (aged 97) Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Political party | Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam |
| Other political affiliations | Justice Party |
| Residence(s) | Anna Nagar, Chennai, Tamil Nadu |
| Source: [1] | |
Early life
Anbazhagan was born in Kattoor near Thiruvarur in Tanjore district (now Thiruvarur District) of Madras Presidency, British India on 19 December 1922 to M. Kalyanasundaranar and Swarnambal as Ramaiah.[citation needed] He changed his name to Anbazhagan and being influenced by the Pure Tamil Movement led by Tamil scholar Maraimalai Adigal. In 1942, he addressed a Justice Party meeting in Thiruvarur as a student after being requested by C. N. Annadurai and came into contact with M. Karunanidhi for the first time.[5] He received his Master of Arts in Tamil from Annamalai University and joined Pachaiyappa's College as a lecturer in Tamil in 1944.[6]
Political career
Anbazhagan resigned as a Lecturer at Pachaiyappa's College to contest elections and was elected from Egmore to the Madras Legislative Assembly in 1957.[citation needed] He was a member of the Madras legislative council between 1962–1967 and a close confidant of the DMK founder C. N. Annadurai. He was a member of Lok Sabha between 1967 and 1971.[citation needed] In 1971, he served as Social Welfare minister of Tamil Nadu. He had given up his M.L.A. position, representing Park Town constituency, in 1984 putting forward the Tamil Eelam issue.[7] He was elected from Harbour constituency in 1996, 2001 and 2006.[8] He served as the opposition leader of Tamil Nadu assembly from 2001 to 2006.[9]
Personal life and death
Anbazhagan lived with his wife Santhakumari in Shanthi Colony, Anna Nagar, Chennai.[citation needed]
In his later years, Anbazhagan was in poor health, which minimized his political activities and public appearances, with the last one being on his 97th birthday on 19 December 2019.[10][11]
On 24 February 2020, his health deteriorated and became "extremely critical and unstable", and he was admitted at Apollo Hospital in Chennai for treatment.[12] He died there at 1:05 IST on 7 March 2020 due to complications of diabetes mellitus. The DMK declared a seven-day mourning after his death.[13][14]
His grandson A. Vetriazhagan is the current MLA from Villivakkam constituency.[15]
Literary works
Anbazhagan has sound knowledge of Tamil poetry.[16][17] Some of his published works include:
- Urimai vaazhvu
- Viduthalaik kavignar
- Pesum kalai valarpom
- Thamizh kadal
- Alai osai
- Thamizhar thirumanamum inamaanamum
References
- ^ "DMK stalwart Kalyanasundaram Anbazhagan passes away in Chennai". D Govardan. The Times of India. 6 March 2020. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
- ^ "End of an era: K Anbazhagan's demise leaves vacuum in Dravidian politics". New Indian Express. 7 March 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
- ^ "12th Assembly - Overview". www.assembly.tn.gov.in. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
- ^ "DMK General Secretary K Anbazhagan Dies At 97 In Chennai". NDTV. 7 March 2020. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
- ^ "From Tiruvarur to Marina: The platinum jubilee friendship of Karunanidhi and Anbazhagan". New Indian Express. 7 March 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
- ^ "DMK general secretary Anbazhagan no more". B Kolappan. The Hindu. 7 March 2009. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
- ^ "'Perasiriyar' K Anbazhagan passes away at 97, end of an era for DMK politics". The News Minute. 7 March 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
- ^ "Harbour (Tamil Nadu) Election Results 2016". Elections. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
- ^ "12th Assembly - Overview". www.assembly.tn.gov.in. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
- ^ "DMK general secretary K Anbazhagan passes away at 97". India Today. 7 March 2020. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
- ^ "Leaders greet DMK's Anbazhagan on 97th birthday". B Sivakumar. The Times of India. 20 December 2020. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
- ^ "DMK general secretary Anbazhagan no more". The Hindu. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
- ^ "DMK general secretary K Anbazhagan passes away at 97 in Chennai". Daily News and Analysis. 7 March 2020. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
- ^ "Veteran DMK Leader K. Anbazhagan Passes Away at 97". The Wire. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
- ^ "DMK's Vetriazhagan to face his grandpa's rival". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
- ^ "Anbazhagan struck a balance between literature and politics". B Kolappan. The Hindu. 9 March 2020. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
- ^ . Daily Thanthi. 7 March 2020. Archived from the original on 30 November 2021. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
External links
- Official biographical sketch in Parliament of India website