State party (DMK) walked on the victory path for 75 years!

It's festival time for DMK. On one side, the Dravidian modelled DMK government is celebrating Kalaignar centenary birthday magnificently and on the other side DMK is all set for its 75th anniversary celebrations.

The preparations for the 75th anniversary celebrations are being done in Vellore, where Mupperum Vizha (triple celebrations) is going to be conducted on September 17. Mupperum Vizha is an annual event celebrated to mark the foundation day of DMK (September 17) and the birth anniversaries of Annadurai (September 15) and Periyar (September 17). In the Mupperum Vizha, awards are to be presented in the names of Annadurai, Periyar, Bharathidasan, Kalaignar and Professor Anbazhagan.

Former DMK leader M. Karunanidhi celebrated his 75th birth anniversary on 3rd June 1998, where the function stage was decorated like a 'pearl in an oyster' in Marina beach, Chennai. I.K. Gujral, the former PM of India was invited to the function. G.K. Moopanar who attended the birthday function gifted a golden chain, for which Karunanidhi said, "...the relationship between DMK and Tamil Maanila Congress will always be strongly coupled like the links in the chain.

Karunanidhi was determined to not do any extravagant expenses, he even ordered the officials to spend money for people's welfare during his 75th anniversary celebrations. Owing to his order, 7.02 crores was spent on planting saplings in Tamil Nadu.

DMK is getting ready for its 75th anniversary which has come 25 years after Kalaignar's 75th birth anniversary. DMK was founded by Annadurai as a state party in 1949, 2 years after Indian independence. DMK was founded as a social movement in 1949 by Annadurai but later on he led DMK to the electoral path in 1957. In the 1957 elections, DMK won 15 seats.

In 1962, DMK won 50 seats; in 1967 DMK defeated the Congress which was a strong national party at that time and formed the government. Annadurai's strong policies were pivotal for this historic victory. Anna promised a dominance free society. He did not differentiate between religious dominance, caste and language dominance, instead he said, "...resistance to dominance in any form is the principal policy of DMK party".

Anna also resolved to oppose Hindi imposition at all costs; prevent violence and alleviate poverty. Anna's vision was alliance with the Centre and autonomy within the state. Because of his policies, he became CM in 1967. Before Annadurai, the superstition was that only wealthy people could become members of the Legislative Assembly.

Anna changed this scenario by handing over the power to younger generations with no such wealthy background. Particularly, Backward class, Most Backward class and Scheduled class people enjoyed political rights and power due to Anna's policies.

During DMK reign, the Land Reforms Act was implemented; the ceiling for land holding was brought down from 30 acres to 15 acres and houses were built for Scheduled Tribes etc. Starting from Annadurai, all DMK leaders including Karunanidhi and CM Stalin opposed Hindi imposition. This stands testimony to the fact that the ideologies of DMK withstood the test of time.

According to T.K.S. Elangovan, Tamil Nadu is the only state which has a two-language policy which was legalised by DMK. Apart from this, DMK is responsible for Tamil being recognised as a classical language. It was Annadurai, who changed the name of the state from Madras Presidency to Tamil Nadu. Anna said that as long as the name of the state is Tamil Nadu, it means Anna is ruling the state. Another version of it was said by CM Stalin recently in Kanchipuram during the launch of Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai Thittam. CM Stalin said, "...as long as women are receiving the financial assistance, it means Stalin is ruling the state".

In the 1930s Sri Lanka's former PM Bandaranaike put forth the idea of 'two languages one nation and one language two nations'. When this idea was put forth by Bandaranaike, Congress was strongly opposing the creation of linguistic states in India. According to senior journalist A.S. Panneerselvan, DMK played a major role in making the situation flexible. When DMK put forth the demand of a Dravidian nation, Nehru, the former PM of India rejected it but DMK did not push the demand owing to the war threat from China.

Anna's concentration shifted from a separate nation to a linguistic state which demanded the change of name from Madras to Tamil Nadu. The demand was misinterpreted by Congress as a demand for a separate country based on language. In 1957, the then finance minister Subramaniam, announced that the resolution brought by DMK for Tamil Nadu had failed.

In 1967 after becoming CM of the state, Annadurai changed the name of the state from Madras to Tamil Nadu. This is one of the instances of historic victories achieved by the DMK regime. Anna attracted people through his policies and that is the reason why 1.5 crore people gathered when Anna passed away which is a Guinness record not broken till now.

Another thing which is not broken is his party's ideologies and principles!